Brussel

The Emerging Security Challenges (ESC) Division provides a coordinated approach for NATO to the emerging security challenges of the 21st Century. It serves as NATO HQ’s focal point for counter-terrorism, cyber, hybrid, energy, data science and innovation. The Division also promotes security cooperation on these challenges through a variety of programmes, in NATO, with Partner nations and with other International Organisations.

The new Innovation Unit will be responsible for driving forward innovation at NATO Headquarters. It will help ensure that the Alliance understands the policy and practical implications of emerging and disruptive technologies, is prepared for the opportunities that they bring, and can mitigate the risks that they might pose. The Unit will help identify innovation priorities to pursue, including by cross-matching developing technologies with the most pressing decision-making, operational and capability development needs. The Unit will contribute to eliminating barriers to innovation, whether these are policy or process-related constraints.

The Unit will coordinate with other key NATO entities playing leading roles in innovation – in particular Allied Command Transformation and the NATO Science and Technology Organisation. The Unit will also interact with national innovation bodies in Allied countries and seek to ensure maximum synergy of effort.

The incumbent will support the Unit Head in the effort of implementing the work of the newly established Innovation Unit. In particular, s/he will focus on coordinating staff-to-staff level efforts to provide NATO Headquarters with a permanent and increasingly robust approach to innovation. Notably, s/he will be asked to draft documents for committees; draft inputs for new project proposals, organise events, workshops and seminars and support the development, monitoring and implementing of several projects related to the work on innovation.

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must:

• hold a university degree, preferably in the field of international security, international relations and policy, cognitive science, industrial engineering, or related;
• have at least 3 years’ experience in policy development and the management of projects and development of programmes;
• knowledge and experience in project and/or programme management skills;
• have excellent drafting skills and experience in preparing background and speaking notes for senior management;
• be conversant with the Alliance’s political and military consultative processes and key security policy issues on its agenda;
• have experience working in a multilateral environment or an environment with a variety of stakeholders from multi-cultural backgrounds;
• possess the following minimum level of NATO’s official languages (English/French): VI(“Proficiency”) in one; II (“Elementary”) in the other;
• be willing to travel on a frequent basis.

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

• experience in the financial management of projects;
• professional experience in similar work, with a focus on security policy and/or international relations, for a national administration or in an international environment, including working experience with academic communities and government institutions in NATO member and partner countries;
• knowledge in the scientific field;
• knowledge of NATO institutional framework and procedures.

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Project Management

Develop and maintain projects related to innovation, policies and associated program work, liaise and collaborate with other programmes relevant in this field.. Be responsible for the development of events, trainings and workshops.

Ensure the initiatives comply with best practices and international standards. Support the Unit and team by aligning all initiatives with Organizational goals. Set milestones, monitor and promote relevant initiatives in coordination with other stakeholders. Analyse ongoing and completed projects, seeking ways to improve working practices and procedures within the newly developed frameworks.

Expertise Development

Support the drafting of speeches, reports, briefing materials, and other items for high-level meetings.

Apply and expand professional experience in the innovation and technology fields relevant to defence and security issues. Keep abreast of and learn more about opportunities and risks of emerging and disruptive technologies to support political and operational decision making in order to support the unit’s effort to ensure that NATO is able to make a significant contribution in broader discussions beyond the Alliance on innovation.

Develop and maintain expertise on the working procedures, financial rules and mechanisms of other cooperative programmes, and funding mechanisms in the IS and beyond, in order to enhance cooperation between experts in NATO-wide, as well as national NATO and partner nations.

Policy Development

Support the development of general and specific policy documents relevant for the efficient implementation of the innovation unit’s work. Contribute to the development and provide input to policy, strategy and conceptual papers developed by colleagues and Allies.

In coordination with other NATO stakeholders, advocate and coordinate the Alliance’s robust approach towards emerging and disruptive technologies. Under supervision and guidance of the Head of Unit support, develop and implement high-level frameworks and policies to enable NATO to draw value from developments in innovation, with an initial focus on Alliance operations and missions.

Stakeholder Management

Support the development of strong relations with industry as well as other relevant multinational bodies in the science and technology domain. Consult and coordinate closely with other Divisions of the International Staff (IS), the International Military Staff (IMS), Strategic Commands, other NATO bodies and agencies and NATO and non-NATO nations. Cooperate with other international organisations and Partners in areas pertinent to the work of the Innovation Unit.

Establish and maintain close working relations with national delegations to NATO, including Partner missions, as well as with national officials in capitals responsible for innovation, technology and science issues relevant to defence and security issues.

Maintain a network of contacts within NATO and with other International Organisations, academia and research institutes in the field of security-related civil science and technology to better develop and implement projects of common interest.

Information Management

Be responsible for the development and application of assessment tools and techniques. Ensure cross-sectional and divisional collaboration. Enhance coordination and harmonise the different aspects of work.

Prepare documents and inputs, including tables of figures requiring careful presentation on innovation activities in Excel and PowerPoint.

Knowledge Management

Support the development of articles, briefings and web stories on innovation activities. Provide input to different public documents which are being issued in relation to innovation efforts. Support public diplomacy efforts, including on social media, the website and liaise with NATO Public Diplomacy Division (PDD) in this regard. Organise events, and information Days in NATO and partner countries, as directed.

Representation of the Organization

Brief and lecture visiting groups, represent the Alliance at conferences, workshops and seminars and present papers, as directed and at the appropriate level.

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The incumbent reports to the Unit Head, Innovation. S/he will develop close working relationships with other sections of the ESC Division, and will oversee coordination with other divisions of the IS, the IMS, the Science and Technology Organization, NATO Strategic Commands – in particular Allied Command Transformation – the NATO Communications and Information Agency, and national delegations as necessary. In addition, s/he will supervise and review the overall work of the Innovation Unit staff.

Direct reports: N/a

Indirect reports: N/a.

5. COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

• Analytical Thinking: Sees multiple relationships;
• Clarity and Accuracy: Checks own work;
• Conceptual Thinking: Applies learned concepts;
• Customer Service Orientation: Takes personal responsibility for correcting problems;
• Impact and Influence: Takes multiple actions to persuade;
• Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation;
• Organisational Awareness: Understands organisational climate and culture;
• Teamwork: Expresses positive attitudes and expectations of team or team members.

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.

NOTE:

Irrespective of previous qualifications and experience, candidates for twin-graded posts will be appointed at the lower grade. Advancement to the higher grade is not automatic, and will not normally take place during the first three years of service in the post.

Under specific circumstances, serving staff members may be appointed directly to the higher grade, and a period of three years might be reduced by up to twenty four months for external candidates. These circumstances are described in the IS directive on twin-graded posts.

7. 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 (for more information, please contact your local Civilian HR Manager);
• For all other applications: www.nato.int/recruitment

Please note that at the time of the interviews, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of their education and professional experience as relevant for this vacancy.

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser.
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)

8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

NATO as employer values diverse backgrounds and perspectives and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all Member States 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.