Senior Contracting Officer

The Senior Contracting Officer at SHAPE is responsible for procurement of goods and services supporting NATO 2030 initiatives and Defense and Deterrence related projects. The role involves exercising full contracting authority, developing acquisition strategies, negotiating contracts, and ensuring compliance with NATO financial rules and procurement directives.

Responsibilities

• Provide procurement support related to Defense and Deterrence (DDA) projects and 2030 initiatives.
• Exercise full spectrum of purchasing and contracting authority in accordance with NATO rules and regulations.
• Develop acquisition strategies and ensure expertise and continuity for complex, urgent and sensitive contracting activities.
• Evaluate contractor responsibility, past performance, and cost or price information.
• Draft and approve bidding instructions and contract clauses for solicitations.
• Participate in negotiation, drafting and staffing of agreements with NATO Agencies.
• Advise and support requirement holders on procurement matters.
• Support obtaining Committee approvals when necessary.
• Provide contracting support to NSIP projects when SHAPE is Host Nation for 2030 or DDA related investments.
• Coordinate with SHAPE Legal Office as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned or directed.

Requirements

• Minimum 4 years professional acquisition experience, with at least 3 years in a position leading and improving procurement activity, negotiating complex contracts with extensive knowledge of international contract and business law.
• Prior contracting experience at management level and understanding of management oversight of contracts.
• Experience in sourcing and managing external suppliers to ensure successful delivery of products and services.
• Minimum 4 years prior contracting experience at management level with comprehensive understanding of operational logistics from a supply chain perspective.
• 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 with advanced vocational training leading to professional qualification with 5 years post related and 2 years function related experience.
• English language proficiency at SLP 4343 level (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing).
• Minimum five years’ experience in procurement/contracting field with ability to negotiate, execute competitive bidding, award and administer contracts, and manage contractor claims and disputes.
• Experience evaluating complex, urgent and sensitive requisitions for goods, services and engineering works.
• Experience translating complex technical or operational requirements into commercially adequate invitations for bids.
• Experience executing full procurement cycle from market surveys to contract closeout.
• Proven experience using MS Office, Internet, e-commerce and Automated Accounting/Purchasing Application Systems.
• Experience contracting for military or international organizations, preferably as a warranted contracting officer.
• Knowledge of NATO procurement directives and Host Nation contract law.
• Must meet standards for appointment as a Purchasing and Contracting Officer with an unlimited warrant.
• Willingness to deploy in support of military operations and exercises, including short notice deployments up to 183 days in any 547-day period.

Skills

• Contract Negotiation
• Procurement Management
• Contract Administration
• Supplier Management
• Operational Logistics
• Supply Chain Management
• Competitive Bidding
• Contract Claims Management
• Dispute Settlement
• Technical Requirements Translation
• Full Procurement Cycle
• Market Surveying
• Contract Closeout
• Microsoft Office Suite
• Automated Accounting Software
• Purchasing Application Systems
• NATO Procurement Directives
• Host Nation Contract Law
• Military Contracting
• Acquisition Strategy Development
• Warranted Contracting Officer

Languages

English