The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global leader in nature conservation and sustainable development, uniting governments, civil society, and the private sector to advance policy, science, and action to conserve biodiversity and safeguard natural resources. With its headquarters in Gland, Switzerland, IUCN operates across more than 160 countries, leveraging its broad network of experts and member organizations.
In the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESARO), IUCN implements a wide array of programmes and projects addressing environmental sustainability, biodiversity protection, climate adaptation, and community-led conservation. These initiatives require an efficient, responsive, and well-governed operational and procurement framework to ensure timely delivery, transparency, compliance, and strategic resource utilization.
To support these goals, IUCN is seeking a dynamic and experienced professional to serve as Regional Procurement and Operations Manager at its Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a pivotal role within the ESARO structure and will serve as the primary focal point for procurement and operations in the region.
Job Purpose
Under the direct supervision of the Regional Head of Finance and Administration (ESARO) and with a matrix reporting line to the Senior Procurement Officer at IUCN Headquarters, the Regional Procurement and Operations Manager will support and implement IUCN’s global procurement policy throughout the region. The position also serves as the operations lead within ESARO, ensuring efficient administration, IT support, safety and security coordination, and logistical support in compliance with IUCN standards and donor regulations.
Detailed Job Description
1. Procurement Responsibilities
As the procurement focal point for ESARO, the successful candidate will:
- Provide expert procurement guidance to staff in the region and serve as liaison with the HQ Senior Procurement Officer regarding global procurement policy updates, procedural improvements, templates, and tools.
- Act as a Super-User for the IUCN e-Tendering Portal, supporting its utilization across all projects and country offices.
- Conduct regional procurement needs assessments, support the development of annual procurement plans, and identify logistics gaps. Provide strategies to enhance purchasing power and reduce transaction costs.
- Set up and maintain a procurement monitoring system to track progress against procurement plans. Participate in regular portfolio review meetings with programme and project staff.
- Lead procurement processes for preferred vendors across the region—especially for strategic services such as travel, hotels, office supplies, and transport—ensuring quality, value, and transparency.
- Respond to procurement-related queries during the annual compliance reviews conducted by IUCN Headquarters.
- Collaborate with donors to reconcile procurement policies in cases where donor and IUCN policies differ, ensuring alignment and accountability.
- Assist the HQ Senior Procurement Officer with the evaluation of Single Tender Requests for specialized or high-value procurements.
For projects with dedicated Procurement Officers, this role provides quality assurance across the procurement cycle. For projects without dedicated procurement staff, the role will:
- Manage end-to-end procurement processes for all Requests for Proposals (RFPs), ensuring compliance with IUCN and donor procurement rules.
- Source vendors and assess legal, financial, and technical performance capacities of suppliers.
- Secure all required internal and external procurement approvals, in line with IUCN’s delegation of authority and project funding agreements.
- Review contracts and procurement documentation for quality, risk, and completeness, offering procurement assistance to programme and administrative staff as needed.
Additionally, for Regional Office procurement, responsibilities include:
- Preparation of all procurement-related documentation, including contracts, purchase orders, customs clearance, and tax exemption documentation.
- Monitoring contract execution, recommending amendments or extensions, and guiding stakeholders on contract terms and obligations.
- Providing procurement training and mentoring to new and junior staff.
- Executing other procurement duties as assigned.
2. Operations Responsibilities
This position also oversees general operations functions, with a mandate to:
- Offer technical oversight and guidance to administrative staff across country offices in the region, ensuring policy and procedural consistency.
- Lead onboarding and operational setup for new offices and newly initiated projects, particularly during ramp-up or scale-up periods.
- Monitor operational activities across ESARO, ensuring alignment with IUCN’s internal controls, policies, and donor requirements.
- Identify and mitigate risks related to operational functions, including security risks, asset management issues, or irregularities in procurement.
- Maintain and update accurate records related to contracts, procurement activities, and asset inventories.
- Coordinate and support internal and external audits and operational reviews.
- Facilitate cross-functional coordination among HR, IT, Finance, and Procurement departments to strengthen operational delivery.
- Promote institutional knowledge sharing and continuous improvement in operational procedures through regular training and communication.
3. Information Technology (IT) Responsibilities
In this capacity, the Regional Procurement and Operations Manager will:
- Ensure that IT systems and infrastructure across country offices are compliant with IUCN’s global standards and meet operational demands.
- Coordinate IT planning and procurement processes in collaboration with procurement and administration teams.
- Oversee IT policy adherence, cybersecurity compliance, and the implementation of data protection measures.
- Support country offices in establishing and maintaining IT Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Plans.
- Manage regional IT procurement including laptops, network infrastructure, and software licensing for cost-effective, bulk purchasing.
- Promote technological innovations and digitization across operational processes, including digital asset management systems and cloud-based collaboration tools.
4. Safety and Security Responsibilities
Security oversight is a critical element of this role, encompassing:
- Ensuring that all country offices maintain comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and contingency preparedness plans that support staff safety and business continuity.
- Overseeing regional implementation of security protocols and the proper escalation and reporting of security incidents.
- Ensuring that contingency plans and SOPs are periodically reviewed and updated to reflect changing risk environments.
- Supporting coordinated emergency responses during crises such as civil unrest, political instability, or natural disasters, in close coordination with country-level security focal points.
- Ensuring that all offices maintain adequate insurance coverage for physical premises, vehicles, and operational assets.
Desired Profile
This is a strategic, regionally focused position that requires a seasoned professional with deep expertise in procurement, operations, compliance, and institutional risk management. The ideal candidate will be proactive, collaborative, and capable of working across diverse country contexts, project portfolios, and donor frameworks.
A strong track record of overseeing large procurement budgets, familiarity with international donor procurement standards, and experience in managing cross-functional teams across multiple countries is highly desirable. Candidates must demonstrate excellent analytical skills, an understanding of operational systems and technologies, and the ability to foster operational excellence in a decentralized organizational setting.
Duty Station and Reporting
- Duty Station: Nairobi, Kenya (IUCN ESARO Regional Office)
- Reports to: Regional Head of Finance and Administration, ESARO (direct line)
- Matrix Reporting Line: Senior Procurement Officer, IUCN Headquarters
Why Join IUCN?
At IUCN, you will be part of an international organization committed to conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable development. You will contribute to projects that empower local communities, preserve ecosystems, and shape global environmental policies.
This position offers an excellent opportunity to apply your procurement and operations skills in a mission-driven context with tangible impact. You will work with experienced and passionate professionals across the Eastern and Southern Africa Region and gain exposure to complex, multi-donor project environments.
Application Process
If you are a results-oriented professional with a passion for procurement, operations, and environmental sustainability, we invite you to apply for this critical regional position.
