Procurement Specialist for Recovery Activities

Cowater International is looking for Procurement Specialist for U-RESTORE project. 

U-RESTORE is a five-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Cowater International in partnership with Ukrainian civil society and academic institutions. The project seeks to enhance the resilience of local communities, particularly women and groups in vulnerable situations, in 12 hromadas across two oblasts in government-controlled areas of Ukraine by fostering a collaborative and transparent local recovery process. U-RESTORE will increase the effectiveness of national ministries and hromadas in coordinating and managing gender-responsive and inclusive recovery, while strengthening Ukrainian civil society to better support recovery and hold government accountable. The Project will work with civil society organizations, especially those representing women and groups in vulnerable situations, to influence recovery decision-making in hromadas and foster inclusive and transparent governance. It will also implement social infrastructure reconstruction and small-scale economic development projects responding to priority community needs.

The Procurement Specialist for Recovery Activities is responsible for supporting the end-to-end procurement of equipment, goods , services, and works (including renovation) under U-RESTORE’s Recovery Fund, and for coordinating the implementation monitoring and documentation of renovation and refurbishment/repairs activities to ensure that they are properly scoped, competitively tendered, compliant with Cowater and GAC standards, and completed in accordance with approved requirements. 

Working under the direct supervision of the DTLO in collaboration with Administrative and Procurement Manager (APM), engineering and environmental consultants, and in close coordination with the Project Team, the Specialist ensures that procurement processes remain transparent and defensible to Local Recovery Committees while supporting coordination with contractors, engineers, architects, hromadas, and other technical stakeholders throughout implementation.

Key Responsibilities

1. Procurement of Construction Works and Related Goods/Services under Local Recovery Fund

• Under direct supervision of the DTLO, manage the full procurement cycle — planning, solicitation, evaluation, contracting, and delivery — for goods, services, and works including structural and non-structural construction, rehabilitation, and small-scale infrastructure works financed through the Recovery Fund (e.g., schools, clinics, community centers, veteran hubs, water pump stations, etc.), using Prozorro system in line with the approved Construction Validation Plans, Site-Specific Environmental Compliance Check-Lists and in full compliance with U-RESTORE Procurement and Construction Manual and Global Affairs Canada rules and regulations. 
• Conduct surveys and vendor prequalification to identify potential construction companies and engineering firms available in the local market. 
• Ensure that proposed construction-related activities are correctly classified as structural or non-structural works for planning, procurement, environmental screening, approval, monitoring, and reporting purposes. Provide inputs to Construction Validation Plans (CVPs) for structural works within the required timelines, and lighter-package submissions (site-specific scope, budget, and schedule) for non-structural works, ensuring no construction activity begins prior to receiving GAC's written approval.
• Prepare terms of reference and related documentation for establishing local long-term arrangements for engineering and architectural services, including design, site surveys/technical assessments, technical supervision, and designer’s supervision. in coordination with relevant technical experts and project staff.
• Support the preparation and issuance of tender documents for construction-related works and services, including bills of quantities, technical specifications, drawings, and other technical inputs prepared or validated by qualified engineers, architects, or technical consultants, as applicable.
• Organize and document bid solicitation (RFQ/ITT/RFP as applicable), bidders’ conferences, technical and financial evaluation, bidders’ due-diligence, and contract award, ensuring full compliance with Cowater and GAC procurement guidelines and Ukrainian legislation.
• Maintain complete, audit-ready procurement documentation using digital tracking tools, and ensure transparency of the construction procurement process to Local Recovery Committees composed of hromada and civil society organizations (CSO) representatives.
• Support inclusive and locally responsive procurement by encouraging the participation of qualified local and, where possible, women-led contractors and suppliers, while ensuring that all procurement processes remain open, fair, competitive, transparent and environmentally safe. 

 2. Construction Contract Administration

• Review contractor and supplier payment requests, variation requests and compile supporting documents in line with milestone-based payment terms; monitor construction expenditures and progress certificates. Maintain a payment, variation, retention, progress certificate, and expenditure tracking table for each construction-related activity.
• Ensure contract management, including contract amendments, variations, duration extensions, applying liquidated damages, contractor correspondence and issue resolutions. Ensure that all documents/information required for contract management are available, accurate, complete and properly reviewed by relevant technical/project staff 
• Participate in the partial, substantial and final reception of works in coordination with the project team, hromada/facility representatives, contractors, and assigned technical consultants, engineers, architects, or competent authorities, as applicable.  
• Support the documentation of defects, correction of deficiencies, completion certificates, acceptance records, handover documents, and transferable warranties/guarantees, and ensure that warranty and defect-liability obligations are tracked for the required defect liability period (minimum 12 months from the Certificate of Completion, or longer where specified in the CVP or contract).

3. Compliance and Documentation

• Ensure all procurement and consultant contracting activities comply with U-RESTORE Procurement and Constructin Manuals, Cowater’s internal controls, Ukrainian legislation, and GAC’s fiduciary requirements.
• Maintain and regularly update procurement and consultant registers (purchase request tracker, vendor lists, contractor performance records, etc.).
• Support preparation of documentation for internal reviews and external audits, including timely and accurate reporting on construction procurement status.

4. Coordination and Reporting

• Provide regular status updates to the APM and DTLO on procurement pipelines, consultant deployment, and any risks to project timelines.
• Contribute to donor reporting on construction and procurement progress as required.

5. Other

• Assist the DTLO and APM with the full cycle of operational and programmatic procurements as needed.
• Support the DTLO in developing the annual work plan related to Local Recovery Fund activities and the consultants pool.

Job Requirements

Education

• University degree in Procurement/Supply Chain Management, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Management or a related field. 
• Relevant certifications (e.g., CIPS, PMP, or construction category certification such as CC2, CC3) are a strong asset.

Minimum Experience

• At least 5 years of progressive experience in procurement, incl. at least 1-2 years of experience in construction-related procurement, ideally within international development, humanitarian, or donor-funded reconstruction projects.
• Demonstrated knowledge of renovation services and works procurement applying donor procurement rules (Global Affairs Canada, USAID, World Bank or similar).
• Commitment to human rights, gender equality, and social inclusion principles.
• Strong organizational, coordination, and communication skills; high degree of integrity and attention to detail.
• Proficient in MS Office and digital procurement/tracking tools.
• Experience working with Prozorro is a must (Playtender or other platform). 
• Familiarity with donor construction approval processes (e.g., Construction Validation Plans, environmental and safety screening for physical works) and experience coordinating independent competent authorities (engineers/architects) for construction supervision is a strong asset.

Language Proficiency

Working level of English and proficiency in Ukrainian required.

Employment Conditions

The ideal candidate is a Ukrainian national currently residing in Kyiv, with the flexibility to travel to regional project offices and construction sites as required. Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Application Process

The application deadline is October 30, 2026. To be considered, please send you CV and motivation letter using the following format: Last Name, First Name – Position Title, Salary Expectations to
 
We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from women, individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities, as well as Ukrainian nationals. Persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

We thank all applicants; however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.

About Us

Cowater International is a leading global development consulting company founded in 1985. Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada and with corporate hubs in Montreal, Canada, Brussels, Belgium, and London, UK. Cowater International has successfully delivered a portfolio of over 2500 projects and assignments in more than 95 countries. We work with governments, private sector actors and communities implementing projects that support socio-economic development, institutional strengthening, environmental improvements, and advance equal opportunities for all. We are a diverse and experienced team committed to building a better tomorrow for the people we serve. Our adaptive approach to management has led to our yearly award-winning work and recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2017.
 We thank you for your interest in building a better tomorrow.

Cowater International is an equal opportunity employer, basing employment on merit and qualifications as they relate to professional experience and position expectations. We particularly welcome and encourage applications from women, individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities, and Ukrainian nationals.