Buyer, Business

Job Overview

The Finance and Acquisition Directorate of SHAPE oversees international and multinational appropriated and non‑appropriated funds in the ACO. It supervises subordinate ACO commands, develops financial and acquisition policies, represents SHAPE/ACO in the Budget Committee, and advises the SHAPE Command Group on military budget‑funded requirements. The incumbent serves as a buyer for the headquarters, processing acquisition actions for goods and services and performing contract administration.

• General Purchasing and Contracting.
• Act as a buyer throughout the procurement workflow for goods, services, and engineering works, including:
  • Reviewing, editing, and recommending wording of technical specifications for solicitations.
  • Screening potential bidders, maintaining supplier data in the Supplier Management Database, and monitoring market trends.
  • Supporting customer requests for deviation from normal procurement methods through basic market research.
  • Managing simplified procurement solicitations in accordance with established thresholds.
  • Drafting bidding instructions and contract clauses, including for Invitation For International Bids.
  • Supporting international and formal competitive bidding procedures.
  • Assisting the Contracting Officer in organizing bidders’ conferences, site surveys, inspections, progress review meetings, and other contractual events.
  • Assisting in the evaluation of bids and contract award recommendations.
  • Investigating the financial viability of vendors/contractors (e.g., Dun & Bradstreet evaluations) when necessary.
  • Providing administrative support to the Contracting Officer’s input to the Contract Award Committee.
  • Assisting the Contracting Officer in dispute resolution and settlement proposals.
  • Administering contract files, including archiving and eventual destruction.
  • Educating customers and bidders on good procurement practices and efficient contracting tools.
• Operate an Automated Accounting/Purchasing Application System for requisitions, purchase orders, invoices, receipts, reports, and system maintenance.
• Assist the Contracting Officer in the SHAPE Credit Card Programme management.
• Ensure financial viability checks on vendors/contractors before contract award.
• Perform all other duties as assigned or directed.

The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organisation at the same grade without any change to the contract. Work is normally performed in a normal NATO office working environment.

Only nationals from the 32 NATO member states may apply for vacancies at SHAPE.

Professional / Experience

• At least 2 years of prior contracting experience.
• At least 2 years of professional experience in supplier relationship management.

Education / Training

• Higher secondary education with intermediate vocational training in supply chain management, commercial and mercantile law, logistics, inventory management, procurement, or a related discipline, leading to a formal qualification.
• Alternatively, secondary education with advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or accreditation with at least 4 years of post‑related experience.

In case of ambiguity, the required job‑specific experience listed above takes priority over the standard education and training levels described.

Languages

• English – SLP 3322 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)
• French – SLP 3322 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Professional Experience

• Minimum of four years experience in procurement/contracting, demonstrating full‑cycle procurement for simplified procurement.
• Experience contracting for military or international organisations as a buyer or equivalent.
• Experience in NATO organisations and/or knowledge of NATO procurement directives.

Education / Training

• Specialised training in e‑commerce tools.
• Experience with automated accounting systems and procurement application software (Oracle‑based preferred).
• Completion of the NATO‑ACO Contingency Contracting Course or equivalent.

Languages

• English – SLP 3333

Personal…