VN 23/56 Head of Contracts Division
EUMETSAT · Darmstadt, HE, GermanyEUMETSAT operates a growing fleet of Earth Observation satellites in Low Earth and geostationary orbits (currently comprising nine EUMETSAT Meteosat Second Generation and Metop satellites, Copernicus Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6 satellites). In parallel, EUMETSAT is working towards the launch of the next generation of Meteosat Third Generation and Metop Second Generation satellites.
Within the Administration Department (ADM) the Contracts Division (COS) provides contractual and commercial expertise to the organisation, performs checks and balances to ensure compliance with the procurement rules, and ensures that procurements are timely, well managed and that best value for money is achieved by an efficient procurement process.
The division is responsible for both procurements of programme/mission related assets, including related industrial support services, as well as general supplies, technical and scientific studies, product centered services and a significant amount of on-site and off-site skills-centered services.
Duties
The main duties include:
- To contribute to the achievement of the organisational strategy by establishing a procurement strategy in the areas identified by EUMETSAT’s Management Board and by providing EUMETSAT with procurement services and related guidance, with the objective of achieving best value for money, meeting the expectations of internal and external stakeholders;
- Within the boundaries of the EUMETSAT Financial Rules and Contract Procedures, to have overall responsibility for contractual matters, to advice on the most effective procurement approach, having regard to the item or service to be procured;
- Further develop and improve EUMETSAT procurement and service contract framework, responding to changing market dynamics and ensuring that the organisation has a modern, timely and effective procurement process at all levels;
- To manage the preparation of related contracts as necessary and in this context to participate in relevant discussion and negotiations with external parties;
- To monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of the procurement process and its compliance with the EUMETSAT Financial Rules and Procurement Procedures. To arrange for their revision as necessary;
- To establish the annual Procurement Plans and have the Procurement Plan for services of value above 5MEUR approved by Council;
- To provide regular reporting on failed procurements or procurements where only one offer has been received and propose mitigation measures to enhance competition;
- To hold the Industrial Focal Point meeting annually with Member States representatives;
- Provide the COS divisional staff with a clear vision and targets for the procurement function and to manage the work of the Division accordingly.
Skills and Experience
- Minimum 5 years’ experience at a senior level contributing to the strategic management of public-procurement and in related contractual matters, preferably acquired in the aerospace or defense industry;
- Wide experience, preferably in the frame of international public procurement, in the preparation, negotiation and post-contract award management of development and complex service contracts of capital intensive high-tech products (eg satellites, ground segment facilities, aerospace, defense or large IT platforms), and highly specialized team based service contracts supporting the development and operations of complex high technology systems;
- Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate procurement and contracts management teams, including management of performance and development of key skills and knowledge;
- Ability to understand complex technical and legal-contractual issues and convert these into clear documents on procurement matters and contract text;
- Proven negotiation skills in the context of contractual content and financial matters;
- Experience of implementing successful change in a highly complex organisation;
- Experience in customer, external partner and supplier/sub-contractor management in the context of the European public sector and/or aerospace industry would be advantageous;
- Excellent interpersonal, communication skills (both written and verbal) including demonstrated experience to communicate effectively at all levels of an organisation.
Employment Conditions
The initial contract will be of 4 years’ duration, with subsequent 5 year contracts being awarded thereafter, subject to individual performance and organisation requirements. There is no limit to the amount of follow-up contracts a staff member can receive up to the EUMETSAT retirement age of 63 and there are certainly opportunities to establish a long career perspective at EUMETSAT.
This post is graded A4/A5 on the EUMETSAT salary scales. The minimum basic salary for this post is EURO 9027 per month (net of internal tax but excluding pension contribution and insurances) which may be negotiable on the basis of skills and experience. The salary scale provides for increments on the anniversary of taking up employment, and scales are reviewed by the EUMETSAT Council with effect from 1 January each year. In addition to basic salary, EUMETSAT offers attractive benefits. Further information, including salary details, is available on the EUMETSAT web site.
EUMETSAT is committed to providing an equal opportunities work environment for men and women.
Please note that only nationals of EUMETSAT Member States may apply. The EUMETSAT Convention requires that Staff shall be recruited on the basis of their qualifications, account being taken of the international character of EUMETSAT. Applicants are required to disclose all nationalities they have held and currently hold in order to determine whether they can exercise the role as advertised in compliance with applicable export control regulations.
About EUMETSAT
EUMETSAT is Europe’s meteorological satellite agency. Its role is to establish and operate meteorological satellites to monitor the weather and climate from space - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information is supplied to the National Meteorological Services of the organisation's Member States in Europe, as well as other users worldwide.
EUMETSAT also operates several Copernicus missions on behalf of the European Union and provide data services to the Copernicus marine and atmospheric services and their users.
As an intergovernmental European Organisation, EUMETSAT has 30 Member States (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.)