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Procurement Associate [Open to internal and external applicants]
Better Than Cash
Operations
Panama City, FL, USA
Posted on Mar 14, 2026
Tiered Approach
In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:
- Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
- Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
- Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
- Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates
Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.
Background
Office/Unit/Project Description
The UNDP Regional Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean is located in Panama and serves 25 country offices (covering 42 countries and territories) in the Latin America and the Caribbean region, offering regional policy and advisory support to country programme needs, and a trustworthy source of knowledge, experiences, and resources provided by a group of experts and professionals.
The Regional Hub works through its country offices with governments and people to create customized solutions to development challenges and thus contribute to strengthen national and local capacities and achieving sustainable development.
Scope of Work
The Procurement Associate provides support for the execution of procurement processes for goods and/or services under the Regional Hub/RBLAC and other requesting units, implementing methodologies according to each requirement, complying with the Organization's Procurement Policies and Standards, focusing on the achievement of the following functions:
- Support the review, implementation and monitoring of the Procurement Plans for the Regional Hub/RBLAC.
- Organize, coordinate and execute calls for each procurement process according to the correspondent categories and strategies: terms of reference revision, invitations, advertisements, completion of forms and requests, organize and facilitates the evaluation panels assignments, minutes preparation, review of procurement cases and submission to the Procurement Committees when appropriate, communication with bidders, contract processing.
- Prepare Purchase Orders implementing the internal control framework. Take timely corrective actions on purchase orders with budget verification errors and others. Support the projects in issues related to the delivery process of complex purchase orders, ensuring that all aspects of the logistics chain are carried out successfully and in accordance with the contract and applicable customs regulations. Provide advice to the projects on procurement policies and strategies, as well as on complex aspects such as storage, product distribution, consultancy development, etc.
- Assist the projects in cases of non-compliance with delivery or dispatch conditions, at any point of the logistics chain, supporting the Procurement Analyst and the Head of the Operations Unit, in the follow-up and case solutions.
- Collaborate to strength the knowledge and capacities of Regional Hub/RBLAC requesting units on procurement issues.
- Perform, within the framework of experience and technical skills, other activities assigned to support the management of the Procurement Unit.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Procurement Analyst, the Procurement Associate provides support for the execution of transparent and efficient procurement services and processes in the Regional Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean/RBLAC. The Procurement Associate promotes a service-oriented, and consistent with rules and regulations approach in the Unit.
The Procurement Associate works in close collaboration with the operations, programme and projects’ staff in the Regional Hub for LAC, HQs, UN Agencies and UNDP Country Offices in the LAC region to exchange information and ensure consistent service delivery.
Competencies
| Expected Demonstration of Competencies | |
| Core | |
| Achieve Results: | LEVEL 1: Plans and monitors own work, pays attention to details, delivers quality work by deadline |
| Think Innovatively: | LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements |
| Learn Continuously | LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback |
| Adapt with Agility | LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible |
| Act with Determination | LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident |
| Engage and Partner | LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships |
| Enable Diversity and Inclusion: | LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination |
Cross-Functional & Technical Competencies
| Thematic Area | Name | Definition |
| Business Direction & Strategy | Systems Thinking | Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the system |
| Business Development | Knowledge Generation | Ability to research information and to turn it into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated need. Ability to apply existing concepts to new situations, and to develop new concepts to generate workable solutions and new approaches. Knowledge of relevant concepts, conceptual models, and theories that can be useful in addressing new situations |
| Business Management | Communication | Communicate in a clear, concise and unambiguous manner both through written and verbal communication; to tailor messages and choose communication methods depending on the audience. Ability to manage communications internally and externally, through media, social media and other appropriate channels |
| Business Management | Digital Awareness & Literacy | Ability to monitor new and emerging technologies, as well as understand their usage, potential, limitations, impact, and added value. Ability to rapidly and readily adopt and use new technologies in professional activities, and to empower others to UNDP | People for 2030 – Competency Framework – Cross-functional Competencies (2024) use them as needed. Knowledge of the usage of digital technologies and emerging trends |
| Procurement | Contract Management | Knowledge of contract management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations. |
| Procurement | Sourcing | Ability to find, evaluate and engage suppliers of goods and services |
| Procurement | Procure-to pay | Knowledge of purchase-to-pay cycles, concepts, principles and policies, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations. |
| Procurement | Supplier / Relationship Management | Knowledge of supplier management concepts, principles and methods, and ability to apply this to strategic and/or practical situations. |
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- Secondary Education is required; or bachelor's degree in economy, Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Public Administration Social Sciences or other related areas, will be given due consideration.
Experience:
- Minimum 6 years with Secondary education or 3 years with bachelor's degree of progressively responsible procurement or contracting experience is required at the national or international level.
Required skills:
- Proven experience in the preparation or organization, management and compendium of technical files, terms of reference, bases and evaluation tables.
- Experience in procedures for the procurement of goods and contracting of services.
- Intermediate and/or advanced knowledge in the use of computers and office software packages, especially Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Desired skills in addition to competencies covered in the Competencies:
- Experience or familiarity with the interpretation and application of United Nations or UNDP procurement policies, rules and regulations is desirable.
- Experience or familiarity with UNDP operational and reporting systems, including experience using an ERP system (i.e. Oracle Cloud, SAP or PeopleSoft), is desirable.
- Work experience with the United Nations system or international organizations is an advantage.
Professional Certificates:
- Specialized certification in Procurement is highly desirable.
Required Language(s):
- Fluency in Spanish and English, both oral and written
**This vacancy is open to Panamanian citizens and to foreign nationals who hold permanent residency and a valid work permit.
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement. We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
Scam alert
UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.
Duties and Responsibilities