Procurement Specialist (Home based Retainer) - Belmopan, Belize

Position description

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Belize’s climate finance readiness and sustainable development goals. Embedded within the Climate Finance Unit, the Procurement Specialist will support the creation of robust procurement systems that enable transparent, efficient, and compliant delivery of climate-related projects. The role offers dynamic engagement with government ministries, development partners, and local stakeholders, helping to mobilize resources and accelerate the implementation of Belize’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The incumbent will assist the Government of Belize’s Climate Finance Unit (CFU), which is housed within the Ministry of Economic Transformation. This mandate is highly strategic: the Ministry’s core responsibilities include tracking and monitoring the national Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP), valued at over $1.2 billion. The role is designed to ensure the efficient, transparent, and compliant acquisition of goods, works, and services needed to accelerate NDC-related climate projects, thereby directly contributing to increasing the Ministry’s overall project implementation rate within this large national framework.

The incumbent will serve as the primary procurement liaison for the CFU. This strategic role is key to accelerating the procurement processes for sustainable development and climate-related projects. The successful delivery of the Procurement Implementation Plan, the role’s key technical deliverable will act as the essential tool for managing all acquisition and compliance activities, thereby directly supporting Belize’s NDC implementation.

The embedded procurement specialist will implement all tasks under the direct supervision of the NDC Partnership Country Engagement Specialist and will work in close collaboration with the Director of the Climate Finance Unit and different ministerial offices. 

• This is a retainer national vacancy / position for twelve 12 months, maximum of 220 working days, with possibility of an extension depending on satisfactory performance and on availability of funds. 

• This is a Home based position, meaning that the incumbent will not work from a UNOPS office but from the government facilities. Therefore, the incumbent will need to use his/her own laptop and software. 

• As this is a Local Position, in order to be eligible, the incumbent should be a national of Belize or have a valid residence permit in the country. 

• Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Procurement Specialist will support the Climate Finance Unit in strengthening its procurement systems and processes to enable effective delivery of climate-related projects. The incumbent will contribute technical expertise to the development of a Procurement Implementation Plan, assist in establishing tools for contract and data management, and help ensure procurement activities align with national and international compliance standards. By building institutional capacity and improving operational efficiency, the role will directly contribute to Belize’s climate finance readiness and NDC implementation.

1. Development of a comprehensive Procurement Implementation Plan

• Conduct a needs assessment to identify procurement priorities and capacity gaps within the Climate Finance Unit (CFU).
• Develop a detailed implementation plan with timelines, resources, and measurable performance indicators (KPIs).
• Facilitate stakeholder validation and formal dissemination.
• Coordinate with the Climate Finance Unit and Focal Points to develop and maintain a centralized database for the Procurement Implementation Plan, ensuring discrepancies are identified and addressed.

2. Creation and standardization of procurement documents and templates 

• Review current practices against international standards and IFI requirements.
• Develop a suite of standardized documents (RFQs, contracts, evaluation forms). for the CFU.
• Establish a review schedule and provide staff training on template usage

3. Implementation of an effective Contract Management System

• Design guidelines and tools for proactive contract oversight.
• Implement a user-friendly Contract Management Database using readily available tools such as Microsoft Excel, Access to efficiently track contract details, deadlines, payments, and status updates.
• Conduct internal audits to ensure transparency and accountability.

4. Establishment of a centralized Procurement Database

• Design and implement a robust centralized digital database system for procurement data integrity and access.
• Populate the database with historical and current CFU procurement data 
• Implement a system for regular updates and backups to ensure data reliability and continuity.

5. Provide technical expertise for procurement evaluations for the Climate Finance Unit (CFU)

• Participate as a technical expert in the evaluation process, providing specialized analysis of technical and financial bids to support the committee’s review.
• Provide technical expert insights during evaluation meetings, contributing specialized observations on bid submissions to assist stakeholders in their assessment of transparency and compliance with relevant standards.
• Contribute technical inputs to evaluation reports and documentation, providing specialized data and observations to help the decision-making committee reach informed procurement outcomes.

6. Targeted capacity building for the Climate Finance Unit (CFU)

• Design and deliver hands-on workshops and advisory support focused on procurement processes, IFI procedures, contract management, and database usage specific to the CFU’s needs.
• Provide ongoing support to ensure staff can effectively collaborate and maintain technical proficiency in day-to-day procurement activities.

7. Coordination and communication with key stakeholders

• Ensure that communications relevant to procurement engagement are shared with relevant national, international, and local level stakeholders.
• Facilitate periodic coordination and information exchange among stakeholders in the country, with the aim of leveraging and mobilizing their respective advantages in support of the procurement Implementation Plan.
• Organize stakeholder meetings to monitor progress, coordinate implementation efforts, and deliver targeted capacity building.

8. Continuous monitoring of the Procurement Plan and Investment Plan

• Monitor and assess implementation of the Procurement Plan and develop a live digital dashboard that can show the status, performance, and next steps.
• Prepare quarterly update reports summarizing key insights and progress updates, challenges, and recommendations for the way forward.

9. Preparation and submission of monthly procurement progress reports 

• Establish a standardized reporting template and mechanism for systematic collection and consolidation of procurement data from relevant departments
• Analyze, consolidate, and summarize procurement data to generate detailed monthly Procurement Progress Reports.
• Share and review monthly reports with stakeholders to track improvements and proactively address emerging challenges.

Application instructions

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