JOB DESCRIPTION

Post Context

ACT contributes to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of Alliance member states by leading, at Strategic Command level, Warfare Development required to enhance NATO’s posture, military structures, forces, capabilities and doctrines.

The Capability Development Directorate (CAPDEV) comprises two Divisions—Requirements and Capabilities. The Directorate supports SACT in his Capabilities Requirement Authority (CRA) role. It is responsible for a holistic through lifecycle Capability Development approach that infuses innovation and transformative efforts that are an integral part of the Warfare Development. This includes responsibilities for elicitation, development, capture and collection, quality review, traceability and visibility of capability requirements.

Within the DCOS CAPDEV Front Office the incumbent is responsible to assist the CAPDEV Portfolio Manager in overall planning, execution, reporting of CAPDEV program of work (POW) and management of resources to ensure coherence with the Commander’s guidance and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of capability development across the Alliance.

Principal Duties:

• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge and oversight over the planning and execution of all projects, programmes and portfolios for which the Capability Management Function (CMF) is responsible as required by extant ACT Directives and SOPs.
• Act as the perform to plan (Cost, Scope, Schedule) advisor to DCOS CAPDEV.
• Ensure the overall workforce and budget coordination and planning within CAPDEV.
• Provide advice to DCOS CAPDEV and ACOSs and where necessary act as the DCOS representative for all programme resources assigned, both funds and workforce, risk, issues and recommend mitigation actions.
• Coordinate Directorate input into ACT’s resource planning process ensuring that programmes are aligned with NMA and ACT Goals Priorities and Objectives across the DOTMLPFI spectrum.
• Assist the Portfolio Manager in prioritization and balance of resources of the CAPDEV programmes.
• Perform ad hoc analysis, conduct special projects and lead/participate in project teams as directed by DCOS CAPDEV.
• Support all resource aspects of the Directorate Programmes with the ACOSs’ Resource/Programme Managers.
• Perform quality assurance to ensure the deliverables meet the Commander’s guidance and coordinate periodic programmes reviews at the DCOS level.
• Lead the Secretariat of the Capability Management Working Group and Capability Management Authorities, Preparing Boards and Decision Boards as required.
• Liaise and facilitate information flow/exchange with appropriate ACT national and NATO HQ and Agency staffs.
• Act as fund manager for specific funds as designated by DCOS CAPDEV and delegated by the Financial Controller.

Essential Qualifications / Experience:

• University Degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, public administration or related discipline and 4 years post related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 5 years post related and 2 years function related experience.
• Four years managerial experience that includes holding a position of responsibility involving the exercising of discretion, judgment and initiative.
• Five years’ experience in military related staff positions, e.g. in a military headquarters, agency or national MODs including at least 3 years in a joint environment.
• Good knowledge of strategic management processes and procedures as they pertain to the management of a military headquarters, agency or national MOD.
• Good knowledge of capability and concept development, procedures.
• Good working knowledge of resource management, budgetary processes, requirement prioritization, risk management and their inter-relations with business process and management systems.
• Minimum of three years program management and prioritization at strategic level of a military organization.

Language:

English – SLP 3333 – (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

• Previous military service or extensive experience working with the military in a military environment (i.e. MOD or equivalent).
• Detailed knowledge of NATO Capability development Processes.
• Understanding of the new NATO Command Structure organization and relationships and how it affects HQ SACT.
• Understanding of the strategic aims of HQ SACT including Capability Development issues and the interaction with nations other NATO bodies and commands requirements.

Attributes/Competencies:

Personal Attributes:

• Required to brief and staff complex issues up to 3 Star General Officer level on a routine basis.
• Integrity, confidentiality and diplomatic skills need to be of the highest order. Inherent Cooperative and directional leadership skills required and must be able to demonstrate excellent team building abilities to direct/guide/influence standing and ad hoc strategic level working groups at the A3-OF4 level. Often used as sounding board by principals incumbent must be decisive, professionally knowledgeable on ALL DCOS CD and strategic resource management issues and possess good and intra-personal skills.
• A minimum of 6 years management experience; this includes holding a position of responsibility involving the direction of others and the exercising of discretion, judgment and initiative.

Managerial Responsibilities:

• Direct other Resource/Program manager within the Divisions on detailed resource management issues budget submissions and execution.
• The incumbent will provide continuity for the coordination of programs and deliverables across the directorate.

Professional Contacts:

• Ability to closely interact on a daily basis with 2 and 3 star level Flag Officers. Will represent DCOS at internal boards. The post holder will interact with direct personal interaction at the 2 star and below level.
• Extensive communication with all levels throughout the organization will be required, especially close cooperation with senior strategic manager and BUDFIN staff on a day- to-day basis.

Contribution To Objectives:

• The work of the incumbent impacts both directly and indirectly to the work and objectives of ACT.
• The work will directly impact the strategic objectives of the organization and will refine the efficiency and effectives of the management process to deliver capabilities.

Security Clearance

The successful applicant will be required to apply for and receive a NATO SECRET Security Clearance prior to final confirmation of contract and commencement of employment.

Contract

Serving NATO International Civilian staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations. Newly recruited staff will be offered a three year definite duration contract.

Notes for Candidates

The HQ SACT web site gives full details on the eligibility criteria and application processes to be adopted by all candidates. However, candidates should particularly note:

Please answer each of the pre-screening questions completely in English. Expressions such as: “please see attached CV, please see annex, please see enclosed document, etc” are not acceptable; this is a cause of immediate rejection of the application.

Particular attention should be given to Education and Experience section of your application form, which should be populated with details of your career to date and educational achievements and certifications as they relate to your application.

The candidature of NATO redundant staff at grade G17 will be considered with priority.

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.

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.

This vacancy will close on 14 October 2025 @ 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements