Data And Applications SME

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU, and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting 

The NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) is responsible for providing secure and effective communications and information technology (IT) services to NATO's member countries and its partners. The agency was established in 2012 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The NCIA provides a wide range of services, including:

• Cyber Security: The NCIA provides advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect NATO's communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATO's military commanders to plan and execute operations.
• Satellite Communications: The NCIA provides satellite communications services to enable secure and reliable communications between NATO forces.
• Electronic Warfare: The NCIA provides electronic warfare services to support NATO's mission to detect, deny, and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATO's information technology infrastructure, including its databases, applications, and servers.

Overall, the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATO's communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATO’s principal C3 capability deliverer and CIS service provider. It provides, maintains and defends the NATO enterprise-wide information technology infrastructure to enable Allies to consult together under Article IV, and, when required, stand together in the face of attack under Article V.

To provide these critical services, in the modern evolving dynamic environment the NCI Agency needs to build and maintain high performance-engaged workforce. The NCI Agency workforce strategically consists of three major categorise's: NATO International Civilians (NIC)'s, Military (Mil), and Interim Workforce Consultants (IWC)'s. The IWCs are a critical part of the overall NCI Agency workforce and make up approximately 15 percent of the total workforce.

Introduction

SHAPE is the Strategic Headquarters for Allied Command Operations (ACO). The J1 Division within the Support (SUPPORT) Directorate is responsible for all aspects of military and civilian workforce policy and personnel management in ACO. The Division is also responsible under the auspices of MC 216/4 – AAP16, to provide the enabling and supporting Human Resources Data Services (HRDS) applications to the NATO Command Structure (NCS) HQs, NATO’s operational theatres, operational elements of the NATO Force Structure (NFS), the International Military Staff (IMS), the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), and other NATO Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) organisations. The HR Data Services (HRD) Branch within the J1 is the workforce and personnel data custodian and is responsible for the business management, training and support of all HRDS applications.

Although functionally located within the J1 Division at SHAPE, the HRD Branch has the responsibility to provide services and support to all subscribing NATO HQs and organisations spread across 10 time zones (Norfolk VA, USA to Baghdad, IRQ) and providing up to a 12-hour daily helpdesk and support service, Monday to Friday. In addition, due to differing national holidays, HQs’ stand-downs and operational commitments, the Branch may be required to provide limited helpdesk hours or business support on weekends and holidays.

Role Background

The HRDS applications consist of the following:

• The Automated Personnel Management System (APMS). The NATO Command Structure’s human resources management system responsible for managing all aspects of personnel, organizational structures, and their inter-relationships. The current tool is based upon the underlying COTS application from Allocate Software, an RLDatix company, the Defense Suite, version 9.7. This version of the product is a fully web-based, SOA architecture. system. A new COTS version, OneView, is scheduled for deployment in late 2024.
• The Establishment Review Tool (ERT). NATO’s establishment and job description management and approval system. The tool was developed by and is wholly owned by NATO.
• The ACO/ACT & Missions Identification System (AMIS). The NATO identity management system responsible for producing and managing identity cards for the whole of the NCS and all additional subscribing NATO HQs and organisations. AMIS is based upon the underlying COTS product manageID, version 4, by Creative Information Technologies, Inc. and is interfaced to APMS for the personnel data.
• The NATO System for Tracking Entitlements & Privileges (NSTEP). The NATO electronic entitlement and ration card system. The tool was developed by ATOS Convergence Creators, is wholly owned by NATO and interfaces with both APMS and AMIS.
• The NATO Installation Access Control System (NIACS). A mobile AMIS validation capability. The tool was developed by and is wholly owned by NATO.
• The Integrated Security and In Processing System (ISIPS). A bespoke system. Based upon VB6 and .NET technologies. ISIPS is a management tool used by some HQs in order to meet their commitments to the Host Nation (HN). It provides a means by which essential data can be exchanged with the HN. The tool was developed by ATOS and is wholly owned by NATO.
• The NATO Performance Management System (NPMS). NPMS interfaces with APMS and is used for the management of the annual performance reviews of NATO International Civilians. The tool is a Sharepoint application and was developed and wholly owned by NATO.
• Genpact’s Cora SeQuence/Orchestration, an intelligent Business Process Management suite (iBPMS) that allows HRD to automate and control business workflows between the HRDS applications as well as extending the functionality of them.
• Within SHAPE SUPPORT J1 HRD, there is a recurring requirement for external/contracted support over a wide spectrum of functional expertise/IT to support the HRDS applications via the HRDS Programme of Work (PoW). This RFQ’s Contractor’s personnel will deliver applications and data engineering support to assist other members of the HRD team as they deliver related business functionality using the HRDS applications suite.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Support administration of the HRDS applications, e.g., make functional changes based on customer needs and functionality granted (response time is within 1 hour and 3 days).
• Provide expert database advice in support of the centralised Helpdesk and on-site assistance to HRDS users (response time is within 1 and 3 days).
• Perform database management for the HRDS systems, including back-up procedures and integrity checking (monthly highlight report).
• Develop and generate Microsoft SQL database queries, scripts, functions, stored procedures, and jobs in support of data management efforts on behalf of the NATO-wide HRDS user community (response time is within 1 and 3 days).
• Develop and generate database queries and reports in support of NATO-wide HRDS user community (response time is within 1 and 3 days).
• Support the data administration of the HRDS applications and interfaces (response time is within 1 and 3 days).
• Support the HRD branch in the collection of user requirements and the formulation of requirements and specifications in relation to workflows, database operations, and related functionality (response time is within 1 and 3 days).
• Develop and administer SQL Reporting Services reports and Power BI report server (not the Power BI service) static and dynamic reports (response time is within 1 and 3 days).
• Operate and monitor deployed SQL objects, PowerShell scripts, and other automation objects to ensure that ad hoc and routine data management tasks run successfully (response time is within 0.5 days).
• Support testing of the HRDS applications’ changes in the development, testing, and validation environments (response time is within 1 and 3 days).
• Advise and support the HRDS Accounts managers related applications permissions (on demand, response time is within 1 and 3 days).
• Conduct regular audits of HRDS applications data and accounts to ensure data quality and usage (monthly audit reports).
• Assist the IT service provider with any independent validation and verification testing requirements for the HRDS applications including, but not limited to, installation, configuration, and functional testing (response time is within 1 and 3 days).
• Assist the branch’s data protection team by conducting forensic analysis on the HRDS applications’ datasets and transaction logs, and producing reports to support protection of Personal Data held in the applications and interface databases (monthly reports, as required).es and as directed by the COTR.)

Essential Skills and Experience

• At least one year of experience in the last five years as an application administrator of ACO’s current HRDS software application suite including APMS, another similar Allocate Defence Suite implementation, or similar enterprise-level human resources database application; AMIS, another similar manage ID implementation, or another enterprise-level card management application; NSTEP or another enterprise-level entitlements management application; and ERT or another enterprise-level job description management tool.
• At least two years’ experience in the last five years as an MS SQL developer or programmer working with MS SQL 2016 or later to develop SQL objects including tables, views, and all forms of programmability objects. Experience must include using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and PowerShell scripts, and should also include SQL Job development
• At least two years’ experience in the last five years as a Report Developer using Microsoft SQL Report Services (SSRS) or Power BI Report Server (PBRS) to design static and/or dynamic reports to extract information from multiple databases on different servers/clusters.
• At least two year’s total experience in the last five years performing Quality Assurance functions, e.g., defining, collecting, and refining user requirements related to database operations and testing solutions developed for these requirements.
• At least one year of experience in the last five years as an Azure DevOps User for requirements management, project management, and testing.

Education

• University Degree; or Higher Secondary education and completed higher vocational training leading to a formal technical or professional certification with 2 years’ post related experience; or a Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation in database administration with 4 years’ business area related experience.
• The above education requirements may be waived if a prospective incumbent can demonstrate a minimum of 3 years’ experience in the last five years in the administration of the current HRDS software suite, including APMS, ERT, NPMS, and NSTEP.

Working Location

• Mons, Belgium

Working  Hours and Policy

• Hybrid - 1760 Total Working hours per year (228 hours on-site, 1532 hours off-site)
• SHAPE J1 HRD Standard Business Hours of Operations: 8 hours Monday to Thursday (07:00 – 19:00) and 6 hours Friday (07:00 – 19:00)
• Public Holidays of Belgium will be applicable

Travel

• Travel between on-site and off-site is paid on reimbursement basis by NATO
• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required which is also paid on reimbursement basis by NATO

Languages

• Proficient in English at STANAG Level 3333, corresponding to CEFR Level B2

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance