Purchasing Agent

CLOSING DATE OF THE POSITION: February 25, 2016

Vacancy Announcement Number: 16/023

ALL ORDINARILY RESIDENT (OR) APPLICANTS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION.

The US Mission in Dar es Salaam is seeking eligible and qualified applicants for the position of Purchasing Agent in the General Services Section – Procurement Unit. 

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION 

Receives, prepares and processes procurement requisitions from customers for prompt action from supplies.

Serve as petty cash purchaser and procurement agent assistant for local purchases. 

Demonstrates excellent customer service to US Customers and Tanzanian vendors

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

45%
Receives procurement requests from GSOs, Procurement Agents and Customers. Determines type of action necessary and sources from which the request can be satisfied; This includes soliciting bids and negotiating prices of commodities. Process petty cash Purchases for prompt delivery to customers.

20%
Prepares purchase orders for items to be obtained from local market and other sources. Requests bids or quotations by Telephone, correspondence, advertisement and personally. Visits bidder's establishment in order to better determine capabilities and to negotiate price and other Conditions.

20%
Processes and follows up requests for prompt action by Suppliers. Reviews price responses and recommends the best offer. Establish and maintain frequent petty cash suppliers contacts, reviews their capabilities and promptness.

15% 
Performs all administrative tasks associated with the orders: FPDS, e-filing, cash reconciliation, etc Watch contract timeline for expiration dates. Propose new vendors and creative solutions to procurement based on market research.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

All applicants must address each required qualification listed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item. Failure to do so may result in a determination that the applicant is not qualified.

1. Education: 
   Completion of Secondary School (form IV) is required.
2. Experience: 
   Two years' experience in procurement and in supplies is required.
3. Language:
   English Level III (good working knowledge) and Kiswahili Level IV (fluent) is required. (This will be tested)
4. Skills and Abilities: 
   Proficiency in operating Microsoft Word, Excel and Access and position will require driving a manual (Stick-shift) car. Must possess valid B&D license and be able to drive manual vehicle is required. (This will be tested).
5. Job Knowledge: 
   Knowledge of GSA and local procurement regulations; also inventory control. Knowledge of local commodity service sources is required.

SELECTION PROCESS: When qualified, applicants who are U.S. Citizen Eligible family Members (USEFMs) and/or preference-eligible U.S. Veterans are given a preference in hiring. Therefore, it is essential that these applicants make themselves known as having a hiring preference and specially address the required applications above in their application.

HIRING PREFERENCE ORDER: 
1. USEFM who is ALSO a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran
2. USEFM OR a preference-eligible U.S. Veteran
3. FS on LWOP

ADDITIONAL SELECTION CRITERIA:

1. Management will consider when determining successful candidacy: nepotism, conflicts of interest, budget, and residency status.
2. Current OR employees serving a probationary period are not eligible to apply. Current OR employees with an Overall Summary rating of Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory on their most recent Employee Performance report (EPR) are not eligible to apply.
3. Current NOR employees hired on a Family Member Employment (FMA) or a Personal Service Agreement (PSA) are not eligible to apply within the first 90 calendar days of their employment, unless they have a When Actually Employed (WAE) work schedule.

HOW TO APPLY: applicants must submit the following documents to be considered:

1. Universal Application for Employment (UAE)(Form Ds-174), which is available on our website or by contacting Human resources, (see "For Further Information" above); and
2. Any additional documentation that supports or addresses the requirements listed above (e.g. transcripts, degrees, etc.)
3. Copy of Passport, or, National ID, Resident/Work Permit.

IMPORTANT: Applicants claiming a U.S. Veteran's preference must submit written documentation confirming eligibility (e.g., Member Copy 4 of Form DD-214, Letter from the Veteran's Administration, or certification documenting eligibility under the VOW Act with an expected discharge no later than 120 days after the certification is submitted) by the closing date of the vacancy announcement. If the written documentation confirming eligibility is not received in the HR office by the closing date of the vacancy announcement, the U.S. Veteran's preference will not be considered in the application process. Specific criteria for receiving a U.S. Veteran's preference may be found in HR/OE's Family Member Employment Policy (FMEP).

WHERE TO APPLY: 

American Embassy
Human Resources Office
P.O. Box 9123
Dar es Salaam