Branch Head (SHAPE Civilian Personnel)

SHAPE is looking for a Branch Head (SHAPE Civilian Personnel) to support the J1 Division in performing Human Resources management.
If you have minimum 6 years of experience in Human Resource management and enjoy working in an international, fast-paced environment, this post is for you.

Post Context/Post Summary

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 Strategic Enablement (STREN) Directorate is responsible for directing, monitoring and co-ordinating the implementation of Integrated Resource Management (IRM) activities and staff functions at all levels of command across Allied Command Operations (ACO).

The J1 Division is responsible for ensuring capable manpower and personnel directives and management across ACO.

The SHAPE Civilian Personnel Branch is responsible for performing Human Resources (HR) management with respect to all internationally funded civilian personnel for whom it is administratively responsible.

The Branch Head is responsible for the management of the SHAPE Civilian Personnel Branch, and is the focal point at SHAPE for all aspects of HRM for all SHAPE and Glons based civilian personnel.

Principal Duties

The incumbent’s duties are:

Duties specifically include:

Holds Civilian Personnel Accountability as actions of this post will bind NATO to employment contracts and contract terminations for NICs, LWR staff, Consultants and Temporary Personnel.

Holds delegated Budget Authority to commit the different organisations with respect to civilian personnel salaries and salaries related expenses adding up to an annual budget of more than 50 million euro. For the SHAPE HQ part this represents 50% of the total budget.

Holds HQ Tasking and Functional Area Decision Authority with respect to all aspects of civilian HRM. Responsible for HQ Directives/Supplements on civilian HRM.

Committee Participation:

• Advisory Panel on Administration - Member/Representative

• Joint Consultative Board - Member/Representative

Special Requirements and 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 TDY 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.

Essential Qualifications

a. Professional/Experience

b. Education/Training

University Degree in human resources management, business administration, law, social sciences, or related field, public administration or related discipline and 6 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 8 years post related experience.

c. Language

English - SLP 4343 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

French - SLP 3322 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

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

Desirable Qualifications

a. Professional Experience

b. Education/Training

Master Degree or equivalent in human resources management, social sciences, law, business administration, or related field, public administration or related discipline.

c. Language

English: SLP 4444

French: SLP 3333

Dutch: SLP 3333

Attributes/Competencies

a. Personal Attributes

The incumbent must have good inter-personal and communication skills. He must demonstrate maturity, poise, tactfulness and firmness. The incumbent works with little or no supervision within the constraints of NATO civilian personnel policies. Although in some cases the objectives may be clearly defined, however, the wide range of procedures requires a significant amount of research and analysis. In many cases there is only little guidance from past and present practice available. Supervisory guidance is not available for most subjects so that creative development of new strategies is required. There is a requirement to frequently work under pressure, high workload and irregular working hours. To be able to successfully perform the tasks and duties of the post, the incumbent should enjoy a good health.

b. Managerial Responsibilities

Responsible for the proper execution of salaries and salaries’ related annual budget of over fifty million euro. Dependent on requirements may be required to direct and supervise the work priorities of one or more HQ multifunctional teams. Additional advisory responsibilities for 1 SCSF Personnel Officer.

c. Professional Contacts

He/she advises the staff and the Chains of Command on all aspects of civilian personnel HRM matters, such as recruitment, employment and employment conditions, reassignment, complaints, appeals, disciplinary matters, relations and staff development, medical conditions, and contract termination and separation. As such, professional contacts are maintained with all levels up to SACEUR, the SHAPE Chief of Staff (COS), the Directors of the SHAPE International School (SIS) and of the EUSG, and Senior Management of NCIA.

The post holder maintains a high level of co-ordination with the Financial Controllers and Legal Advisors of the NATO bodies in his area of responsibilty.

He/she negotiates with the SHAPE and the NPC Civilian Staff Associations, and the LWR Staff Committee Delegates on personnel related matters.

As a member of the Advisory Panel on Administration, he/she has professional contacts with colleagues from all over NATO.

As a member of the JCB, chaired by the Deputy Secretary General, he/she participates - and contributes to - the consultation process between the Administration and the Staff Associations of all NATO Bodies.

He/she represents the NATO Body concerned at the NATO Appeals Board hearings.

He/she represents the SHAPE Command Group in the SHAPE International School Board.

He/she maintains external contact with civilian personnel related suppliers and contractors, various professional organisations and national social security and labour authorities.

d. Contribution To Objectives

Through his/her activities, the incumbent facilitates and ensures that the requirements for civilian personnel in all their aspects and varieties are identified and met in a quantitative and qualitative way in order that the support to be provided by the civilians for the different entities is properly organised.

The incumbent :

His/her advice and policy recommendations affect the plans, management and financial resources with respect to civilian personnel of the Headquarters and other entities concerned.

Failure to achieve success will imply a severe shortage in the availability of civilian manpower assets and could severely hamper the NATO bodies’ capabilities to meet their strategic and operational requirements.

The incumbent is directly involved in the commitment and spending of over 50 million euro for civilian personnel salaries and salaries’ related expenses.

This post reports to OSC RHXX 0010 – Assistant Chief of Staff (J1) – OF-6.

e. Supervisory Responsibilities

Directs and supervises the work priorities of the Branch, providing professional guidance and instructions to his/her staff (10 NIC, 2 LWR).

Provides general guidance and advice within the assigned functional area.

There are first line reporting responsibilities for the following numbers of staff: 1× A3/G17, 2× A2/G15.

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 selection activities are expected to take place at SHAPE on Wednesday 01 and Thursday 02 June 2022. On-line testing might be considered according to the evolution of COVID-19.

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.

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 (preferably) or in French.

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

Current and past civilians working for NATO or any Coordinated Organization, shall indicate their last grade and step held (next to job title), and specify the name of employing NATO body or Coordinated Organization.

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