TEMPORARY POST - Purchasing and Contracting Officer (NSATU - Germany)

NSATU located in Wiesbaden, Germany, is looking to employ a qualified and suitable candidate to fill this post as temporary staff from June 2025 until December 2025 with a possibility of extension. If you meet the requirements described in the job description below and wish to work in a fast-paced international environment, this post is for you.

 In view of the nature and of the urgency of this temporary position, it is important for candidates to be available for temporary employment. In practice, this implies being in possession of valid NATO security clearance at the time of application, or having been in possession of such a clearance with the possibility to reactivate it swiftly.  We therefore only encourage applications for this post if you are already, or have previously been, in possession of a valid NATO security clearance.

A. POST CONTEXT

During the initial establishment of NSATU, the incumbent of this post is responsible to perform all duties and assume all responsibilities listed in the Principle Duties, and Special Requirements/Additional Duties sections of this job description. Using the Statement of Functions described above for context, the incumbent is responsible to review the Organizational Structure of NSATU, and identify and understand how this position fits into the organization. The incumbent will then develop the initial Post Context for this position. As NSATU progress beyond IOC and FOC and matures as an organization, and especially as SOPs and processes are established, the incumbent will be responsible for the regular refinement of this post context. The incumbent acts as a Contracting Officer with a limited warrant in the J8, Purchasing and Contracting Section.

B. PRINCIPAL DUTIES

The incumbent's duties are:

- As a NATO Contracting Officer with an limited Warrant for portfolios assigned by the Section Chief Procurement and Contracting.. 

- Reviews, edits, and ultimately approves the wording of technical specifications to be used in solicitations performed within his/her portfolio.

- Screens requests for deviations from standard procurement procedures, and arranges appropriate approvals as required to support mission requirements.

- Approves bidding instructions and contract clauses to be applied to all solicitations performed - Chairs bidders’ conferences, site surveys, inspections, progress review meetings, and other contractual events.

- Leads the execution of formal and international competitive bidding procedures.

- Coordinates and oversees inputs to the Contract Award Committee (CAC) and facilitates contractor selection decisions.

- Is responsible for the evaluation of bids and execution of Contract Award Committee’s decisions.

- Enters into contractual obligations on behalf of NSATU.

- Settles contractor disputes/claims in a manner consistent with contractual obligations, and in keeping with NSATU’s best (financial and “end-user”) interests. Coordinates with the Legal Office as required.

- Is responsible for the management and maintenance of the relationship between the organization and the supplier.

In accordance with NATO Financial Rules and Procedures Article III 1)f, Purchasing and Contracting Officers have exclusive legal authority for the procurement of goods and services on behalf of the NATO body. On the basis of the warrant covering their responsibilities and any limitation on the scope of authority to be exercised, this post requires the incumbent to be suitably qualified to be appointed with a limited warrant in order to exercise the legal authority authorized by the Command. 

In the exercise of a warrant, a duly appointed Purchasing and Contracting Officer, subject to any limitations imposed, in accordance with NATO Financial Rules and Procedures Article XXXII will exercise decision authority and award all purchases under the simplified procurement procedures within the financial limits established by the Budget Committee.

C.  ADDITIONAL DUTIES

The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the Organisation at the same grade without there being any change to the contract

The incumbent may be required to undertake deployments in support of military operations and exercises, and/or TOY assignments, both within and without NATO boundaries up to 30 days.

The work is normally performed in a Normal NATO office working environment.

Normal Working Conditions apply.

The risk of injury is categorised as No risk / risk might increase when deployed.

D. ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

·     At least 2 years of prior contracting experience at the contracts management level.

·     2 years professional acquisition experience in a position leading and improving the procurement activity, negotiating complex contracts ssociated with basic knowledge of international contract and business law.

Education/Training

University Degree  in supply chain management, commercial and mercantile law, logistics, inventory management, procurement or related discipline  and 2 years function related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training  in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.

Language

English    (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)          3333

E. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

A minimum of five years experience in the business or finance field, including at least four years experience in the procurement/contracting function.

Experience in processing complex, urgent and sensitive requisitions (requirements and costs) for a wide variety of goods, services and engineering works coupled with demonstrated ability to negotiate, execute competitive bidding procedures, award and administer contracts, and effectively prosecute contractor claims and related disputes.

Experience in translating complex, urgent and sensitive technical or operational requirements into commercially adequate invitations for bids.

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.

Experience in contracting for military or international Organisations. Experience in contingency contracting.

Education/Training

Specialisation training in acquisition management, financial management, or logistics.

University Degree in business administration, management, finance, management, marketing, contracting, business law or related discipline as is formal training in the technical aspects of acquisition and logistics.

Resource Management Education Programme (RMEP) Course (ETE-FI-2708) provided by NATO - School Oberammergau (NSO)

NATO-ACO Contingency Contracting Course (ETE-FI-31823) provided by NATO - School Oberammergau (NSO)

Language

German PLS 3322

Attributes/Competencies

·     Personal Attributes: The incumbent will need to display a high degree of professionalism and technical expertise in performance of his acquisition duties. As the incumbent’s decisions and actions are financially and legally binding to SHAPE, he/she must exercise excellent judgement, while acting with persuasion and diplomacy, in order to achieve results which safeguard NATO’s financial interests and image.

·     He/she will need to be aware of the legal and economic aspects of every potential transaction. In his/her work, the incumbent must demonstrate a high energy level, personal integrity, and a sense of loyalty to the organisation. He/she must have strong ethics and sound business judgement for working in a P&C Office.

·     Professional Contacts: The incumbent carries the overall responsibility for the assigned procurement actions; this responsibility is not transferable. He/she will however, transfer the authority for general administration to selected buyers, contract administrators and accounting clerks, and supervise these in the execution of their specific duties.

·     Must possess good moral character, strong ethics and sound business judgement for working in a P&C Office.

·     Must meet all standards (in accordance with SHAPE Directive 15-22) for appointment as a P&C Officer with an unlimited warrant.

·     Contribution To Objectives: It is the incumbent’s responsibility to contribute to ensuring that in peacetime and crisis situations, appropriate goods and services required for SACEUR’s missions are obtained in the most economical and timely manner. Failure to achieve this not only impacts the capability of others to perform their tasks, but also results in the lapse of critically needed funds. Displays for SHAPE and NSATU the image of a recommendable contracting party, through fair negotiations and strict adherence to the contractual provisions.

F. WHAT WE OFFER

-       38 hours per week schedule;

-       2.5 paid days of leave per month worked;

-       Fulfilling working atmosphere in an international and military community;

-       Contract period: 6 months, with a possibility of extension.

-       Salary: 6,467.30 EUR. Temporary staff in Germany are subject to HN taxes and social security.

G. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Candidates possessing a valid NATO or National security clearance will be given priority consideration.

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.

NTAP allows adding attachments.  A copy of the qualification/certificate covering the highest level of education required by the job description must be provided as an attachment.

Essential information must be included in the application form. Particular attention should be given to Education and Experience section of the application form. Each question should be answered completely.  Expressions such as “please see attached CV, please see annex / enclosed document” or invitations to follow links to personal webpages are not acceptable and will be disregarded. All answers should be in English.

Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide original documentary evidence and a set of copies supporting statements in their applications.

Remarks:

A.   Only nationals from the 32 NATO member states can apply for vacancies at NSATU Germany.

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.   Candidates’ individual telephone, e-mail or telefax enquiries cannot be dealt with. All candidates will receive an answer indicating the outcome of their application.