Based in Astana, the Grants and Procurement Officer works under direct supervision of the Team Leader in support of the “Team Europe Initiative Digital Connectivity in Central Asia - Soft Pillar Action”.

The Grants and Procurement Officer is part of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and is responsible for ensuring overall management of procurement procedures, global contracts and grants monitoring, while ensuring accountability towards Expertise France and the European Union’s rules.

He/she will work on a daily basis with the PMU Team (Team Leader; Project Assistants; MEAL Officer; Communications Officer, 2x Country Advisors, 4x Technical Component Coordinators), will support each component (Specific Objective) and will be in regular contact with the finance and admin teams of DG INTPA and EF HQ. His/her responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Procurement and contracts management:

• Support the planning, implementation and monitoring of procurements of services, equipment, and supplies throughout the full procurement lifecycle (identification, formulation, preparation procurement documents, analysis of bids/bidders, evaluation, selection, contract signature, monitoring of implementation and deliverables, invoicing, etc.);
• Contribute to and design (as appropriate) procurement documentation (feasibility studies, terms of reference, technical specifications, evaluation forms etc.); 
• Develop and update planning and reporting tools with regard to procurements (Procurements Master Plan, respective sections of the project management software, etc.);
• Ensure harmonization and compliance of the team’s procurement procedures;
• Manage global contracts at the PMU level;
• Support the project teams and component coordinators in monitoring the execution of contracts in accordance with their provisions vis-à-vis counterparts, particularly in terms of modifications (amendments and other execution acts), verification operations, and the receipt of deliverables, activities, and services;
• Participate in monitoring relations with suppliers;
• Participation in capitalizing on price and supplier lists, as well as documentation in use (import-export, exemption, taxes, etc.).
• Participation in the analysis of the purchasing environment at the national and regional levels.

Grants management:

• Monitor the execution of grant agreements to third-party organisations, in particular non pillar-assessed consortium partners;
• Steer the relation with grantees, ensure deliverables and reporting quality-check, plan and implement financial instalments in line with contractual agreements;
• Consolidate narrative and financial reports and ensure compliance with EU regulations;
• Plan and coordinate audits.