The Contracts Division (COS) is EUMETSAT's centre of expertise for procurement, contractual and commercial matters. Its mission is to ensure that best value for money is achieved through procurements that are compliant, competitive, timely and well managed. The Division is responsible for monitoring the compliant implementation of EUMETSAT's Procurement Procedures and acts as a key partner to all areas of the Organisation throughout the procurement lifecycle.

The Division provides contractual and commercial advice and support, contributes to procurement planning and strategy, participates in evaluations and negotiations, and ensures compliance with EUMETSAT's procurement and financial rules, procedures and quality standards. It negotiates and concludes contracts on behalf of the Organisation and supports the management of contractual matters during contract execution, including amendments, options, performance-related issues, remedies and contract close-out activities.

EUMETSAT's procurements range from contracts valued at approximately EUR 100,000 to multi-million-euro procurements supporting major satellite programmes and operational services. Most procurements are conducted through open competitive tendering procedures and cover a diverse portfolio including launch services, ground segment developments, industrial support services, skills- and product-based service contracts, consultancy services, technical and scientific studies, information technology, general supplies, and site and facility services in support of both EUMETSAT's mandatory and optional programmes.

The Contracts Officer will take contractual responsibility, as part of interdisciplinary procurement and project teams, for the preparation, negotiation and management of contracts and procurements under their assigned responsibility, including competitive tenders and in direct negotiation with single suppliers. The post holder will ensure compliance with EUMETSAT’s contractual, procurement and financial rules, whilst contributing to the achievement of best value for money. The post is currently assigned to the procurement and commercial support of service procurements in the Technical and Scientific Support and Operations and Services departments, supporting a diverse portfolio of operational, technical and engineering activities.

• Preparation of contractual tender documentation;
• Review of contractual and technical tender documentation;
• Oversight and management of procurement actions, including negotiations;
• Management of contractual matters during the execution phase, including contract amendments and options;
• Supporting and participating in Tender Evaluation Boards;
• Build and maintain trusted and constructive relationships with internal customers, project teams, managers, suppliers and other stakeholders, acting as a trusted procurement partner, and facilitating effective engagement, communication and problem/solving throughout the procurement and contractual lifecycle;

• Contribute to the continuous improvement and transformation of EUMETSAT's procurement and contractual processes, tools and working practices, by supporting process optimisation, standardisation, digitalisation and organisational change initiatives, aimed at enhancing efficiency, compliance and quality;
• Preparation and negotiation of co-operation agreements with national and international partners;
• People management tasks.

• Demonstrated experience (typically at least 5-10 years) in the procurement of supplies and/or complex services, especially through competitive public tendering, and negotiation and commercial management of contracts, for complex high technology systems, in a satellite, aerospace, or engineering environment and preferably gained in the frame of international or national public procurement;
• Proven experience in independently drafting and negotiating contract terms and conditions, legal provisions and dealing with contractual matters, and the ability to understand complex technical and legal issues and to formulate clear legal texts;
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the demonstrated ability to build consensus, foster collaboration, develop and sustain positive working relationships with a diverse range of technical, operational and managerial stakeholders within multidisciplinary teams, resolving issues through constructive engagement, sound judgement and effective communication;
• Demonstrated experience in business process improvement, organisational change or transformation initiatives, together with the ability to analyse existing processes, identify improvement opportunities, develop practical solutions, establish credibility and build support for change, and contribute to successful implementation in a complex stakeholder environment;
• People management experience;
• Experience of the Materials Management module of an ERP System (ideally SAP);
• Experience of working in a multi-lingual environment is desirable;
• Proven experience in the use of MS Office, particularly MS Word.