Procurement Consultants (Manager Level)

Procurement Consultant (Manager Level)
The Beneficial Knowledge Group (The BKG)

• Independent Consultant Roster
• Home-based in the US or abroad, with travel in Africa likely
• 3 Openings

About The BKG
The Beneficial Knowledge Group (The BKG) is a Massachusetts-based consulting, training, and staffing firm that strengthens the systems, controls, and teams organizations rely on to deliver their mission. We serve government agencies, NGOs, universities, medical and research centers, and private companies in the US and internationally, including French speaking countries.

The Role
The Procurement Consultant delivers procurement consulting work within each BKG engagement and supports other BKG services as agreed. In coordination with the Procurement Senior Consultant, the Engagement Lead, and the other functional teams, you will contribute to the full range of The BKG’s procurement services: procurement strategy, procurement structures, procurement reform, procurement projects, the procurement cycle, procurement risk, procurement performance, and procurement controls, compliance, and manuals.

You will test procurement files and controls, provide clear and concise findings and practical implementation guidelines, and, when required, oversee and advise client staff as they put improvements in place, so that the client’s procurement function and overall operations become stronger as a result.

Key Responsibilities

Consulting role
• Contribute to The BKG’s consulting services across strategic planning, organizational development, change management, stakeholder engagement, project management, process improvement, risk management, performance measurement and evaluation, internal controls, compliance, and policy development, focusing on procurement while supporting the wider engagement team
• Carry out assessments of the client’s procurement function, including structures, procurement planning, sourcing, supplier management, and systems
• Review procurement policies, procedures, controls, transactions, and supplier records, documenting results, exceptions, and their causes
• Evaluate procurement performance against agreed indicators and objectives, and analyze the causes of gaps
• Provide practical guidance and advice to client supervisors and staff on procurement good practice
• Help client staff implement approved improvements, such as revised procurement procedures, templates, delegation of authority, and vendor screening

Strategic and organizational support
• Support the Procurement Senior Consultant in strategic planning, organizational development, change management, and stakeholder engagement work, including research, analysis, and facilitation of meetings and workshops
• Conduct staff interviews, focus groups, and stakeholder consultations, and summarize results clearly

Project, process, risk, and performance
• Plan and manage procurement projects and complex procurements, from needs assessment through contract award and closeout
• Map the procurement cycle from requisition to payment, and recommend streamlined procedures that improve compliance and turnaround times
• Identify and assess procurement risks, including fraud, collusion, conflict of interest, and supplier failure, in line with national anti-corruption laws, the UN Convention against Corruption, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, and funder policies

Specialized assessments
• Test procurement files from requisition to payment, covering approvals, solicitation, bid evaluation, award, receipt, and documentation
• Assess procurement internal controls, including segregation of duties, delegation of authority, vendor due diligence, and sanctions screening against SAM.gov, OFAC, UN, EU, and World Bank lists
• Review the compliance of procurement policies and transactions, in line with 2 CFR 200 and the FAR, EU PRAG, World Bank and AfDB procurement rules, national public procurement codes, and WAEMU and CEMAC directives

Coordination, reporting, and implementation guidance
• Maintain complete, well-organized working papers that support every finding
• Provide the Procurement Senior Consultant with clear and concise findings and recommendations for the final report
• Coordinate with the other functional teams to avoid gaps and overlaps, and contribute to findings meetings when requested
• Develop practical implementation guidelines, and deliver capacity-building sessions for client staff when included in the engagement
• When required, oversee and advise client staff on implementation, working alongside them; client staff remain responsible for carrying out the work

Key Deliverables
• Working papers, analyses, and testing results for all assigned areas
• Clear and concise findings and recommendations for the Procurement Senior Consultant
• Procurement implementation guidelines and training materials
• Draft manuals, templates, SOPs, or plans, when included in the engagement
• Implementation oversight notes, when applicable

Service Standards
• A thorough, well-informed, and evidence-based process on every assignment
• Irreproachable professionalism, integrity, objectivity, and confidentiality

Qualifications

Required
• 7+ years of progressive procurement experience, including Manager-level roles and competitive and complex procurements, in the US and/or internationally
• Extensive experience working on or managing projects with strong procurement, supply chain, and contracts components, for grant-funded organizations and/or private companies
• Demonstrated experience delivering advisory services such as strategic planning, organizational development, change management, process improvement, risk management, or performance measurement and evaluation
• Mastery of 2 CFR 200 and the FAR, EU PRAG, World Bank and AfDB rules, national public procurement codes, WAEMU and CEMAC directives, and the UN Convention against Corruption
• Ability to produce clear, concise, evidence-based findings and implementation guidelines
• Full professional proficiency in English; ability to read French fluently and communicate in conversational French
• Bachelor’s degree or international equivalent (such as a Licence) in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field
• Availability to travel domestically and internationally, particularly in Africa, when engagements require

Preferred
• Experience with organizations in the US and/or internationally, including French speaking countries, across the public, non-profit, academic, and private sectors
• Knowledge of USAID and other US federal funders, the Gates Foundation and other philanthropic organizations, and multilateral funders such as the EU, UN agencies, and the World Bank
• CPSM, CIPS, PMP, or PMD Pro certification
• ERP or e-procurement experience
• HEAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) certification

Engagement Terms
• Independent consultant on The BKG roster (1099 for US-based consultants, or equivalent status abroad), engaged per assignment under a separate consulting agreement. This is not an employment relationship.
• Consultants may accept or decline any assignment, control the methods, means, and hours of their work, and remain free to serve other clients, subject to conflict of interest and confidentiality requirements. They are not entitled to employee benefits.
• Compensation: a daily fee equal to the consultant rate negotiated and agreed in writing with The BKG for each assignment.

Travel, Per Diem, and Travel Costs
• International travel, particularly in Africa, is a strong possibility on most engagements, but it is not guaranteed.
• For each day of authorized travel, consultants receive a per diem at GSA rates within the US or U.S. Department of State rates abroad.
• Approved travel costs, such as airfare, ground transportation, visa fees, and required vaccinations, are paid or reimbursed by The BKG.
• Per diem and travel costs are paid in addition to the negotiated fee.

Equipment and Insurance
• Consultants provide their own work equipment, including a secure laptop, mobile phone, and reliable internet access.
• Consultants arrange their own health coverage (including medical evacuation), travel insurance, and general liability insurance, and handle their own taxes and statutory obligations.

Code of Conduct
All consultants sign and comply with The BKG Code of Conduct. The BKG has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. Client information is handled in strict confidence, and conflicts of interest must be disclosed before deployment.

How to Apply
Send the following in PDF format to staffing@thebeneficialknowledgegroup.com:
1. CV highlighting procurement experience, complex procurements handled, consulting experience, and international project experience in Africa
2. Letter of motivation stating your expertise, language skills in English and French, expected daily fee (USD) as a basis for negotiation, availability, and willingness to travel
3. Three professional references with name, title, organization, and contact details

Subject line: Application: Procurement Consultant (Manager Level) | [Your Full Name]

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Selected candidates undergo technical screening and background verification. Roster selection does not guarantee assignment volume.

The BKG is an Equal Opportunity Firm.

BKG_JD_Procurement_Consultant