General Information
Type of contract
Fixed-term contract, which may be extended subject to individual performance and organisational needs
Who can apply?
EU nationals
Salary
M full time monthly net salary: €16,757 plus benefits, for further information see
what we offer.
Role specialisation
Leadership
Working time
Full time
Place of work
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Closing date
05.10.2022
Your team
The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank of the 19 European Union countries that have adopted the euro. Its main task is to maintain price stability, safeguarding the value of the euro. It also works closely with national authorities to supervise euro area banks. The ECB acknowledges the accelerating pace of change in the environment in which it operates. This means the institution must continue to evolve, adapting its work and how it operates. Today the ECB has around 4,000 employees in more than 20 different business areas, whose activities range from monetary policy to banking supervision and shared services areas.
The main role of the Chief Services Officer (CSO) is to consistently ensure excellence in the provision of key services within the context of the ECB’s strategy. The selected candidate will proactively steer the agenda and business performance of several critical service areas: corporate services (consisting of finance and administration/premises), information technology, human resources, business and organisational continuity, and governance and transformation services. The Directors General that head these service functions report directly to the CSO and, on specific matters, as needed, to Executive Board members.
The CSO is appointed by the ECB’s Executive Board (the President, Vice-President and four other members) to which he/she will report via the President. Each Executive Board member oversees several business areas. The Executive Board has delegated relevant decisions concerning the service areas to the CSO. As such, the CSO has an elevated role compared with that of Directors General.
The ECB seeks to consistently optimise its services, especially in the light of the challenges relating to post-pandemic approaches to work and leadership, the transformational power of new technologies (and inherent challenges such as cybersecurity) and the reduction of our environmental footprint. Against this background, priorities for the role include ensuring that the ECB operates successfully in a hybrid and digital environment, and using the organisation’s infrastructure and expertise effectively to achieve its complex and ambitious strategic goals. This will entail strengthening our client-oriented service culture, giving consideration to efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability.
The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.
Your role
As Chief Services Officer you will:
- lead several ECB service areas, addressing their development needs to allow them to deliver on the overall strategy;
- anticipate trends in the working environment (e.g. in people management or technology), and consequently the critical turning points in the transformation process, and plan accordingly;
- help build relationships between stakeholders at different levels, minimising stress and facilitating collaboration across and beyond the organisation;
- bridge diversity and inclusion gaps in the organisation and beyond by using suitable influence-based approaches to negotiate across cultures and agendas;
- establish a clear team identity and feedback culture, encouraging accountability and supporting the development of individuals and the organisation as a whole;
- maintain strategic awareness of the institution’s social, political and economic environment and propose innovative solutions to issues that arise.
This position offers you an exciting opportunity to join the ECB’s leadership team and make a significant contribution to drive change within the institution, delivering on the Bank’s important mandate and serving the European public. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.
Qualifications, experience and skills
Essential:
- a master’s degree or equivalent (see How you can join us for details on degree equivalences);
- in addition to the above, a minimum of 10 years’ professional experience in a significant senior leadership role with general management and financial responsibility and accountability, including leading and managing cross-functional teams of managers and professionals;
- excellent strategic analysis and implementation skills, with experience of delivering transformation and change programmes involving HR and technology aspects;
- a demonstrated proactive approach to transforming organisations of considerable complexity and size;
- experience working within an international environment and engaging in exchanges of ideas between institutions, e.g. international, public and private institutions, multinational corporations;
- excellent communication skills and the ability to engage with a broad range of stakeholders;
- an advanced (C1) command of English and an intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Desired:
- a combination of public and/or private sector experience;
- knowledge of economic policy;
- experience in managing large multicultural teams;
- an advanced (C1) command of German and an understanding of the administrative and procedural environment in Germany.
You build and maintain relationships throughout the organisation and beyond. You emphasise the overarching mission and common aims to achieve the best outcome for the organisation from both an effectiveness and efficiency view point, delivering added value in a pre-defined financial framework. You strive to achieve goals. You define the strategic outlook for your own business area. You build diverse teams and foster an environment of creativity and innovation. You endeavour to strengthen your teams’ capability, encouraging commitment and engagement.
You are motivated to contribute to the ECB’s mission, to serve the citizens of the EU as a member of a public institution and to work with colleagues from all over Europe.
You are highly motivated to guide teams in their daily work and support their professional development.
Further information
The ECB may issue a five-year fixed-term contract in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Staff Rules. This contract may be renewed once only, resulting in a maximum possible contract duration of ten years.
Application and selection process
The selection process will include several interviews, which are planned as of the middle of October 2022.
The selection procedure will also include a separate assessment of your leadership competencies.
