UNOPS is recruiting a Procurement Senior Officer in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on an ICA - IICA - Regular contract at IICA 1 level. The role drives efficient and compliant procurement processes that uphold best practices in international public procurement, and applications close on 09 November 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we went through the full vacancy, and every duty, requirement and condition is set out below.
The Vacancy at a Glance
📌 Position Title: Procurement Senior Officer
🗂️ Job Category: Procurement & Logistics
📍 Duty Station: Freetown
🎚️ Seniority Level: Mid Level
🏷️ ICS Level: ICS 09
📄 Contract Type: ICA - IICA - Regular
🪪 Contract Level: IICA 1
⏱️ Duration: Ongoing
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, based in Nairobi, Kenya, oversees the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings. It is supported by more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices, spanning North, West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
The office advances national priorities through strategic initiatives in:
🌦️ Climate Action
🏥 Health
🏗️ Infrastructure
🕊️ Peace and Security
📈 Middle-Income Country Support
🏝️ Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
It provides strategic leadership, operational support and oversight in Partnerships, Communications, Management and Oversight, Infrastructure and Project Management, Health and Safety, and Security. By promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing and driving continuous improvement, the office contributes to sustainable infrastructure, transparent resource management and a better quality of life for communities across the continent.
The West Africa Multi-Country Office (WAMCO)
Based in Dakar, Senegal, WAMCO delivers high-quality project management, infrastructure and procurement services across 16 countries in West Africa and the Sahel, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Togo. Aligned with UNOPS' mission, it supports partners in peacebuilding, humanitarian assistance and sustainable development.
Its portfolio spans health, climate change, renewable energy, agriculture, water and sanitation, environment, infrastructure, justice, and peace and security. Notable projects include:
🧸 Pre-preschools for early childhood development in Senegal, in partnership with KOICA and UNICEF
🧯 Capacity-building for national agencies on disaster risk reduction and resource management
🔌 Rural mini-grid electrification systems in Sierra Leone
Through these initiatives, WAMCO contributes to inclusive growth and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across the region.
What UNOPS Does in Sierra Leone
UNOPS supports sustainable development in Sierra Leone through infrastructure, procurement and project management services that enhance energy access, water and sanitation, health and food security. In close partnership with the Government of Sierra Leone, these efforts aim to improve basic services, enhance resilience and support inclusive, long-term development. The current work includes:
☀️ Enhancing Sierra Leone Energy Access Project (ESLEAP): World Bank-funded, including the Moyamba Solar Power Plant (1MW) and rural electrification, totaling $12.7 million
⚡ Rural Renewable Energy Project: UK FCDO-funded (£34.5 million), which has expanded solar mini-grids and powered community health centers
🚰 Safe drinking water in Freetown: a Government of Japan-funded initiative that has improved access and reduced waterborne diseases
🌾 Food security: a 4,000-metric-tonne grain silo and solar-powered irrigation systems through a World Bank-supported Ministry of Agriculture project
The Purpose of the Role
The Procurement Senior Officer is responsible for developing and implementing strategic and effective procurement services that reflect:
🌐 Best practices in international public procurement
📜 Compliance with UNOPS procurement rules and regulations
🛡️ Appropriate risk management
⚖️ The best value for money for the acquisition of goods, services and contracting of works
The role also analyzes and interprets relevant rules and regulations, and provides advice and solutions to a wide spectrum of complex issues related to procurement.
Strategic Relationships and Demand Management
The post requires a deep understanding of procurement policy and processes, and of their application to appropriate situations. In addition to responsibility for the deliverables of the work team, the role focuses on strategic relationship building and demand management, mainly related to:
🧮 Aggregation and dealing with complex organization structures
📊 Preparation of business cases
🔍 Understanding of the supply market
🧠 Sharing knowledge with projects to achieve reductions of costs and savings
Working Approach and Reporting
By role-modelling the highest degrees of personal and professional ethics, the post holder maintains a collaborative, quality-driven, client-focused and results-oriented approach. The Procurement Senior Officer works in close cooperation with the office leadership and project managers, and reports to management on central issues related to procurement activities.
Key Results: Procurement Operations
⚙️ Execute procurement activities in accordance with UNOPS rules, regulations, policies and strategic frameworks
🗃️ Maintain a client-focused procurement management system, supported by effective internal controls
🤝 Collaborate with project managers to review procurement plans and develop fit-for-purpose strategies that incorporate sustainability and value-for-money principles
🔄 Implement or support all phases of the procurement lifecycle: strategic planning; pre-purchasing; requirements definition; sourcing; solicitation; management of submissions; evaluation; review and award; post-purchasing; contract finalization and issuance; logistics; and contract management
📇 Develop and manage rosters of suppliers
Key Results: Procurement Process Management
🗓️ Prepare procurement plans on time and as expected
👀 Monitor implementation of procurement plans for alignment with project timelines and strategic objectives
✅ Review and validate requirements to ensure clarity, completeness and suitability from a procurement standpoint
🌱 Follow guidelines for embedding sustainability across the procurement process
📨 Coordinate the end-to-end solicitation process, including Requests for Quote (RFQs), Invitations to Bid (ITBs) and Requests for Proposal (RFPs), in line with UNOPS policies
📥 Coordinate the receipt and evaluation of quotations, bids and proposals
🗣️ Participate in the negotiation of conditions of contracts in full compliance with UNOPS rules and regulations
📋 Prepare submissions to the Contract and Property Committees (CPCs)
⌨️ Enter and update supplier information in the UNOPS ERP system, oneUNOPS (oU)
📏 Collaborate with the project manager or project team for the supplier performance evaluation (SPE)
🧭 Provide advice, remedial action or solutions to project managers on procurement issues
✍️ Draft Long Term Agreements (LTAs) and/or service or works contracts and other instruments when necessary, and create purchase orders (POs) in the ERP system
Key Results: E-Procurement Tools
💻 Utilize the e-sourcing module in line with goals and standards set by the Procurement Group
Key Results: Knowledge Building and Sharing
🎓 Organize, facilitate or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on procurement
📚 Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing lessons learned and disseminating best practices in procurement
💬 Collect and productively utilize feedback, ideas and internal knowledge about processes and best practices
Skills Listed for the Post
📝 Contract Management
🖥️ Electronic Procurement
🔎 Market Analysis
🛒 Procurement
🏛️ Regulations
🚧 Risk Management
Competencies UNOPS Expects
🫡 Treats all individuals with respect, responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same; upholds organisational and ethical norms; maintains high standards of trustworthiness; role model for diversity and inclusion
👥 Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit; collaborates and supports the development of others; for people managers only, acts as a positive leadership role model who motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles
🎯 Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first; builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role)
🏁 Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal; actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas; sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them; understands that responsible use of resources maximizes impact on beneficiaries
🌀 Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment; effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements; reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior; performance is consistent, even under pressure; always pursues continuous improvements
🔬 Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions; takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks; applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving
📣 Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner; communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others; actively listens and proactively shares knowledge; handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground
Education Requirements
Required, one of the following:
🎒 Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 4 years of relevant experience
🏅 Master's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience
Desired:
🎖️ A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate or membership (e.g. CIPS)
Experience Requirements
Required:
🧰 Relevant experience is work in advising on and implementing policies and procedures to deliver a range of complex procurement programmes and strategies within international/multi-national organizations, or related areas
🖱️ Experience in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems
Desired:
🌍 Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country
🇺🇳 1 year previous experience working with UNOPS/UN
🆘 Experience in development or humanitarian contexts
🗺️ Previous experience in procurement in West Africa
Language Requirements
🔤 English: Fluent, required
🗨️ French: Intermediate, required
Closing Time and Selection Steps
🕛 Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date; applications received after the closing date will not be considered
📞 Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments
📮 UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes
🚫 UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind
🧑 If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, inform the human resources team upon receiving your invitation
Diversity and Equal Opportunity
UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. It describes its workforce as a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations and abilities, and strives to foster an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
All applications are evaluated based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. UNOPS states it is committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcomes diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
Zero Tolerance and Background Checks
UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment. Background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes. It is UNOPS policy to conduct background checks on all potential personnel, and recruitment is contingent on the results.
Terms and Conditions
🔽 Staff positions only: UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
⏳ Retainer contracts: you must complete a few mandatory courses (around 4 hours) in your own time before providing services to UNOPS; refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during the contract, and there is no compensation for taking courses and refreshers
🧾 UN Charter and UNOPS Policies: all personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter, UNOPS Policies and Instructions, and other relevant accountability frameworks
🌟 SDGs: all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the UNOPS Procurement Senior Officer in Freetown do?
The role develops and implements strategic and effective procurement services, covering the procurement lifecycle from strategic planning to contract management. It also advises project managers on procurement issues and delivers training for personnel on procurement.
What contract does this UNOPS post offer?
The contract type is ICA - IICA - Regular at contract level IICA 1, with the post listed at ICS 09 and Mid Level seniority. The duration is listed as ongoing.
What education and experience are required?
You need a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 4 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years. Relevant experience means advising on and implementing policies and procedures to deliver complex procurement programmes and strategies within international or multi-national organizations, or related areas.
Do I need French for this role?
Yes. Fluent English and intermediate French are both listed as required.
Is a CIPS qualification mandatory?
No. A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate or membership, such as CIPS, is listed as desired rather than required.
What procurement experience is an advantage?
Desired experience includes working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country, 1 year of previous experience with UNOPS/UN, and experience in development or humanitarian contexts. Previous experience in procurement in West Africa is also listed.
What time does the application window close?
Applications must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on 09 November 2026. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
Does UNOPS charge candidates a fee?
No. UNOPS states that it will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
Will every applicant hear back?
No. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
Deadline
⏳ 09 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply: https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/Login?jobId=4823
📄 Job details: https://careers.unops.org/careersmarketplace/JobDetail/Procurement-Senior-Officer/4823
