Head of Unit Resource Management Services
Contract length: 5 years (renewable)
Location: Stockholm
Indicative number of candidates to be employed: 1
Is this job for you?
You will lead the Resource Management Services (RMS) Unit with approximately 75 staff members, supporting the Centre’s work related to resource management and administrative services. As the Head of Unit, you will manage six sections: Corporate Services, Finance and Accounting, Human Resources, Legal Services, Planning and Performance, and Procurement.
Reporting to the Director, you will be part of ECDC’s management team and contribute to setting the Centre’s strategic direction.
In this position, you will have a wide variety of tasks that will give you the opportunity to:
- Support the Centre’s mission and vision by providing leadership and direction to the Resource Management Services Unit, fostering a focus on the creation of value-added, customer-oriented business outputs while ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework;
- Further develop and implement, in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders, strategies to ensure optimal resource allocation and utilisation with a focus on ensuring relevance, quality, timeliness and efficiency of the Centre’s outputs;
- Guide the development, implementation and continuous improvement of strategies, policies and administrative services that enable and enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the Centre’s operations, providing the organisation with robust internal functions, capabilities, processes and standards;
- Drive digital transformation in support services, including through identifying and deploying new technologies and resource management systems;
- As a member of the Centre’s senior management team, provide input and support to key strategic and operational topics, the administrative and financial frameworks, and advising on all administrative questions and policies;
- Lead the development and implementation of ECDC’s work plan through the RMS Unit’s work programme;
- Drive staff engagement and satisfaction by developing and implementing policies and initiatives that foster a positive work environment, satisfaction and results;
- Contribute to other activities of ECDC as required, within your field of competence.
What are we looking for?
Formal requirements
For your application to be considered eligible you must fulfil all the following requirements by the application deadline:
- A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is 4 years or more, or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least 1 year when the normal period of university education is at least 3 years*;
- At least 15 years of professional experience (following the award of the diploma)**;
- Thorough knowledge of one of the official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge of another official EU language to the extent necessary for the performance of your duties***;
- Nationality of one of the EU Member States or of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and to be entitled to your full rights as a citizen;
- To have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws on military service;
- Meet the character requirements for the duties involved****; and
- Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.
You will need to provide appropriate documents to show that you meet all of the above criteria.
Selection criteria
For your application to be evaluated further, you will also need:
- At least 12 years of recent professional experience (following the award of the diploma), acquired in positions relevant to the job description;
- Excellent track record in management positions at senior level in an international context;
- Experience in developing and implementing a vision to generate purpose and alignment for a team/teams;
- Proven experience in designing, delivering and continuously improving organisational strategies, policies, and processes to ensure and enhance operational excellence and enhance resource utilisation;
- Proven experience in leading organisational change and managing teams through challenges;
- Proven experience of managing staff providing professional services in at least two areas covered by the Resource Management Unit;
- Excellent command of English, both written and spoken.
Additionally, we will assess the following competencies:
- High level of political awareness and sensitivity;
- Excellent managerial skills, including:
- The ability to set and revise objectives for the unit within the overall strategic framework and priorities of the Agency;
- The ability to determine and focus on priorities and to monitor and evaluate the progress made towards achieving the unit's and team members' objectives set, in cooperation with the members of the team;
- The ability to organise, assign and manage the unit's work among the members of the team and to set them challenging but realistic objectives;
- The ability to empower members of the team while ensuring that they understand what is expected of them and how their work contributes to the unit’s objectives;
- The ability to choose co-workers and to build strong teams with complementary strengths suited to the efficient pursuit of the unit’s objectives;
- The ability to motivate members of the team to achieve the desired results and also to provide regular feedback, acknowledge success and the need for improvement, in order to enable them to achieve their objectives and greatest potential;
- The ability to develop and support career development and learning opportunities for the members of the team.
- Excellent communication skills, including:
- The ability to communicate clearly and present complex subjects simply, both orally and in writing, including to the members of the team;
- The ability to solicit inputs from and listen to staff, partners, and stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including:
- The ability to deal with people effectively, respectfully and courteously;
- The ability to build productive and cooperative working relationships with hierarchy and other units and colleagues.
- Excellent negotiation skills, including:
- The ability to steer discussions and generate the best possible results without compromising productive working relationships with the other parties involved;
- Well-developed diplomatic skills.
- Being quality-, results- and service-minded.
Depending on the number of applications received, the selection committee may apply stricter requirements within the aforementioned selection criteria.
Why ECDC?
You will play an active role in making a tangible difference in public health.
At ECDC you will join a team of more than 400 colleagues with diverse backgrounds and professions who work together for the common goal of helping countries prevent and respond to outbreaks and public health threats. Every position at ECDC plays an important part, and we cooperate closely for our collective goals.
ECDC is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates without any distinction on grounds of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnic or social origin, religion, or belief. Women are currently under-represented in management functions and to achieve a better gender balance, we strongly encourage women to apply for this vacancy.
You will be joining ECDC at interesting times. In October 2022, the European Parliament endorsed an extended mandate that will allow ECDC to adopt a stronger role in supporting EU Member States in the prevention and control of infectious disease threats and improve European preparedness and response. This includes real-time surveillance systems, mobilising an EU Health Task Force to assist local responses in Member States and building a network of EU reference laboratories.
What can we offer you?
We offer a competitive salary and a range of benefits, including health insurance, learning opportunities and flexible work arrangements such as flexible working hours and teleworking in the Stockholm area for part of the week. Additionally, you can work up to 10 days a year from outside the Stockholm area.
Depending on your experience, the monthly basic salary usually starts at € 13 058.05 and may be supplemented by various allowances including, as applicable, expatriation and/or generous family allowances. Salary is exempt from national tax and instead an Agency tax is deducted. We also provide financial support when relocating to Stockholm.
Our benefits package is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment that values the well-being of our employees.
Learn more about the benefits of joining ECDC
How does our selection process work?
The selection process includes a remote written test, a video conference interview with a Selection Committee, an assessment centre and a meeting with the Director of ECDC; the selection process may include additional steps.
After a candidate has been selected for the position, additional shortlisted candidates can be placed on a reserve list. The reserve list may be used when ECDC needs to fill similar positions at the same level in the future. The reserve list is valid until 31 December 2026 and may be extended.
Overview of the different steps in the selection process
See the ECDC-candidate-guide.pdf (europa.eu) for a detailed explanation of the selection and recruitment process.
When starting a new contract under the EU staff regulations, all new staff must successfully complete a probationary period of nine months.
How do you apply?
To apply for this vacancy, please create/ log in to your ECDC e-recruitment user account.
Detailed instructions on how to apply
Please submit your application well ahead of the deadline in case of technical issues and/or heavy traffic on the website. After submitting your application, you will receive an automatic email message confirming receipt of your application. Ensure that the email address you provide for your applicant account is correct and that you check your email regularly.
ECDC does not accept applications submitted after the deadline or applications submitted by email, mail or any other means.
Only candidates selected for interviews will be notified. You can see the progress of the selection process from within your e-recruitment account.
Translations of this vacancy notice in all EU languages can be obtained by using the automatic translation function on this website.
Note:
While this vacancy notice can be translated into all official EU languages from its English original, the language of day-to-day operations in the Agency is generally English. ECDC therefore prefers to receive the application in English.
Disclaimer: Please note that in the event of any differences in meaning or interpretation between the original English version of this content and a translation, the original English version takes precedence
We welcome your application!
* Only diplomas and certificates that have been awarded in EU member states or that are the subject of equivalence certificates issued by authorities in the said Member States shall be taken into consideration
** Compulsory military service is always taken into consideration.
*** Candidates with a non-official EU language or English as their mother tongue must provide proof of their level of a second language with a certificate (B1 or more).
In addition, in order to be eligible for a promotion through an annual promotion exercise the staff members have to have a working knowledge of a third EU language, as described in the applicable Staff Regulations and Implementing Rules.
**** Prior to the appointment, the successful candidate will be asked to provide a certificate from the police file to the effect of non-existing criminal record.