***About SALAR International ***

SALAR International is a subsidiary of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), representing all 290 municipalities and 21 regions in Sweden. As the international branch of SALAR, we work globally to support local democracy and good governance in developing and transitioning countries. Our expertise covers areas such as capacity building in municipal management and service delivery, local and regional development planning, support for local government associations, decentralisation policies and European integration. Geographically, SALAR International’s projects cover countries in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Sub-Saharan Africa.

***Description of the assignment context ***

Project: Local Public Administration, Citizen Engagement (PACE Local) a four-year project (2025–2028) to support local governance in Moldova. It is based on discussions with Sida and the Swedish Embassy in Chișinău and on the results of an ongoing inception phase that began in June 2024 and has included consultations with a broad range of domestic and international stakeholders. The State Chancellery of the Republic of Moldova (SC) has been closely consulted on the government’s strategy for local public administration reform (PAR) while local perspectives have been provided by the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM) and representatives of local public authorities (LPAs).

The overall goal of the project is: Strengthened LPAs within an enhanced framework for local governance improve service provision to citizens in line with the country’s strategic orientation towards EU accession. Activities fall under three main components:

Focused support to central government that will help, along with other donor initiatives, to implement the PAR strategy while retaining longer-term validity for reforms to strengthen decentralisation. This includes support to the State Chancellery (SC) along with key ministries on improved coordination of local PAR and division of functions between local tiers and the state, and to the e-Government Agency for continued development of a platform for local digital services.

Concrete support to clusters of LPAs with improved joint service provision in line with strategic priorities defined together with citizens. This will be the largest component, and may include procurement of small investments, enablers of larger investments (e.g. feasibility studies, technical documentation, strategic plans), and expanded digital services and service centres, as well as capacity building and mentoring with applications for projects funded by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development (MoIRD) and the EU, among others.

Support for local engagement in the EU accession process, comprising dialogue with SC (including the Bureau for European Integration), MoIRD and others; improved preparations at local level and dialogue with citizens on the benefits and obligations of membership; and capacity building and hands-on support to facilitate LPA access to EU funds. CALM has an essential role in this component, but also in the other two when it comes to preservation and dissemination of knowledge and advocacy for local interests.

Citizen engagement is a theme of all three components, in part because concerns over reduced proximity to decision-makers may be one obstacle to local PAR, and therefore citizens should be involved in determining priorities for improvements in services that consolidation or at least greater intercommunal cooperation will enable. Local involvement in Moldova’s EU accession process can also help with more positive engagement of citizens in EU integration, which the tight result of the recent referendum shows a clear need for.

The project will apply a human-rights-based approach, addressing aspects such as gender equality, non-discrimination, transparency, anti-corruption, conflict sensitivity and environmental sustainability within activities under the main components as well as in the project management framework.

***Conditions of the Assignment ***

Location: Chisinau, Moldova. Physical presence in the office is a requirement, frequent travel within Moldova is expected.

Scope and Duration: The assignment is part-time (approx. 60%) for 12 months, from February 2026. Extension for the remaining period of the project (until December 2028) shall be agreed with the Project Manager on an annual basis.

A consultancy contract will be signed between SALAR International and the expert which will outline the conditions for the position in detail. Please note this position is not an employment position, meaning that applicants must be established as consultants and will be liable to pay all relevant taxes and insurances.

A competitive consultancy fee will be offered to the successful candidate.

***Role description ***

The Procurement Specialist plays a key role in managing procurement activities within the PACE Local Project. This position is responsible for coordinating material supply and providing technical support to project partners, ensuring smooth and efficient procurement processes.

S/he will work closely with and report to the project management team in Sweden, Team Leader and Project Coordinator in Moldova.

The role includes frequent travel within Moldova.

***Main responsibilities ***

Conduct comprehensive market research and supplier identification in Moldova, including legal due‑diligence checks to ensure supplier compliance with national legislation, donor regulations, and organizational standards.

Prepare procurement proposals and develop detailed Terms of Reference (ToR) in close collaboration with management and thematic experts, ensuring that all documents meet legal, contractual, and procedural requirements.

Review and ensure full legal compliance of procurement processes with donor rules, national procurement legislation in Moldova, and internal organizational policies; proactively identify and mitigate potential legal risks.

Manage the entire tendering process, including advertising calls, overseeing the secure receipt of bids, ensuring confidentiality, and maintaining clear and legally compliant communication with bidders throughout the process.

Draft, review, and legally quality‑assure procurement contracts, ensuring clear definition of rights, obligations, deliverables, and remedies; advise the project team on contractual risks and required safeguards.

Monitor supplier performance both contractually and operationally, ensuring adherence to agreed terms, resolving performance issues, initiating corrective actions, and documenting all supplier interactions for audit trails.

Control the quality and legal conformity of procured goods and services, address shortcomings directly with suppliers, and coordinate with receiving Local Public Authorities (LPAs) in Moldova to ensure that delivered items and services meet contractual specifications and acceptance conditions.

Collaborate closely with the Project Coordinator to track and verify the delivery of goods and services to LPAs, ensure complete and legally compliant documentation, and support efficient record‑keeping and archiving in Stockholm.

Contribute to procurement planning and project discussions, providing legal insight on procurement strategies, risk mitigation, contract structures, and supplier market conditions.

Ensure strict adherence to anti‑corruption, transparency, and accountability standards, applying legal and compliance principles throughout all procurement activities and proactively addressing any conflicts of interest or irregularities.

***Reporting and Communication ***

The Procurement Specialist is expected to maintain close communication and collaboration with Team Leader and Project Coordinator in Moldova and SALAR International’s management team in Stockholm during the assignment. The PS reports to the Team Leader through regular day to day communication and sharing of meeting notes.

The Project Manager at SALAR International has the overall responsibility for the communication and reporting to the Swedish Embassy/Sida in Chisinau, together with the International Unit at SALAR.

***Qualifications ***

• Post-graduate / graduate qualification in Law, Business Administration, Public Procurement, Supply Chain Management, Economics, or a related field;
• Minimum of 3-5 years demonstrated experience in procurement within international development cooperation projects (bilateral, multilateral, NGOs, EU-funded, UN-funded, or IFIs);
• Professional certifications in procurement (e.g., CIPS, CPSM, PMP with procurement focus) are desirable;
• Documented experience in setting up and following project procurement planning, document management and administrative processes;
• Proven experience conducting tendering, contracting, bid evaluations, supplier management, and compliance checks aligned with donor rules and national legislation (Moldova);
• Strong background in legal review of procurement documents, drafting and negotiating contracts, assessing legal risks, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations;
• Experience working with public procurement frameworks and international donor guidelines;
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks at once, oversee details and make priorities independently;
• Excellent command of the MS Office package;
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills, including negotiations;
• Fluency in Romanian and English languages;
• Ability to travel within Moldova;
• Familiarity with gender‑responsive procurement or green procurement is an advantage;
• Understanding of the development cooperation sector, including principles such as transparency, value‑for‑money, and capacity‑building.

***Selection Criteria ***

The selection of candidates will be based on the following criteria: technical skills and experiences, communication and organisational capacities, ability to travel in Moldova.

Application: Send your CV and a Cover Letter to moldova@salarinternational.se.

Please note “Procurement Specialist” in the subject line.

The interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis. Only shortlisted applicants will receive a response by email when the recruitment has been finalised.

For any questions or clarifications, please contact: moldova@salarinternational.se Personal information provided by the applicant in the recruitment process will be handled by SALAR International.

Deadline: 30 January 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled prior to the application deadline.

***Diversity and equal opportunities ***

SALAR International embraces diversity and respects human rights in all areas of its work. SALAR International strives to create a gender-equal and diverse working environment. Team members shall respect equal rights of individuals and strive to create an atmosphere where people’s differences are accepted and valued. SALAR International supports working arrangements that enable personnel to combine work with family commitments.