Position Details Principal Expert Corporate Real Estate Management Reference 2015-260-EXT Function The Directorate General Administration (DG/A) of the European Central Bank (ECB) is seeking applicants for the position of Principal Corporate Real Estate Management Expert (carrying the official job title of Principal Expert) within the Corporate Real Estate Management (CREM) Section of the Directorate General s Premises Division. The CREM Section is divided into four units, one of which is the Real Estate and Space Management unit, which is responsible for the operational implementation of property owner-related processes, the planning of medium to long-term spatial requirements, and for providing support for the computer-aided facility management (CAFM) tool and the ECB s technical documentation management (TDM) tool. The other units that comprise the CREM Section are responsible for the Premises Division s budget, procurement and contract management, the ECB s environmental management and the management of the ECB s art collection. The successful applicant will be entrusted with the following main tasks: coordinating (as a non-managerial first appraiser) the Real Estate and Space Management unit, which comprises 10 members of staff, to ensure that tasks are completed efficiently and effectively, that staff remain motivated, committed and skilled, and that a good working relationship is maintained within the Section, the Division and the Directorate General Administration, as well as with internal and external stakeholders; developing and implementing corporate real estate management strategies and policies by conceptualising and proposing alternative scenarios, such as stay versus go and buy/build versus lease options; preparing cash flow and project cost forecast models to analyse these scenarios; establishing model variables within the context of corporate planning, producing sensitivity analyses and interpreting the results thereof; reviewing, in liaison with external lawyers, real estate proposals, development opportunities and lease contracts to support the Head of Section in acquisition/disposal negotiations; developing real estate portfolio optimisation and workplace strategies, including the
development and impact analysis of space standards and room allocation guidelines; monitoring and coordinating lease and other agreements for the ECB s leased and owned premises with all relevant internal and external parties; managing the strategic space requirements and planning and monitoring the efficient use and utilisation of space to ensure the timely provision of sufficient, functional office and other space as required by the ECB; supervising the maintenance of relevant databases (e.g. the CAFM and TDM tools), ensuring the availability of data and preparing regular status reports; ensuring the ECB s compliance with all relevant legislation in its capacity as a building owner; monitoring and controlling the unit s budget, costs (e.g. rent, ancillary costs, energy consumption), performance and output in line with the overall direction of the Section and Division; adding value to the provision of CREM services through rent reviews, service charge assessments, landlord consents, dilapidations management and general property advice; advising on the insourcing/outsourcing levels for services, including staff development and contract evaluation; independently drafting terms of reference for the engagement of real estate agents and consultants; managing related procurement procedures; supervising and coordinating external service providers, contractors and consultants, as well as ensuring the quality of the services they provide; liaising with real estate agents, consultants and other internal/external specialists; establishing and maintaining a high level of expertise in the unit s field of responsibility by providing sound guidance to colleagues; developing appropriate and sustainable working structures in line with the overall direction of the Section and Division; liaising closely with the other sections (in particular Technical Facility Management and Project Management), anticipating their specific challenges and ensuring clear and concise information flow;
maintaining effective communication with all relevant business areas and managers; preparing notes and documentation for and providing advice to the ECB s decision-making bodies; improving, mapping and drafting processes for the DG/A Facility Management Handbook in the unit s field of responsibility. Qualifications and experience Applicants must have the following knowledge and competencies: a master s degree in real estate management, architecture, business administration or other relevant field, or a bachelor s degree combined with relevant professional qualifications and four years of relevant professional experience; additional qualifications or accreditations, such as MRICS (Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), would be an asset; ideally, at least four years of professional experience in leading a corporate real estate and space management unit or a similar unit with highly qualified staff, with responsibility for managing owned and leased premises, ideally of a complexity comparable to the ECB, with over 5,000 workplaces and a total size of at least 50,000 m²; in addition, at least three years of work experience in the fields of negotiating and managing, leasing and/or acquisition and disposal of leased and owned premises, ideally of a size and complexity comparable to the ECB, would be considered a strong asset; at least three years of work experience in developing and implementing corporate real estate management strategies and policies would be considered a strong asset; experience in coordinating teams and providing structured feedback; experience in monitoring and controlling CREM-related budgets; sound knowledge of the relevant building and facility management laws and regulations, including technical standards; strong presentation and influencing skills, including a demonstrable aptitude to present information in non-technical terms; advanced command of both English (the working language of the ECB) and German (to communicate with local authorities and landlords), including a thorough knowledge of real estate terminology, with proven drafting ability and experience in producing high-quality memoranda, analyses and reports;
the ability to communicate at all levels in a multinational environment; ideally, experience of working for an international and/or public institution as part of intercultural teams involving external parties; a working knowledge of MS Office, such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint; ideally, knowledge of document management systems such as OpenText Livelink; ideally, user knowledge of enterprise resource planning systems such as SAP. Competencies The successful candidate will have the following behavioural competencies: ensures that essential internal and external factors are incorporated in the strategic planning process; uses simple/clear words and images to communicate ideas; can ensure that agreement is reached, even in challenging circumstances, and that disputes are settled equitably; establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with staff and management at all levels, both inside and outside the organisation; manages the performance and development of the team; adapts to changing plans and circumstances with ease; gets to the root of the problem quickly in order to determine areas for development; uses diplomacy and tact when dealing with colleagues; is knowledgeable regarding current and future policies, practices, trends and technology affecting the business unit and organisation; prioritises tasks and pays attention to detail, even when under time pressure. Closing Date for Applications: 14.01.2016
Further Information Three-year fixed-term contract, with possible conversion to a contract of indefinite duration subject to individual performance and organisational needs. To further enhance the diversity of its workforce, the ECB particularly encourages applications from female candidates. How to apply Applications are to be made in English and submitted using our online application form. An "Applicants' Guide" can be downloaded from our recruitment pages. The recruitment process may include a pre-screening exercise, a written exercise, a presentation and interviews. Further information on the ECB's conditions of employment for fixed-term positions can be found at http://www.ecb.europa.eu/careers/newcomers/fixed-term/html/index.en.html. Applications are accepted from nationals of Member States of the European Union. The requirements laid down in the vacancy notice must be met by the closing date for applications. This vacancy notice may be used to fill the same position again, or similar positions, within 12 months of the selection decision. The selection committee may place suitable candidates on a reserve list, from which candidates may be appointed to similar positions in the same or another business area. It may also be decided to fill the position(s) advertised in this vacancy notice with a suitable candidate or candidates from the reserve list resulting from a recruitment procedure for a similar position. Candidates will be informed accordingly if this happens. This position has been allocated to salary band: H