Head of Contracts and Procurement Advice Section (CaPAS)

Job Title: Head of Contracts and Procurement Advice Section (CaPAS)

Location: New Delhi

Reporting to: Head of Corporate Services Team (CST)

Background:

DFID India is responsible for the British Government’s development cooperation programme with India. Contract and Procurement Advice Section (CaPAS) was established to provide contract and procurement advisory services and letting contracts. Although CaPAS is directly funded and managed by DFID India, it has a professional reporting line to Department for International Development (DFID) Procurement Group (PrG) based in UK which is responsible for providing contracting and procurement services to DFID outside of South Asia Region.

CaPAS is the largest procurement unit outside the Headquarters of DFID and has delegated authority to issue contracts up to £5 million which is likely to be increased shortly. In 2008/9 CaPAS let 406 contracts with a value of £8.5M. These contracts cover both programme related assignments as well as corporate services.

CaPAS leads on all local procurement activities in Department for International Development India (DFIDI) and works closely with the other development partners (UN, World Bank, etc) and the State and Central Government of India (GoI).

Procurement is an integral component in governance in India; CaPAS is involved in capacity building with GoI and State Governments, particularly in the area of service contracting and systems. CaPAS will be taking on the role of South Asia Procurement Hub early in 2010 and will then provide support to Bangladesh, Nepal and Afghanistan for contracts above the OJEU threshold.

CaPAS forms part of DFID India’s Corporate Services Team (CST) which also includes Financial Management Team, Human Resources Team, Facilities and Estates Team.

Reason for Hire:

To provide leadership, oversight, technical advisory and capacity building support to ensure DFID India and offices in the South Asia region are fully compliant with DFID’s procurement policies and procedures.

Key Roles and Responsibilities:

Contract Management Functions

Ÿ Manage CaPAS so that it provides value adding and cost effective contracting services above OJEU threshold to other DFID Offices within the South Asia Region

Ÿ Carry out the processing of consultancy contract requests up to a contract value ceiling of £5,000,000.

Ÿ Help DFID India to delivery DFID’s Commercial Strategy

Ÿ Refer contracts with a value of £5,000,000 to £10,000,000 to DFID India’s procurement Advisor for approval.

Ÿ Ensure that consultancy firms are given fair consideration for competitive selection processes

Ÿ Carry out or supervise commercial/financial evaluations and have an insight on the technical bids

Management of Staff and the Section

Ÿ Oversee the day to day operations of CaPAS and ensure that it contributes effectively to achievement of overall Corporate Services Team’s Delivery Framework.

Ÿ Effectively line manage CaPAS staff to enable them to utilise their full potential and also contribute to their further development.

Ÿ Represent CaPAS in internal and external meetings.

Ÿ Deliver contract & procurement training to DFID India and potentially other offices in South Asia Region.

Ÿ Undertake post tender negotiation to deliver value for money and achieve annual contractual savings of over £1,000,000.

Ÿ Provide timely and accurate advice on procurement and contracting issues for both programme and TA contracts.

Ÿ Contribute to the policy and strategic development of CaPAS and inputs to the implementation of DFID’s Commercial Strategy.

Ÿ Adapt ‘ways of working’ to support the development of more strategic procurement capability across DFID

Ÿ Liaise with PrG and DFID India’s procurement Adviser on procurement policy issues.

Procurement Advisory

Ÿ Assist Procurement Advisor in mapping procurement to corporate strategy

Ÿ To influence the programme output by being involved at the design stage

Ÿ Manage CaPAS so that it assists DFID India in working closely with Development Partners, GoI and HMG to develop harmonized procurement procedures incorporating best practices.

Ÿ Assist in resolving difficulties in procurement related programme problems.

Ÿ Capacity Building to develop State and GoI procurement systems

Ÿ Proactively participate in the Procurement Professional Cadre

Other responsibilities:

In addition to working with colleagues within the Office, the post holder will need to liaise closely with other Development Partners in India. In addition as part of the Shared Services/Harmonisation Agenda CST works closely with other HMG Departments based in the British High Commission in Delhi, and CaPAS undertakes a significant (and increasing) amount of shared contracting activity.

DFID India is currently located away from the British High Commission but is planning to co-locate in 2012. Head of CaPAS will play an important roll in assisting DFID India in this move, and in subsequent provision of “post co-location” harmonised corporate services.

Key qualifications and skills:

Ÿ Applicant should ideally have MCIPS, or University degree or Masters in Business Management, Materials Management or Business Administration.

Ÿ Have at least 6 - 8 years of extensive relevant procurement and logistics experience

Ÿ Demonstrate the ability to apply technical skills in a team leadership role to resolve and manage complex issues in relation to procurement policies and procedures.

Ÿ Ability to use technical expertise to advise and support Program Teams and Partner Government(s) in procurement planning and design.

Ÿ Have proven and effective negotiation and influencing skills/experience

Ÿ · Have sufficient professional procurement knowledge to be a source of professional advice to DFID in both India and in South Asia Region on issues relating to procurement.

Ÿ A history of personal effectiveness, with a strong ability to communicate and develop effective working relationships with various stakeholders.

Ÿ The ability to work to tight deadlines and deliver quality outputs.

Desirable

Ÿ A broad understanding of public finance management issues.

Ÿ Applicants should understand the broad range of development issues, including the aims and practices of the UK’s and other Donor Partners’ development assistance, and the policy and institutional environment affecting development outcomes.

Nature of employment: Full time Open ended position. To apply, one must either be an Indian national or have necessary employment permit to work in India. DFID is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all parts of the community.

Compensation: The salary for the post will be 12.3 lacs per annum plus other benefits including coverage under accident and medical insurance schemes.

For more details/ Interested candidates can send in their CVs and 3 references to anamika@thirdsectorpartners.com or Contact us at: +91 22 6660 3558/6660 3559. Only short listed candidates would be contacted.

Last date for receiving applications is 19 Oct 2009.

Forget yourself for others, and others will never forget you.