Engineer (Application Support and Change Management)

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 Support 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 workforce and personnel directives and management across Allied Command Operations (ACO).

The Human Resources Data Services Branch (HRDS) provides Human Resources Data systems business management and support to the NCS and other participating NATO organizations.

The Business Support Section manages applications data and accounts.

Engineer is responsible for technical support of the HRDS applications and work products and change management of the HRDS applications. This involves having broad technical expertise a deep understanding of the HRDS applications and NATO HR business acumen to resolve incidents swiftly and to ensure NCI Agency and other service providers deliver appropriate application changes how and when needed to meet the needs of the HRD User Community and as agreed by the HRDS Board and SHAPE leadership. This post is crucial for ensuring the branch can support the HRDS applications and work products efficiently and effectively on behalf of the HRDS User Community.

Principal Duties

1. Acts as Support Manager for the HRDS applications analysing support requests submitted through the HRDS Remote Administrators Helpdesk staff Branch mailboxes; routes each request for resolution to the appropriate support engineer or other HRD or NCI Agency staff member as required.

2.Manages and oversees the Change and Incident Management processes for the HRDS applications.

3. Coordinates changes and fix delivery with HRDs Business Management and Training and Helpdesk sections as well as with the NCI Agency.

4. Responsible for product ownership of all HRDS application changes including test plans and documentation delivered by the NCI Agency or 3rd party vendor.

5. Acts as the center of expertise for HRDS applications SQL Database Administration.

6. Coordinates data administration of the HRDS applications within HRD and with the NCI Agency.

7. Conducts regular audits of HRDS applications data and accounts to ensure quality and least privilege usage.

8. Responsible for conducting analysis and producing reports to support protection of personal data held in the HRDS applications.

9. Responsible for change management best practices and evaluating/selecting tools used by HRD staff within the NATO Software Factory (NSF) development testing training environment.

10. Coordinates contractors use of internal policies and practices to obtain acceptable quality of change delivery.

Special Requirements and Additional Duties

The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organization 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.

Essential Qualifications

a. Professional/Experience

1. At least 3 years experience in the past 5 years as a database developer using Microsoft SQL 2016 (or later).

2. At least 2 years experience in the past 7 years combined as team member delivering formal information technology projects whose size and complexity are applicable to the organization as a whole.

3.At least 2 years related professional experience in the past 5 years in an international or national governmental organization.

4.At least 1 year experience in the past 5 years supporting or using any of ACOs current HRDS applications or similar applications within an organisation whose geographic and user base is similar in scope to ACO.

5.At least 2 documented instances delivering a project in accordance with an Agile method such as SCRUM.

b. Education/Training

Higher Secondary education and completed higher vocational training leading to a formal technical or professional certification with 3 years function related experience or Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 5 years post related experience.

The additional job specific qualifications and experience is described under Professional/Experience case of ambiguity the required job specific experience have priority over the standard education and training levels and experience described here.

c. Language

English - SLP 3333 - (Listening Speaking Reading and Writing)

5. Desirable Qualifications

a. Education/Training

1.Masters Degree in software engineering or equivalent and 3 years post related experience.

2. NCIA Academy or equivalent civilian provider courses:

a. Agile Project Management Training for Practitioner & Foundation Certification or PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner Certification Exam Preparation

b.ITIL 4 Foundation

c. Language

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

Attributes/Competencies

Personal Attributes: The incumbent must exhibit negotiating and diplomatic skills in dealing with senior staff of external agencies and with contractors. A high level of tact will be required in the course of dealing with Users at Headquarters and Agencies to change long entrenched traditional methods of manpower and personnel management. Above all the incumbent will have to exhibit team player and team management skills and be able to delegate. The incumbent should excel in communication and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders include NCI Agency and HRDS Programme entities.

Professional Contacts: The incumbent will routinely interface inside and outside their own Organization; these contacts will require explanation discussion persuasion and approval actions. Specifically the incumbent will interact with the following:

1.Users at all professional levels providing advice guidance and information on HRDS issues.

2.With system contractors at managerial and engineer level concerning the technical support to the system throughout its lifetime.

3.NATO technical staff providing life-cycle support to HRDS applications.

Contribution To Objectives: The incumbent will:

1. Contribute to the development of the HRDS applications and process workflows to support the use of workforce and military personnel management systems across NATO.

2. Contribute to the development of HRD policy related to technical issues of applications use.

3. Manage the technical aspects of applications implementation and ensure that changes are implemented and operated in accordance with all user requirements and technical specifications.

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 salary will be the basic entry-level monthly salary defined by the NATO Grade of the post which may be augmented by allowances based on the selected staff members eligibility and which is subject to the withholding of approximately 20% for pension and medical insurance contributions.

NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion and strives to provide equal access to employment advancement and retention independent of gender age nationality ethnic origin religion or belief cultural background sexual orientation and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations.

Building integrity is a key element of NATOs core tasks. As an employer NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.

Applicants who prove to be competent for the post but who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment in another post of a similar nature which might become vacant in the near future albeit at the same or lower grade provided they meet the necessary requirements.

We believe that all people are capable of great things. Because of this we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the criteria listed within this job descript

HOW TO APPLY FOR A NATO CIVILIAN POST AT SHAPE:

Applications are to be submitted using NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) ( Applications submitted by other means (e.g. mail e-mail fax etc) are not accepted.

More information to be found on these links:

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Application Process

Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide original documentary evidence and a set of copies supporting statements in their applications. Appointment is subject to obtaining a NS security clearance and a medical certificate.

Remarks:

a) Only nationals from the 32 NATO member states can apply for vacancies at SHAPE.

b) Applications are automatically acknowledged within one working day after 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 vacancys closing date.

d)NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared in whole or in part by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools including and without limitation to chatbots such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT) or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared in whole or in part by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATOs sole discretion and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.