JOB DESCRIPTION

Is this job for you?

You will lead the Resource Management Services (RMS) Unit with approximately 75 staff members, supporting the Centre’s work related to resource management and administrative services. As the Head of Unit, you will manage six sections: Corporate Services, Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Legal Services, Planning and Performance, and Procurement.

To find out more about what the unit does, visit https: //www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/about- us/ecdcs-organisational-structure.

Reporting to the Director, you will be part of ECDC’s management team and contribute to setting the Centre’s strategic direction.

In this position, you will have a wide variety of tasks that will give you the opportunity to:

• Support the Centre’s mission and vision by providing leadership and direction to the Resource Management Services Unit, fostering a focus on the creation of value-added, customer-oriented business outputs while ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework;
• Further develop and implement, in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders, strategies to ensure optimal resource allocation and utilisation with a focus on ensuring relevance, quality, timeliness and efficiency of the Centre’s outputs;
• Guide the development, implementation and continuous improvement of strategies, policies and administrative services that enable and enhance the

effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the Centre’s operations, providing the organisation with robust internal functions, capabilities, processes and standards;

• Drive digital transformation in support services, including through identifying and deploying new technologies and resource management systems;
• As a member of the Centre’s senior management team, provide input and support to key strategic and operational topics, the administrative and financial frameworks, and advising on all administrative questions and policies;
• Lead the development and implementation of ECDC’s work plan through the RMS Unit’s work programme;
• Drive staff engagement and satisfaction by developing and implementing policies and initiatives that foster a positive work environment, satisfaction and results;
• Contribute to other activities of ECDC as required, within your field of competence.

What are we looking for?

1. Formal requirements

For your application to be considered eligible you must fulfil all the following requirements by the application deadline:

• A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is 4 years or more, or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least 1 year when the normal period of university education is at least 3 years^[1];
• At least 15 years of professional experience (following the award of the diploma) ^[2];
• Thorough knowledge of one of the official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge of another official EU language to the extent necessary for the performance of your duties^[3];
• Nationality of one of the EU Member States or of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and to be entitled to your full rights as a citizen;
• To have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws on military service;
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved⁴; and
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

You will need to provide appropriate documents to show that you meet all of the above criteria.

1. Selection criteria

For your application to be evaluated further, you will also need:

• At least 12 years of recent professional experience (following the award of the diploma), acquired in positions relevant to the job description;
• Excellent track record in management positions at senior level in an international context;
• Experience in developing and implementing a vision to generate purpose and alignment for a team/teams;
• Proven experience in designing, delivering and continuously improving organisational strategies, policies, and processes to ensure and enhance operational excellence and enhance resource utilisation;
• Proven experience in leading organisational change and managing teams through challenges;
• Proven experience of managing staff providing professional services in at least two areas covered by the Resource Management Unit;
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken.

Additionally, we will assess the following competencies:

• High level of political awareness and sensitivity;
• Excellent managerial skills, including:

o     The ability to set and revise objectives for the unit within the overall strategic

framework and priorities of the Agency;

o     The ability to determine and focus on priorities and to monitor and evaluate

the progress made towards achieving the unit’s and team members’ objectives set, in cooperation with the members of the team;

o     The ability to organise, assign and manage the unit’s work among the

members of the team and to set them challenging but realistic objectives;

o     The ability to empower members of the team while ensuring that they

understand what is expected of them and how their work contributes to the unit’s objectives;

o     The ability to choose co-workers and to build strong teams with

complementary strengths suited to the efficient pursuit of the unit’s objectives;

o     The ability to motivate members of the team to achieve the desired results

and also to provide regular feedback, acknowledge success and the need for

improvement, in order to enable them to achieve their objectives and greatest potential;

o The ability to develop and support career development and learning opportunities for the members of the team.

• Excellent communication skills, including:

o The ability to communicate clearly and present complex subjects simply, both orally and in writing, including to the members of the team;

o The ability to solicit inputs from and listen to staff, partners, and stakeholders.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including:

o     The ability to deal with people effectively, respectfully and courteously;

o     The ability to build productive and cooperative working relationships with

hierarchy and other units and colleagues.

• Excellent negotiation skills, including:

o The ability to steer discussions and generate the best possible results without compromising productive working relationships with the other parties involved;

o Well-developed diplomatic skills.

• Being quality-, results- and service-minded.

Depending on the number of applications received, the selection committee may apply stricter requirements within the aforementioned selection criteria.

Why ECDC?

You will play an active role in making a tangible difference in public health.

At ECDC you will join a team of more than 400 colleagues with diverse backgrounds and professions who work together for the common goal of helping countries prevent and respond to outbreaks and public health threats. Every position at ECDC plays an important part, and we cooperate closely for our collective goals.

ECDC is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates without any distinction on grounds of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic or social origin, religion, or belief. Women are currently under-represented in management functions and to achieve a better gender balance, we strongly encourage women to apply for this vacancy.

You will be joining ECDC at interesting times. In October 2022, the European Parliament endorsed an extended mandate that will allow ECDC to adopt a stronger role in supporting EU Member States in the prevention and control of infectious disease threats and improve European preparedness and response. This includes real-time surveillance systems, mobilising an EU Health Task Force to assist local responses in Member States and building a network of EU reference laboratories.