Branch Head (Purchasing and Contracting)
🔍 Germany
- 📅
- 251140 Requisition #
Headquarters Joint Support and Enabling Command (JSEC) provides a resilient operational-level Joint Headquarters, capable of supporting 24/7 operations to coordinate enablement (at the operational level) and, on order, the execution of reinforcement by forces (RbyFo) and sustainment flow in order to contribute to the Alliance's ability to project and sustain combat power into, across and from the Area of Responsibility (AOR), and, if required, into a Joint Operations Area (JOA).
The Finance Directorate (J8) is responsible for drafting, managing and executing the HQ allocated budgets as well as accounting, purchasing and contracting goods and services.
The Purchasing and Contracting Branch provides advice, direction, guidance and oversight of the contracting activities at the HQ.
The incumbent manages, controls and monitors the entire Purchasing & Contracting (P&C) process.
Principal Duties
The incumbent's duties are:
1. Manages and supervises the entire Purchasing and Contracting process.
2. Holds legal authority to negotiate contract terms on behalf of JSEC. On the basis of the warrant covering the responsibilities and any limitation on the scope of authority to be exercised.
3. Holds limited authority to negotiate and award contracts on behalf of the organisation. Authorised to negotiate settlement of contractual disputes.
4. Ensures that contract terms and conditions are in accordance with NATO financial regulations, and that all procurement of goods and services is done in the most economical and expeditious manner.
5. Develops P&C strategies, and has authority to make decisions, task and intervene to adjust the day to day work priorities and workload of the staff within the assigned functional area.
6. Manages contractual arrangements resulting from HN Support Agreements and the Garrison Support Arrangement.
7. Proactively participates in defining, mitigating and managing the risks within the functional area of responsibility in the Finance Directorate (J8).
Special Requirements and Additional Duties
The incumbent may be required to undertake deployments in support of military operations and exercises, and/or TDY assignments, both within and without NATO boundaries up to 180 days. The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organization at the same grade without there being any change to the contract.
Essential Qualifications
A. Professional/Experience
a) Minimum 4 years professional acquisition experience, with at least 3 years in a position leading and improving the procurement activity.
b) Prior contracting experience at the management level and an understanding of management oversight of contracts.
c) Experience in the sourcing and management of external suppliers to ensure successful delivery of products and services.
d) Minimum 4 years of prior experience in managing a team of procurement professionals.
B. Education/Training
University Degree in supply chain management, commercial and mercantile law, logistics, inventory management, procurement, contract management, accounting or related discipline and 4 years post related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 7 years post related experience.
C. Language
English - SLP 4343 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)
Desirable Qualifications
A. Professional Experience
1. A minimum of five years experience in the procurement/contracting field, with demonstrated ability to negotiate, execute competitive bidding procedures, award and administer contracts, and effectively prosecute contractor claims and related disputes.
2. Experience in evaluating very complex, urgent and sensitive requisitions (requirements and costs) for a wide variety of goods, services and engineering works.
3. Experience in translating very complex, urgent and sensitive technical or operational requirements into commercially adequate invitations for bids.
4. Experience in executing the full cycle of procurement activities, i.e., from conducting market surveys, devising acquisition strategies, issuing solicitations, and evaluating proposals to awarding, administering and closing out contracts.
5. Proven experience in the use of modern office automation applications (MS OFFICE), including the use of Internet, e-commerce and an Automated. Accounting/Purchasing Application System.
6. Experience in contracting for military or international organisations, preferably as a warranted contracting officer.
7. Knowledge of NATO procurement directives.
8. Knowledge of Host Nation contract law.
Attributes/Competencies
1. Personal Attributes:
Must possess integrity, strong ethics and a sound business judgment appropriate for working in an international P&C Office. Meet all other standards (in accordance with promulgated directives) for appointment as P&C Officer with a limited warrant.
Must have leadership skills, tact and the ability to motivate others.
2. Professional Contacts:
Internal contacts at all working and managerial levels of the command up to COM level. External contacts include suppliers, higher HQs, members of the Budget Committee and related working groups as well as Ministerial Representatives of member Nations. This includes representing the HQ on stakeholders' forums and meetings.
3. Contribution to Objectives:
The successful analysis of requirements and their timely and legally sound coverage is considered vital to running the HQ's daily business, meeting long-term objectives and the HQ`s reputation. The incumbent plays a major role in this process and the performance impacts the command directly as well as NATO's financial resources.
4. Supervisory Responsibilities:
Performs a key role in directing, guiding and leading P&C staff towards achieving assigned tasks and responsibilities. This includes the assignment and review of work, maintaining or adjusting work schedules and implementing new procedures.
REMARKS:
Duration of contract: Serving staff members will be offered a contract according to the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations (NCPR). Newly recruited staff will be offered a definite duration contract of three years normally followed by an indefinite duration contract.
The salary will be the basic entry-level monthly salary defined by the NATO Grade of the post, which may be augmented by allowances based on the selected staff member’s eligibility, and which is subject to the withholding of approximately 20% for pension and medical insurance contributions.
NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement, and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations.
Building integrity is a key element of NATO’s core tasks. As an employer, NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.
Applicants who prove to be competent for the post but who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment in another post of a similar nature, which might become vacant in the near future, albeit at the same or lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.
We believe that all people are capable of great things. Because of this, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the criteria listed within this job description.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A NATO CIVILIAN POST AT SHAPE:
Applications are to be submitted using NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) (https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobsearch.ftl?lang-en). Applications submitted by other means (e.g. mail, e-mail, fax, etc) are not accepted.
More information to be found on these links:
Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide original documentary evidence and a set of copies supporting statements in their applications. Appointment is subject to obtaining a NS security clearance and a medical certificate.
Remarks:
a. Only nationals from the 32 NATO member states can apply for vacancies at SHAPE.
b. Applications are automatically acknowledged within one working day after submission. In the absence of an acknowledgement please make sure the submission process is completed, or, re-submit the application.
c. Qualified redundant staff of the same grade interested in this post should inform this office, via their HR/Personnel Office by not later than vacancy’s closing date.
d. NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to Chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO’s sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.