Asset Disposal Officer/Auctioneer – Consultant

WFP celebrates and embraces diversity. It is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all its employees and encourages qualified candidates to apply irrespective of race, colour, national origin, ethnic or social background, genetic information, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, religion or belief, HIV status or disability.

Please note that this vacancy will be used to recruit for more than one position.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes. Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need. WFP has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2020 for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Asset Management Unit (AMU) is part of the Infrastructure and Facilities Management Branch (MSDI) of WFP. The AMU is responsible for providing all WFP offices with the necessary policies, guidance, tools, to manage assets globally. Asset (including light and heavy vehicles, generators and pre-fabs but also ITC equipment, etc.) are essential to deliver our mandate to serve our beneficiaries. AMU is taking great strides in its new approach to responsible asset management through improved tracking, accounting, policy and guidance.

The Global Asset Service (GAS) team, part of the AMU has also been created in 2017 and is aimed at supporting WFP Country Offices with the actual disposal of assets they have in excess or that are obsolete through public auctions. Since its inception, the GAS team managed to dispose of assets and generate cashable savings of circa $17M, which were reinvested in Country Office operations. Considering the huge number of old and surplus assets with Country Offices, which occupy significant space in WFP warehouses and require unnecessary efforts to manage them, it is crucial to arrange facilitated auctions. Fostering inter-agency cooperation, WFP has established a partnership with UNHCR which is providing auction sales services to other UN agencies.

One of the objectives for the GAS team is also to systematically integrate environmental considerations into our processes and work to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and end hunger.

This position is home/remote-based with the expectation that the candidate has easy access to a well-connected airport to enable frequent travel and must have a consistent and reliable internet connection from their remote location. The incumbent will be under the supervision of the Head of Global Asset Service Team and ultimately to the Head of Asset Management Unit within MSDI in Rome.

ACCOUNTABILITIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The assignment relates to the disposal of Assets, including Light Vehicles, in WFPs Country Offices through a sale by auction process. The incumbent will be expected to coordinate the disposal of unused and obsolete assets in the Country Offices, where and when required, as well as work in close collaboration with AMU in HQ, WFP Country Offices and Regional Bureaus, and other participating, inter-agency auction managers. In particular, he/she will be responsible for the following:

• Contribute and guide the overall WFP auction planning exercise to ensure that the best and most appropriate auction methods are put in place. This should also ensure that CO operational needs are taken into consideration
• Organise, conduct, and document the auctions assigned as per plan. The following sub-activities will be considered
  • Identify the saleable assets present at Regional and Country Office level and ensure completion of all actions to prepare for the auction as per auction checklist
  • Set and agree on reserve prices with the CO and UNHCR (if applicable);
  • Ensure that lots are properly defined and valued;
  • Seek specific information regarding the host Country’s laws and regulations regarding the disposal of assets including any environmental issues;
  • Be present during the auctions to ensure that the auction is carried out correctly by the designated auctioneer and that WFP’s best interests are guaranteed:
  • Preparing the auction results report and following up that all monies are collected and items not sold recovered;
  • Ensure that asset management processes, including the Property Survey Board approval process as well as the correct recording of events in WFP corporate systems, are timely and properly executed;
• Regularly update/report to the GAS team based in HQ;
• Provide monthly reports of activities including number and acquisition value of assets disposed of along with revenue calculations;
• Ensure that CO correctly transfer GAS related funds to the MSDI special account.
• When supporting the CO with the disposal activities, further build capacity at the CO level. Proactively promote, support and contribute to the mainstreaming of other initiatives led by HQ
• Guide asset-related activities of WFP’s field operations in order to ensure assets auctions are completed in a manner that maximizes revenue for WFP and new revenue generation methodologies are developed and implemented.
• Assist in the evaluation of service providers and provide advice to WFP operations on asset disposals.
• Identify, assess and select vendors (Auctioneer) based on their capability for delivering the best services and cost-effectiveness to WFP.

This position requires extensive travel to numerous WFP field locations – for up to 3 weeks at a time in one location.

DELIVERABLES AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT:

• Auctions management:
  • Necessary admin documents produced and approved by relevant bodies (e.g. missions TOR approved by CD);
  • Auction report (1 per auction) detailing Gross Revenues, UNHCR and Auctioneer Fees, FC and GAS Fees by lots and by categories properly documenting auction results for the CO/RB;
  • Corporate systems updated (GEMS and FMS) after each auction;
  • Financial transactions executed by all relevant stakeholders (UNHCR and Auctioneer, Fleet Center and GAS Service).

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

CLOSING DATE: 13 November 2022

Reminders before you submit your application:

• We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete, and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, language skills and UN Grade (if applicable).
• Once your profile is complete, please apply, and submit your application.
• Please make sure you upload your professional CV in the English language
• Kindly note the only documents you will need to submit at this time are your CV and Cover Letter
• Additional documents such as passport, recommendation letters, academic certificates, etc. may potentially be requested at a future time
• Please contact us at wfprecruitment@wfp.org in case you face any challenges with submitting your application
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified

All employment decisions are made on the basis of organizational needs, job requirements, merit, and individual qualifications. WFP is committed to providing an inclusive work environment free of sexual exploitation and abuse, all forms of discrimination, any kind of harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority. Therefore, all selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

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