Specialist I, Procurement Specialist (Humanitarian Emergency Response)

Catholic Relief Services | CRS•Baltimore, MD

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Procurement Specialist supports humanitarian emergency and rapid response operations by carrying out assigned procurement activities to obtain goods and services for global and country programs. Working within established procedures and under guidance, s/he supports time‑sensitive procurement in high‑risk operating environments while adhering to CRS procurement principles, donor regulations, and humanitarian standards. The Specialist I contributes to efficient, transparent, and well‑documented procurement processes that enable life‑saving assistance for vulnerable populations. Note: This is a remote work position.

Requirements

Proficient in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
Good knowledge of donor procurement regulations (e.g., Department of State, World Bank, UN), particularly in emergency or rapid response contexts.
Knowledge of international and national procurement regulations, emergency procurement approaches, and local market conditions in challenging or fragile environments.
Knowledge of contract terms and conditions, with demonstrated ability to successfully execute purchase orders and contracts against technical specifications under time pressure.
Knowledge of Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) and their practical application to humanitarian procurement, including allocation of risk, cost, and responsibility for delivery in emergency and fragile operating contexts.
Strong planning, coordination, and prioritization skills, with the ability to manage multiple urgent requests simultaneously.
Solid analytical skills and sound judgment, particularly in balancing speed, compliance, and risk in emergency procurement.
Proactive, results‑oriented, and service‑oriented, with a strong focus on supporting emergency response teams.
Demonstrated ethical conduct in accordance with recognized professional and organizational codes of ethics.
Effective negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
Required Languages: English. French, Spanish, and/or Arabic are highly desirable.
Be willing and able to travel up to 25%, including to fragile or emergency response contexts.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification in procurement or supply chain management a plus.
Experience with database or ERP systems highly desirable.
Experience with local and regional procurement of food commodities in a humanitarian context, including quality and food safety considerations.

Responsibilities

Complete fully compliant tactical procurements in humanitarian and emergency response contexts. Contribute to ensuring compliance with CRS procurement principles, standards, and policies; donor regulations; and applicable local statutory requirements, while balancing speed, risk, and value for money.
Support emergency budget holders and response teams by providing timely market and pricing information to inform rapid response planning and budget preparation.
Execute end‑to‑end procurement processes under tight timelines, including cost estimates, solicitation documents, bidding process facilitation, negotiations, and preparation of purchase orders, contracts, and related documentation for emergency goods and services.
Coordinate closely with procurement colleagues, emergency response teams, logistics, finance, and program staff to track procurement actions, delivery timelines, and receipt of goods and services in dynamic operating environments.
Collect and verify documentation to confirm that goods and services delivered meet technical specifications, quality standards, delivery timelines, and contracted costs, with particular attention to emergency response requirements.
Maintain active communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders to follow up on contractual terms and conditions, address performance or delivery issues, and support contract or purchase order amendments as required by evolving emergency needs.
Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date procurement documentation for emergency procurement actions to support transparency and audit readiness. Compile basic reports and coordinate document retrieval requests to support compliance, donor, and audit requirements.
Enter, maintain, and update procurement data in Insight to ensure accurate tracking, reporting, and audit readiness.
Contribute to procurement learning and knowledge‑sharing by documenting lessons learned from emergency procurement activities.
Support teams by providing basic information and guidance on emergency procurement procedures, market conditions, and risk mitigation approaches.