Procurement Specialist , Astana, Kazakhstan

2601766

Procurement Specialist

Job Posting: 17/Aug/2026

Closure Date: 14/Sep/2026, 9:59:00 PM

Organizational Unit : FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan

Job Type: Non-staff opportunities

Type of Requisition : PSA (Personal Services Agreement)

Grade Level : N/A

Primary Location: Kazakhstan-Astana

Duration : 6 months with a possibility of extension

Post Number : N/A

FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions.

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

Organizational Setting

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Our goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

The FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan is responsible for developing, promoting, overseeing, and implementing strategies for addressing food security, agriculture, and rural development priorities in the country in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan and other national stakeholders.

This position will be based in the Astana Office, in Kazakhstan.

Reporting Lines

The Procurement Specialist will work under the overall supervision of the National Professional Officer/Deputy Head of the office and the direct supervision of the Administrative Analyst, and in close collaboration with other Administrative and Operations units, and relevant counterparts in the Regional (REU), Subregional (SEC) Offices and HQ, as needed.

Technical Focus

Timely, efficient and effective procurement of goods and services in compliance with the relevant FAO Rules and Regulations.

Tasks and responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the National Professional Officer/Deputy Head of the office and the direct supervision of the Administrative Analyst, the incumbent with undertake the following duties:

• Assist in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the Annual Procurement Plan in coordination with the Lead Technical Officer (LTO), Project Managers and requesting units;
• Prepare and manage procurement processes, including selecting the appropriate solicitation method, drafting tender documents, developing sourcing strategies, issuing solicitation documents through FAO corporate systems (including e-tendering), and supporting bid and proposal evaluations in accordance with FAO procurement policies and procedures;
• Conduct cost and price analyses of quotations and proposals, prepare evaluation reports and recommendations, and support the contract award process;
• Prepare and administer Purchase Orders (POs), Letters of Agreement (LoAs), service contracts, framework agreements, and related amendments and extensions;
• Support the implementation and administration of procurement contracts throughout their lifecycle;
• Liaise with FAO Headquarters, Regional and Subregional Offices, suppliers, programme personnel on procurement-related matters, and provide guidance on FAO procurement procedures;
• Monitor supplier performance, including the quality and timely delivery of goods and services, and coordinate the resolution of procurement- and delivery-related issues;
• Support supplier management activities, including supplier registration and updates through ServiceNow;
• Monitor order status and follow up on deliveries to ensure timely receipt of goods and services;
• Support procurement-related financial processes, including invoice submission, clearance and correction, in coordination with the finance function;
• Prepare documentation and presentations for the Local Procurement Committee (LPC) and support the committee's procurement review process;
• Provide administrative support for customs clearance procedures and inspection arrangements for international shipments, as required;
• Review and calculate liquidated damages for delayed delivery of goods and services, where applicable, prior to payment processing in GRMS;
• Maintain complete and accurate procurement records, databases, filing systems and contractual documentation in accordance with FAO requirements;
• Contribute to procurement process improvement initiatives and support the implementation of changes to procurement procedures and systems;
• Perform other related duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in business administration, management planning or other related fields.
• 3 years of relevant experience in project/programme support, financial and administrative assistance to projects. Experience working in UN system is an asset.
• Working knowledge of English.
• Working knowledge of Russian and Kazakh languages is an asset.
• National of Kazakhstan or resident of the country with valid work permit

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing).
• Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org
• Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
• Only language proficiency certificates from UN accredited external providers and/or FAO language official examinations (LPE, ILE, LRT) will be accepted as proof of the level of knowledge of languages indicated in the online applications.
• For other issues, visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/
• Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO's behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO's client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT