SHAPE is looking for employing a qualified and suitable candidate to fill this post as a temporary staff from January to 31 December 2023. 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 as of January 2023. 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

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) provides an integrated Strategic Effects framework, employing a multi-domain and multi-region focus to create a 360-degree approach, with the flexibility to enable, upon direction, a seamless transition from Baseline Activities and Current Operations (BACO) up to the Maximum Level of Effort (MLE).  SHAPE supports SACEUR in fulfilling his terms of reference, as directed by the North Atlantic Council.

The Finance and Acquisition Directorate Is responsible for all international and multinational appropriated and non-appropriated funds in ACO.  The responsibility encompasses supervision and oversight of subordinate ACO commands and development of financial and acquisition policies.  The Directorate represents SHAPE/ACO in the Budget Committee, participates in the development of international agreements and the annual Consolidated Resource Plan (CRP), and advises/assists the SHAPE Command Group with respect to Military Budget-funded requirements. The Directorate plans and executes the annual ACO military budget with the contracting, finance and accounting, and cash management it entails whilst ensuring coordination with external entities is observed.

The ACO Acquisition Management Branch performs procurement management functions for the SHAPE HQ installation, ACO centralised budgets, ACO-wide programmes.

The ACO Strategic Acquisition Management Section is responsible for ACO-wide corporate acquisition support and services.  These include acquisition oversight, policy, systems, costing and centralized procurement portfolios.

B. REPORTS TO

OSC BXAS 0010 – Section Head (ACO Strategic Acquisition Management) – A-4/G20

C. PRINCIPAL DUTIES

Principal Duties

The incumbent’s duties are:

On behalf of the Head of ACO Strategic Acquisition Management:

Procurement of Goods and Services from NATO Agencies

• Acts as the primary contracting officer responsible for the procurement of goods and services from NATO Agencies associated with the 2030 initiatives by:
• participates in the negotiation, drafting and staffing of agreements (LSAs, SLAs and SAs) including participation in the development of deliverables by the agency and associated key performance indicators;
• support the requirement holder by providing advice and support on procurement matters when obtaining support from NATO Agencies;
• support the process of obtaining Committee approvals when necessary, including the endorsement of Agencies requests for deviations and multi-year contract authority;
• perform the function of Contracting Officer in exercising the legal commitment for the goods and services procured from NATO Agencies through the NATO Financial System and manage the purchase process until the purchase is finally closed, and
• when appropriate support contract oversight of agencies contracting process by reviewing of finalized statements of work, participation in agencies Contract Award Committees, participating in re-competition/extension decision meetings, reviews requests for contract modifications and any other aspect of the contracting process in order to exercise due diligence responsibilities as mandated by the Nations.

Organic Contract Support

• perform the function of Contracting Officer in exercising the legal commitment for the goods and services through the NATO Financial System and manage the purchase process until the purchase is finally closed for contracts where SHAPE is the procurement authority:
• Develops necessary acquisition strategies, and ensures expertise and continuity for all complex, urgent and sensitive 2030 contracting activities and other projects as assigned. Evaluates contractor responsibility, analyzes contractor past performance and cost or price information. Drafts and approves bidding instructions and contract clauses to be applied to solicitations;
• Provides contracting support to NSIP projects when SHAPE is selected to be Host Nation for 2030 related investment contracts;
• As required, co-ordinates related matters with the SHAPE Legal Office and
• As required, justifies his/her actions and decisions to higher authority, including the ACO Financial Controller, SACEUR, and the NATO Finance Committees (i.e., Military Budget Committee (MBC) or Infrastructure Committee (IC)).

Performs all other duties as assigned or directed.

NATO committee responsibilities: Military Budget Committee – Contributor, Resource Policy and Plans Board – Contributor.

Legal authority is held:

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 an unlimited warrant in order to exercise the legal authority authorized by the Command.

Decision authority is held:

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

Budget authority is held : None.

D.  ADDITIONAL DUTIES

QUALIFICATIONS

A. ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

1. Professional/Experience

1) Minimum 4 years professional acquisition experience, with at least 3 years in a position leading and improving the procurement activity, negotiating complex contracts associated with extensive knowledge of international contract and business law. 

2) Prior contracting experience at the management level, and an understanding of management oversight of contracts.

3) Experience in the sourcing and management of external suppliers to ensure successful delivery of products and services.

4) Minimum 4 years of prior contracting experience at the management level, and a comprehensive understanding of operational logistics from a supply chain perspective.

2. Education/Training

University Degree in supply chain management, commercial and mercantile law, logistics, inventory management, procurement 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 5 years post related and 2 years function related experience.

4. Language

English    (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)       4343

NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.

5. Standard Automatic Data Processing Knowledge

B. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

1. Professional/Experience

a) 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.

(b) Experience in evaluating very complex, urgent and sensitive requisitions (requirements and costs) for a wide variety of goods, services and engineering works.

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

(d) 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.

(e) 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

(h) Experience in contracting for military or international organisations, preferably as a warranted contracting officer

(j) Knowledge of NATO procurement directives

(k) Knowledge of Host Nation contract law

b. Education/Training

A university degree or certificate in business administration, management, or a related field is desirable, as is formal training in the technical aspects of acquisition and logistics.

Specialisation training in acquisition management, financial management, or logistics

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;

•           Depending on nations approval, the contract might be extended in 2024.

•         Salary: the remuneration of temporary personnel will be specified in their contracts. It is exempt from taxation in the Host Nation.

•         Benefits package: temporary personnel are covered by a benefits package which consists of an additional sum of 12% of basic salary for pension purposes basic medical and accident insurance provided under the NATO Group insurance contract (death and invalidity). The total premium for the medical and accident coverage in 2023 will be at 2.57% of the temporary staff member’s salary (2.32% for the medical benefits and 0.25% for accident), payable 1/3 by the temporary personnel and 2/3 by the Organisation.

•         For staff eligible under NATO rules, there is also a dependent child allowance and coverage for dependent children for medical benefits

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. The application should be in English.

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

After submitting your application, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application.

Remarks:

A)        Only nationals from the 30 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)        Candidates’ individual telephone, e-mail or telefax enquiries cannot be dealt with. All candidates will receive an answer indicating the outcome of their application.