Steve Price
“I am lucky to have worked for 33 years in the largest European Institution. During my time there the Commission changed considerably, and I was fortunate to have played an important part, as a manager, in some of those changes. These involved rationalizing and modernizing departments, leading internal ecological programs, leading large IT projects (business side) and creating new sectors. The key to the success of those change projects was always recognizing key players (I was NOT the smartest person in the room) and maximizing the potential of all those involved, by using a transparent, inclusive approach and lots of feedback.
Looking back on my career the most rewarding thing I take with me is seeing all the hard working, intelligent, motivated young officials I have helped with advice, constructive feedback and by just being a sounding board. I would like to continue this as a mentor for United Europe”
Overview
Steve Price is a retired Head of Unit of the European Commission. Over 33 years he climbed the ladder from Assistant to Administrator to Head of Unit. For the last 20 years of his career, he managed large teams and, as such, recognizes the challenges involved in managing people but also the potential of this source of, often untapped, potential.
Approach
Steve Price believes cultivating good professional relationships is key to building a unified team which moves as one towards the realization of its objectives and where knowledge and ideas are shared. It is a team whose members can express themselves freely and who blossom professionally and personally.
Career History
Steve Price began his career at the EU in 1986 as an administrative assistant in the reproduction (printing and graphic arts) department of the European Commission. He studied for his bachelor’s degree with the Open University whilst working full time. After graduating with a degree in econometrics he moved to a position as assistant to the director of the Commission’s directorate for trade defense (anti-dumping). During this time, he was responsible, amongst other things, for organizing a recruitment drive to strengthen this department in line with the Commission’s political priorities of the time.
After 5 years working in trade defense, he moved back to the reproduction department as an administrator and Head of Sector at a time when the graphic arts industry was in transition as a result of the digital revolution of the 1990’s. As Head of Sector Steve planned and implemented the modernization of this HR heavy department in order to better reflect the possibilities offered by new tech and the changing reproduction requirements of the European Commission. In 2006, he moved to the procurement and inventory unit of the Commission’s new executive “Office for Infrastructure and Logistics” as Deputy Head of Unit. During his time here he was responsible for procurement procedures and management related to, intra alia, office supplies, furniture, audio-visual, catering, reproduction. He was also responsible for the successful implementation of SAP financial and inventory software within the office from the user (business) perspective.
In 2012, Steve became Head of Unit for one of the two Commission units responsible for childcare with some 2.500 children looked after every day by Steve’s team of 150 childcare specialists. In 2017 he was tasked with creating a new team with the aim of rationalizing and improving logistics support as part of the Commission’s “New Ways of Working” internal communication. He took early retirement in 2019 and moved to the USA.
Personal
Steve is married to a U.S citizen and lives in Florida, USA. He maintains a keen interest in U.S. and European politics. He enjoys travelling, going to the gym and participating in local cultural and community events. Steve is also a keen supporter of Liverpool Football Club.