Procurement Specialist

Procurement Specialist

Location: Simara

Corus International leads an ensemble of social impact organizations working together in the world’s most fragile settings to deliver the holistic, lasting solutions needed to overcome the interconnected challenges of poverty, health care access and climate change. Corus is a new model in the international space, creating a consortium of specialized non-profit and for-profit entities for greater impact. Additional growth is expected.

Corus combines over 150 years of experience of our non-profit and for-profit subsidiary organizations – LWR, IMA World Health, CGA Technologies, Ground Up Investing, and LWR Farmers Market. Together, the organizations take a systematic approach to grow rural economies, eliminate extreme poverty, ensure access to quality healthcare, and respond to urgent humanitarian needs in fragile settings. In Nepal CORUS works through one of the subsidiary organizations Lutheran World Relief (LWR). Further details about the organization can be found at https://corusinternational.org

This position will be based in Simara.

Job Summary

The Procurement Specialist is responsible for ensuring best value for money, fairness, integrity, and transparency, effective competition and best interest of Corus, project participants, donors and partners in all project procurement processes as well as adherence to policies, procedures, and controls. The main responsibility for this position is to conduct the procurement of goods and services and oversee the management of sub-awards, including purchase orders and subcontracts. The Procurement Specialist will oversee solicitations and price/cost/reasonability analyses and ensure complete backup documentation is collected prior to submission. This position requires travel to remote districts from the respective field offices or sub-recipients.

The Procurement Specialist will manage all procurement-related activities for the MATSYA project, including coordinating with country staff on shared services such as insurance, security, and maintenance. This role includes capacity building and coaching of MATSYA implementing partners. USDA MATSYA field staff, ensuring adherence to best practices, the code of conduct, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations in logistics and procurement.

Roles and Responsibilities

Procurement Management Systems

• Enforce use of Corus International procurement and follow the procurement principles.
• Maintain electronic procurement records and files of all required backup documentation in the relevant LWR’s system platforms, including hard copy files.
• Train other project staff in the use of Corus International procurement and follow the procurement principles, as needed.

General Acquisition & Procurement Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Senior Finance Manager to manage vendor solicitation bids and quotes accordance with LWR policies, approved requisitions and quarterly procurement plans.
• Draft cost and proposal evaluations, selection memos and convene procurement committee meetings.
• Collect and review requisition documentation, cost estimates, statements of work, and other required information from bidders.
• Assist employees in the preparation of clear Terms of Reference (ToR), Statements of Work (SOW), and procurement specifications.
• Support project staff in coordinating meetings, facilitating discussions, and developing briefings in support of the source selection process.
• Ensure pricing information is accurate and aligns with acquisition policies, conduct price, cost and reasonability analyses, and prepare cost evaluation data, and source selection documentation.
• Ensure best value for money, fairness, integrity, and transparency in procurement process, effective competition and best interest of Corus, project participants, donors and partners.
• Monitor, track and expedite all project procurement activities and delivery status of goods/services and communicate with vendors as necessary.
• Develop and manage suppliers’ rosters, elaborate supplier selection and evaluation criteria as well as quality and performance measurement mechanisms
• Prepare monthly, quarterly and annual procurement plans and progress reports as required
• Plans, organizes and leads the bid solicitation process including drafting and issuing RFQ, RFP, RFI, Tenders, developing bid evaluation criteria and guide clients through the process. Oversee selection committees to ensure the integrity of the competitive process, facilitate bidder debriefings as needed, and protect confidential information.
• Prepare service delivery contracts, leases and purchase orders for all acquisition needs.
• Maintain procurement files (including e-files) and vendor tracking systems, ensuring all relevant information regarding suppliers is up to date.
• Manage vendor contracts and foster relationships with suppliers to ensure deliverables are met; address vendor complaints and concerns promptly to ensure uninterrupted project services.
• Evaluate vendor performance. Provide accurate information for inventory management.
• Assist the Senior Finance Manager to ensure all required internal and donor requirements are applied for sub-recipients.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Education & Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting and business management or a relevant field from an accredited institution.
• A minimum of Six (6) years’ experience in procurement, logistic and sub-recipient management on US Government or USDA -funded projects.
• Knowledge of USG and FAR regulations and procurement and acquisition aspects of US Government or USDA -funded projects.
• S/he should be proficient in relevant computer applications and databases with advanced skill in Excel spreadsheets.
• Knowledge of using QuickBooks or similar accounting software is preferred.
• Familiar with country tax regulations and reporting.
• Ability to professionally communicate across all levels of an organization and the external
• Skilled in strategic thinking and planning
• Should be able to communicate in Nepali and English.
• Familiarity with any procurement enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems is preferred.

Corus International prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by U.S. or International law.