Chief of Unit, Procurement

About the role

The Chief of Unit, Procurement leads the procurement function for the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary‑General for Yemen. Based in Sana’a, this senior position reports to the Chief of Mission Support and oversees multi‑million‑dollar procurement programmes across a wide range of goods and services.

Key responsibilities

• Plan, develop and manage all procurement activities, ensuring compliance with UN procurement policies.
• Provide technical and policy advice to senior officials and disseminate best practices.
• Lead and mentor a procurement work team, handling recruitment, training and performance evaluation.
• Analyse complex and critical procurement proposals, determine appropriate strategies, and authorize exceptions when necessary.
• Direct solicitation, negotiation, award and, if required, termination of contracts.
• Approve contracts within delegated limits or recommend approvals to the Contracts Committee.
• Develop proposals to revise procurement policies and recommend implementation strategies.
• Represent the organization in high‑level meetings with internal senior officials, government representatives and commercial partners.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in procurement management within an international or UN context.
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to coach and evaluate staff.
• Strong analytical abilities to assess high‑value and high‑risk procurement proposals.
• Excellent communication skills for interaction with senior officials and external partners.
• Knowledge of UN procurement regulations and best practices.

Required skills

• Procurement management
• Contract negotiation
• Budget planning and analysis
• UN procurement regulations
• Strategic sourcing

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape procurement strategy for a high‑visibility UN mission.
• Leadership role within a multinational team.
• Professional development in a challenging humanitarian environment.