Staff Officer; Contracting Officer

Post Context

ACT contributes to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of Alliance member states by leading, at Strategic Command level, Warfare Development required to enhance NATO's posture, military structures, forces, capabilities and doctrines.

The Command Group provides general support, coordination, management, administrative service and specialist advice to SACT, DSACT and COS.

Chief of Staff (COS) is responsible to SACT and DSACT for the staff activity necessary to execute ACT's mission. It is the focal point for the implementation of the Commander's direction and guidance as well as the initiation and co-ordination of all ACT staff efforts.

The Staff Advisory Group (SAG) is comprised of different competencies grouped into several offices (Political Advisor, Legal Advisor, Gender Advisor, Financial Controller, Command Auditor, Communication Branch and Pentagon Liaison). It works under the direction and guidance of COS and provides general staff support, coordination, management, administrative service, and specialists' advice to SACT.

As part of the Staff Advisory Group, the Office of Budget and Finance (BUDFIN) is the executive agent for ACT in all matters of budget and finance policy and execution. Responsibility includes all matters pertaining to Budget and Finance at HQ SACT, JALLC, JWC, JFTC and subordinate SACT elements (STRE and SEE).

The incumbent serves as an HQ SACT Contracting Officer.

• Performs the duties of ACT Purchasing and Contracting Officer to plan, negotiate, award and administer contracts on behalf of ACT directly relating to the Command's transformational mission in relation to military structure, forces, capabilities and doctrine for non-Research and Development requirements.
• Implements acquisition strategy on assigned projects, develops acquisition plans, provides oversight on all contractual matters in the competitive bidding process including issuing Notification of Intent to invite bids from member nations, establish bidders list, draft release of IFIB, evaluate Technical and Price proposals, conducts pre-negotiation discussions, provides debriefs to industry and award contracts.
• Acts as a Contracting Officer with a limited warrant for contracted services for Headquarters SACT mission support. The incumbent will bear the full authority and responsibilities and discharges his/her duties to enter into contracts and liability on behalf of ACT IAW warrant assigned.
• Performs contract administration tasks including monitoring past performance, issuing contract amendments, stop work orders, settling claims and contract termination.
• Coordinates, negotiates and administers contracts for authorized NSIP programmes.
• Performs all administrative and contractual updates in CIRIS reporting system.
• Performs duties with comprehensive knowledge of NATO Financial Regulations, NATO Procurement Policy and the ACT Financial Manual.
• Performs all necessary actions for effective contracting ensuring compliance with the terms of the contracts and safeguarding the interest of the Nations in contractual relationships.
• Applies knowledge of the uniform commercial code, knowledge of business and industry practices, agile procurement processes, sources of supply, cost factors, cost and price analysis, and price analysis techniques.
• Ability to work independently and directly with senior international military staff.

• University Degree and 2 years function related experience in accounting, business finance, law, contracts, economics, business management or similar field or equivalent, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience. Acquisition University Contracting certification, degree may be substituted by equivalent education or experience.
• Five years' experience as a governmental or international organization contracting specialist with job titles such as contract specialist, contract administrator, cost and/or price analyst, contracting officer or procurement analyst.
• Demonstrated ability to formulate,…