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, One View, 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 manage ID, 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 Se Quence/Orchestration, an intelligent Business Process Management suite (i BPMS) 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 (Po W). This RFQ's Contractor's personnel will deliver quality engineer support to the HRD team as they deliver related business functionality using the HRDS applications suite.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Build and maintain appropriate test plans and test cases for all HRDS work products including workflows, Share Point site updates, and HRDS application changes (response time is within 1 and 10 days);
  • Plan the process of testing;
  • Write test cases (test scripts);
  • Analyze and validate test plans and test cases to ensure fit for purpose;
• Conduct functional testing to ensure compliance with requirements (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Identify problem areas, add them to HRDS Dev Ops (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Discuss fixes with HRDS staff (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Track the life cycle of errors and bugs (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Re-test fixed defects (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Optimize the testing process (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Analyze the teamwork processes (response time is within 1 and 10 days);
• Improve processes (response time is within 1 and 10 days);
• Maintain the test documentation (response time is within 1 and 5 days);
• Assess risks of implementing changes/updates (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Plan ideas to improve quality of HRDS work products (response time is within 1 and 10 days);
• Analyze test results and provide formal feedback (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Analyze and clarify requirements with a customers and HRDS business analysts (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Any additional requirements that arise during delivery of the above (response time is within 1 and 3 days);
• Participate in daily coordination meetings (response time is within 1 day);
• Participate in other scheduled or ad hoc meetings, as required by the COTRs (response time is within 1 and 3 days).

Essential Skills and Experience

• At least two years' experience in the last three years as a QA engineer with experience building and deploying Azure pipelines.
• At least two years' experience in the last three years as a quality assurance (QA) engineer with experience with an issue resolution process.
• At least two years' experience in the last three years as a QA engineer with experience constructing test cases.
• At least two years' experience in the last three years as a QA engineer with experience conducting manual tests.
• At least two years' experience in the last three years as a QA engineer with experience constructing regression testing.
• At least two years' experience in the last three years as a QA engineer with experience testing web services (JSON, and especially XML formatted requests) as well as with web applications testing.
• At least two years' experience in the last three years as a QA engineer with experience using MS SQL Server 2016/2019.
• At least two years' experience in the last three years as a QA engineer with experience using agile methodologies and SCRUM framework.
• At least two years' experience in the last three years as a QA engineer with experience using Git source control and all development best practices (code review, testing).
• At least one year of experience in the last five years as an Azure Dev Ops User for requirements management, project management, and testing.

Education

• An MSc/BSc in Computer Science or related scientific discipline

Working Location

• Mons, Belgium

Working Policy

• Hybrid - 1760 Total Working hours per year (114 hours on-site, 1646 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