North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Senior Officer, AFSC programme - Surveillance & Control Capabilities -240611

Primary Location

Belgium-Brussels

NATO Body

NATO International Staff (NATO IS)

Schedule

Full-time

Application Deadline

06-May-2024, 9:59:00 PM

Salary (Pay Basis)

: 8,754.21Euro (EUR) Monthly

Grade NATO Grade G20

Description

: 

1. SUMMARY

The Defence Investment (DI) Division is responsible for facilitating the development and adoption of cutting-edge, innovative and interoperable capabilities, critical to ensuring the Alliance’s ability to undertake the full spectrum of missions and operations. Key lines of effort include:

• leading the development of major complex capability programmes in the land, maritime, air and space domains - including on Air and Missile Defence, Alliance Future Surveillance and Control capability (follow on to AWACS), Air Command and Control (Air C2), Joint Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) assets and other critical Consultation, Command & Control (C3) networks – and in doing so addressing all policy, political-military, technical and practical aspects;
• leading NATO’s policy and engagements in the aviation domain;
• pursuing interoperability through prioritised standardisation efforts, developing with Allies new approaches to operational challenges, supported by a commitment to operational experimentation and innovation;
• leading NATO engagement with Defence Industry and working to ensure the resilience and robustness of the transatlantic Defence Industrial Base;
• maintaining the Alliance’s technological edge through exploring and driving adoption of emerging and disruptive technologies, with a particular focus on autonomous systems;
• facilitating multinational cooperation in capability development through a series of specific initiatives tackling critical capability requirements;
• understanding, adapting to, and pro-actively addressing climate change;
• informing and responding to the Alliance’s evolving capability needs through NATO Defence Planning;
• providing oversight to NATO Agencies involved in capability development and delivery (in particular NATO Communication and Information Agency and NATO Support and Procurement Agency);
• working with a range of key stakeholders within NATO including the Strategic Commands and externally with NATO Partners and relevant international and regional organisations including the EU, as well as with industry and academia.

The Armament and Aerospace Capabilities Directorate (A&A Cap) supports consensus decision making at NATO Headquarters on a wide range of joint, land, air and maritime capabilities required for the full range of the Alliance’s missions. The Directorate supports NATO Defence Planning activities and related capability initiatives. To that end, it provides capability-related advice to NATO committees and the Organisation’s senior management. Specific responsibilities include policy and capability development, support and oversight in the areas of Integrated Air and Missile Defence, Aerospace, Joint Intelligence, Reconnaissance, Surveillance (JISR) as well as multinational armaments cooperation and projects.

The ISR, Land and Maritime (ILM) Section provides expertise in the following fields:

Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR)

• Policy and programmatic support to NATO’s Joint ISR (JISR) initiative launched at the NATO Summit of HoSGs in Chicago and re-iterated at the subsequent Summits.
• Direct support to NATO’s JISR Capability Area Manager in his role of ensuring the coherent delivery of JISR capabilities to the Alliance
• Promotion and coordination of all aspects of JISR capability development and implementation, in cooperation with Allies and Partners (through the Conference of National Armament Directors substructure), NMAs and other relevant bodies of the NATO enterprise.

Land and Maritime:

• Policy advice, coordination and programmatic support to Allies and Partners, NMAs and other relevant NATO bodies with respect to Land capability development and delivery.
• Conduct and support of multinational capability development initiatives.
• Interoperability through information exchange among nations and standardization. 
• Advice and support to the NATO Army Armaments Group (NAAG) and its subordinate structure. 

The incumbent’s main responsibility is to oversee and support realisation initiatives for the Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) Concept, starting with the initial AFSC (iAFSC) Programme. S/He supports and oversees the establishment and execution of realisation programmes including applicable governance arrangements, coordination and alignment with other NATO initiatives and stakeholders, and development of required policies and agreements. S/He provides committee and/or staff officer support and advice to the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD), or other NATO committees, as required. S/He maintains specific emphasis on interoperability and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) integration of AFSC realisation initiatives, both within the AFSC Capability and with the Broader NATO ecosystem.

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must:

• hold a University degree from an institute of recognised standing;
• have at least 5 years of relevant experience in complex capability development and delivery at the policy/political level pertaining to major acquisition programmes;
• possess excellent analytical skills,
• have excellent communication skills, especially briefing (verbal and written)
• be able to present complex issues in simple terms, facilitating consensus and decision-making and demonstrate impact and influence with political, civil and military stakeholders;
• have experience of working in an international environment at the strategic/policy level;
• demonstrate experience working on programme management related issues within a Ministry of Defence or similar entity;
• have experience drafting and implementing complex policies;
• demonstrate strong work ethics, self-motivation and the capacity to achieve tangible results;
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO's official languages (English): V ("Advanced"); (French):I ("Beginner").

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

• operational C4ISR, Land or Maritime experience;
• experience from multinational complex capability development/delivery, preferably defence related;
• NATO committee support experience and/or experience in negotiating in a multinational environment;
• knowledge of NATO civilian and military defence organisations;
• professional certification or training in Project/Program Management (Eg. PRINCE2 or PMI).

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Expertise Development

Apply C4ISR and complex capability development and delivery expertise into relevant policy development and stakeholder engagement to support timely realisation of ILM objectives, with emphasis on realisation of the AFSC Concept, starting with the iAFSC programme.

Project Management

Work with key members of the relevant NATO entities in order to help set the necessary political and military conditions to enable effective project/programme management to take place concerning realisation of capabilities, the direction of projects, identifying key risks, issues as well as possible solutions.

Stakeholder Management

Work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the AFSC capability, starting with iAFSC, is developed, delivered and sustained as efficiently as possible. Negotiate with stakeholders to achieve success, as well as Allied representatives both in NATO HQ and Capitals. Sound Judgment, awareness of Allied military surveillance and control capability activities and diplomatic skills are required for successful negotiations with NATO Allies and wider stakeholders.

Policy Development

Provide policy inputs regarding the NATO C4ISR and AFSC capabilities when requested and ensure that the multiple NATO policies which affect NATO’s Surveillance and Control capabilities are coherent with one another.

Knowledge Management

Exchange knowledge and information with colleagues on topics affecting the AFSC capability, in particular with the CNAD and other relevant committees. 

Financial Management

Where required, collaborate with colleagues in the NATO Office of Resources

(NOR), International Military Staff (IMS), Strategic Commands, Nations, and the respective NATO agencies to determine and verify the correct use of financial resources relating to land, maritime and ISR capabilities, including AFSC and iAFSC Programmes and activities.

Representation of the Organisation

Contribute to NATO representation by developing and communicating information supportive of NATO’s interests. This may involve collaboration with NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division. In addition, be prepared to deputise the Section’s Head and represent the ILM section at various events when required.

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The incumbent reports to the Head of the ILM Section. S/he liaises with other groups and agencies both internal and external to NATO that work in fields related to those for which s/he is responsible for. These entities will include (non-exhaustive): relevant IS Divisions, the NATO Communications and Information Agency; the NATO Support and Procurement Agency; NATO’s International Military Staff, NATO’s two Strategic Commands (ACO and ACT), and as necessary, regional and service commands.

Direct reports: N/a

Indirect reports: N/a

5. COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

• Achievement: Creates own measures of excellence and improves performance.
• Analytical Thinking: Sees multiple relationships;
• Change Leadership: Expresses vision for change;
• Impact and Influence: Uses indirect influence;
• Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation;
• Organisational Awareness: Understands organisational politics;
• Teamwork: Solicits inputs and encourages others.

6. CONTRACT

Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of three years; possibility of renewal for up to three years, during which the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite duration contract.

Contract clause applicable:

In accordance with the contract policy, this is a post in which turnover is desirable for political reasons in order to be able to accommodate the Organisation's need to carry out its tasks as mandated by the Nations in a changing environment, for example by maintaining the flexibility necessary to shape the Organisation's skills profile, and to ensure appropriate international diversity.

The maximum period of service foreseen in this post is 6 years. The successful applicant will be offered a 3-year definite duration contract, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years. However, according to the procedure described in the contract policy the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite contract during the period of renewal and no later than one year before the end of contract.

If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a 3-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.

Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Régulations.

7. USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries. Applications must be submitted using e-recruitment system, as applicable:

• For NATO civilian staff members only: please apply via the internal recruitment portal (link);
• For all other applications: www.nato.int/recruitment

Before you apply to any position, we encourage you to click here and watch our video providing 6 tips to prepare you for your application and recruitment process.

Do you have questions on the application process in the system and not sure how to proceed? Click here for a video containing the information you need to successfully submit your application on time.

More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/recruit-hq-e.htm)

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate), approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser, verification of your study(ies) and work experience, and the successful completion of the accreditation and notification process by the relevant authorities.

NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO’s sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.

Building Integrity is a key element of NATO’s core tasks. As an employer, NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.

Due to the broad interest in NATO and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or e-mail enquiries cannot be dealt with.

Applicants who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment to another post of a similar nature, albeit at the same or a lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.

The nature of this position may require the staff member at times to be called upon to travel for work and/or to work outside normal office hours.

The organization offers several work-life policies including Teleworking and Flexible Working arrangements (Flexitime) subject to business requirements.

Please note that the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium is a non-smoking environment.

For information about the NATO Single Salary Scale (Grading, Allowances, etc.) please visit our website. Detailed data is available under the Salary and Benefits tab.

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