Project Procurement Expert, SAMS, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

1. POSITION VACANT: Project Procurement Expert, SAMS, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

2. ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Our Client, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNDP has been working in India since 1951 in almost all areas of human development - from systems and institutional strengthening to inclusive growth and sustainable livelihoods, as well as sustainable energy, environment and resilience. With projects and programmes in every state and union territory in India, UNDP works with national and subnational government, and diverse development actors to deliver people-centric results, particularly for the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. As the integrator for collective action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the UN system, we are committed to support the Government of India’s national development vision and priorities and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs for the people and the planet.

For more information about UNDP India, please visit https://www.undp.org/india

PROJECT BACKGROUND:

Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, faces a wide spectrum of disaster risks owing to its diverse geography, high population density, rapid urbanization, and climatic vulnerabilities. Recurrent floods, seasonal droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes, industrial accidents, and urban disasters significantly disrupt lives, infrastructure, agriculture, and livelihoods. While the Government of Uttar Pradesh has taken commendable steps to strengthen disaster preparedness, existing institutional capacities and planning frameworks require substantial support to keep pace with the growing risks exacerbated by climate change.

Recognizing these challenges, the Relief Commissioner’s Office and the UPSDMA are partnering with UNDP to build a comprehensive, resilient, and forward-looking disaster risk management system. The proposal is aligned with the recommendations of the XV Finance Commission, which advocates for proactive disaster mitigation, preparedness, and risk-informed development planning.

UNDP’s technical assistance will support a multi-pronged approach, including and not limited to the development of District and Departmental Disaster Management Plans, Hazard Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (HRVAs), Urban Disaster Management Plans (UDMPs), and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs). A dedicated team of experts will be deployed at the Uttar Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (UPSDMA) office to provide strategic direction and technical coordination.

In this context, UNDP is looking to onboard a Project Procurement Expert on a third-party contract for providing overall strategic direction, coordination, and stakeholder engagement for the effective implementation of the disaster risk mitigation initiative. The incumbent will coordinate a team of experts, facilitate inter-departmental collaboration, and deliver high-quality outputs, including district and departmental disaster management plans, hazard risk vulnerability assessments and MIS integration with state partner.

3. JOB PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF WORK (SOW):

Reporting to the Programme Specialist (Resilience), the Project Procurement Expert will support UPSDMA, in planning, executing, and monitoring its key procurement activities. The expert will facilitate vendor management and support transparent and efficient procurement systems to strengthen implementation of DPRs, HRVA, MIS, and DMPs and other related disaster management activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
(A) Procurement Planning & Strategy:

(1) Support the UPSDMA in the preparation of the annual procurement plan in alignment with DPR deliverables and timelines;

(2) Identify procurement needs across components such as HRVA, MIS, infrastructure, and capacity building and other related activities.

(B) Tendering & Vendor Selection:

(1) Draft and support the UPSDMA in the development of RFPs, RFQs etc;

(2) Support bid evaluations, pre-bid meetings, and technical/financial analysis in a transparent and timely manner;

(3) Assist in vendor identification, shortlisting, vendor creation and maintaining a qualified supplier database.

(C) Contract Management & Compliance:

(1) Prepare contract templates and manage the contract lifecycle, including execution, amendments, and closeout;

(2) Support compliance monitoring, documentation, and risk mitigation throughout the procurement process.
(3) Ensure adherence to financial and procurement regulations under the XV Finance Commission and government systems.

(D) Monitoring & Documentation:

(1) Maintain an up-to-date procurement tracker to monitor procurement status, lead times, and budget allocations;

(2) Support internal and external audits by ensuring procurement documentation is well-maintained and accessible.

(E) Capacity Building & Technical Support:
(1) Provide guidance and handholding support to UPSDMA and line departments on public procurement systems;
(2) Facilitate training sessions on procurement norms, compliance, and good practices for relevant stakeholders;
(3) Collaborate with UPDESCO, RAHAT, and other implementation agencies to streamline procurement workflows.

4. QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES: 

Qualification:

Bachelor’s degree Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field.

Experience:
(1) Minimum three years of relevant experience in procurement and contract management, preferably within government, UN, or donor-funded development projects;

(2) Demonstrated experience in public procurement procedures, tendering, vendor management, and compliance with government financial rules;

(3) Familiarity with procurement under schemes such as the XV Finance Commission, and platforms like GeM, e-Tender portals is desirable;

(4) Prior experience with donor-funded projects, UN agencies, or development sector projects will be an asset;

(5) Additional experience in procurement of goods and services is desirable.

Skills and Competencies:
(1) In-depth understanding of public procurement rules, General Financial Rules (GFR), and government tendering procedures;

(2) Sound knowledge of contract management, procurement planning, bid evaluation, and compliance mechanisms in line with donor or government norms;

(3) Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to handle large and complex datasets;

(4) Familiarity with project performance indicators, monitoring systems, and MIS data flows;

(5) Effective communication and documentation skills to present data to technical and non-technical audiences.

Languages:
Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English and Hindi is essential.

Competencies:

Technical Competencies:

(1) Experience in working with disaster-related datasets, including HRVA, DMPs, and early warning systems;

(2) Knowledge of integrating tabular and spatial data for GIS-based decision-making;

(3) Familiarity with government reporting formats and SDMIS/National Disaster Database systems;

(4) Experience in predictive modelling, statistical forecasting, or AI-based risk analytics is an advantage;

(5) Ability to contribute to real-time data dashboards and mobile data collection systems (e.g., Kobo Toolbox, ODK);

(6) Understanding of data privacy, protection, and data governance frameworks in public systems.

Core Competencies:

(1) Strong written communication skills, with the ability to draft technical notes, reports, official correspondence, and knowledge materials clearly and effectively;

(2) Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of building trust and maintaining positive relationships with diverse stakeholders;

(3) Ability to convey complex technical information to non-technical audiences, such as local beneficiaries and school staff;

(4) Skilled in conducting training sessions and presentations in Hindi and English as required;

(5) Maintains regular, transparent communication with supervisors, UNDP office, government officials, and project partners;

(5) Proficient in using MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and digital communication tools for reporting, documentation, and coordination.

5. CONSULTANCY FEE:

The monthly consultancy fee for the position is budgeted at INR 125,000/-. The professional fee will be subject to withholding taxes, as applicable.

6. NATURE OF ENGAGEMENT:

The selected candidate shall be engaged as a Consultant on the rolls of SAMS, a third-party payrolling agency, for a full-time consultancy engagement for a period of one year. It is explicitly clarified that this consultancy engagement does not constitute a promise or guarantee of future employment, with SAMS, or our client, or any other organization associated with the project. 

7. LOCATION: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

8. REFERENCE: PPE-SAMS

9. CONTACT INFORMATION:

Team SAMS
Strategic Alliance Management Services P Ltd.
1/1B, Choudhary Hetram House, Bharat Nagar
New Friends Colony, New Delhi 110 025
Phone Nos.: 011- 4081 9900; 4165 3612

www.sams.co.in

10. APPLICATION PROCESS:

Eligible candidates interested in the position are requested to upload their applications by or before December 30, 2025.