SUMMARY:

Through this competition, the NATO International Staff seeks to identify qualified applicants for the 3 similar positions below:

• Defence Planning Expert (G20);


• ITPP – PARP Planner (Defence Planning Expert) (G20) – pending budget approval;


• Defence Planning Expert (G17-G20).

The mission of the Operations Division of the International Staff is to prepare NATO for the defence of Alliance territory, to respond to crises at home and abroad, and to strengthen the capabilities of partners. The Operations Division advances the core tasks of the Alliance (Defence and Deterrence, Crisis Prevention and Management, Cooperative Security) by providing situational awareness, advance planning, well-exercised and executed crisis-response, and outcome-oriented defence and related security cooperation programmes.

Within the Operations Division, the Defence and Security Cooperation Directorate (DSCD) facilitates political-military decision-making and programme implementation with partner nations. The Directorate does this to strengthen resilience, promote integrity, transparency, accountability and good governance in the defence and related security sector of partner nations. This enhances the institutional and defence capabilities of partner nations so that they can better respond to crises at home and abroad. As the focus for NATO defence and related security cooperation initiatives, the Directorate uses an integrated set of planning and programme implementation tools to develop effective and efficient state defence and security institutions under democratic control that comply with international norms and practices, and to develop forces and capabilities that can operate effectively with NATO forces when appropriate.

The Directorate leads on developing the Planning and Review Process (PARP) and Individually Tailored Partnership Programmes (ITPP) with partners, to ensure strategic, coherent and efficient programme planning and implementation. The Directorate does this by collaborating closely with the Political Affairs and Security Policy (PASP) Division as well as other stakeholders across NATO, member nations and partners.

Within the DSCD, the PARP team is responsible for the development, agreement, and assessment of planning targets with more than 30 NATO partner nations with the framework of each partner’s ITPP. This includes the 13 partners who participate in PARP, and whose PARP targets form the majority of their respective ITPPs. PARP aims to promote the development of forces and capabilities by partners that are able to operate alongside Allies in crisis response operations and other activities intended to promote security and stability. PARP also plays an important role in promoting transformation and reform in the defence and related security sector, and offers substantial transparency in defence planning.

The Defence Planning Expert, PARP acts a country officer within the team, with responsibility for the negotiation, drafting, staffing for Allies’ approval, monitoring, and assessment of a number of partner ITPPs including for PARP countries. The incumbent is required to analyse, advise and report on the plans and policies for the defence and security institutions of designated partner countries, particularly in the context of the PARP. The incumbent coordinates with other DSCD staff who are responsible for the coordination of Defence and related security Capacity Building (DCB) packages and other security cooperation programmes for particular partner nations, and with other relevant staff across the NATO enterprise. The incumbent might deputise for the PARP team leader when needed.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential

The incumbent must:

• Hold a university degree from an institute of recognised standing in a relevant field or have attended a NATO or national military staff college or equivalent;


• Have at least 5 years’ national or international experience in the field of defence planning, evidenced through previous posts;


• Have a very good understanding of transformation, reform and defence institution building processes;


• Have knowledge or experience related to NATO’s partnership programmes and PARP;


• Have considerable knowledge or experience in the preparation of military (land, maritime, or air force) force plans and associated financial, manpower and procurement planning;


• Be able to communicate clearly, logically, and persuasively, verbally and in writing;


• Possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; I (“Beginner”) in the other;


• Be available to travel frequently and to work outside normal business hours.

Desirable:

The following would be considered an advantage:

• Knowledge and experience with the NATO Defence Planning Process and/or national defence planning processes;


• Knowledge and experience in national bilateral assistance programmes.

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Expertise Development

Follow and advise on the different steps of ITPP and PARP. Keep abreast of the NATO Defence Planning Process and the developments in the different domains, with emphasis on those domains for which the incumbent is the team’s subject matter expert. Assess these against the corresponding national plans of partner nations. Be responsible for the analysis of defence and related security capabilities and subjects of a military nature, including the interpretation, analysis and assessment of the military force plans of selected partner countries.

Increase depth of knowledge in best practices for development and capacity building programs. Follow and advise on the different steps of partnership cooperation programmes. Keep abreast of NATO partnership policies.

Assist in communication and knowledge sharing efforts through the preparation of briefing memoranda, talking points, questions/answers, speaking notes and background materials for meetings at, and visits to/from, NATO.

Policy Development

Through the analysis and assessment of information received from nations on best practice and lessons learned on defence transformation issues, contribute to the further development of NATO concepts, policies and procedures to underpin and guide efforts by partners: Prepare and co-ordinate advice to individual nations, and assistance to multinational groupings, on defence transformation issues and country-specific reform issues and requirements. Support the drafting of policy papers related to NATO’s cooperation programmes.

Representation of the Organization

Regularly represent the DSCD in various meetings with national authorities of both NATO and partner nations, including during meetings with Defence Ministers, Chiefs of Defence and Political Directors.

Knowledge Management

Contribute to the drafting of policies, reports and studies on the longer-term perspectives of ITPP and PARP; and on their interaction with NATO’s defence policies and cooperative programmes. Prepare reports, briefing material, press statements and other material for Ministerial meetings. Serve as country officer (all Services) for designated ITPP and ITPP/PARP countries, including drafting the assessments based on analysis of the partner countries' survey responses and other information on their contributions.

Stakeholder Management

Develop relations with national defence transformation experts in Allied and partner capitals, with intheatre NATO staff (if existent), the European Union Military Staff and at NATO Headquarters to support and encourage a culture of consultation and cooperation. Liaise with Allies and partners to build a network of experts on defence transformation issues and set up contacts between national experts and nations undergoing transformation so as to facilitate the exchange of best practices. Collaborate with staff in the Defence Policy and Planning Division (DPP), Political Affairs and Security Policies Division (PASP), Defence Investment Division (DI), Allied Command Transformation (ACT), the Partnership Directorate of Allied Command Operations (ACO), the International Military Staff (IMS), and national planning staffs, to understand, analyse and interpret country-specific issues and requirements.

Project Management

Manage relevant projects and/or programmes as directed. Perform any other related duty as assigned.

INTERRELATIONSHIPS:

The incumbent is responsible to the PARP Team Leader, Planning and Resources Section, DSCD for the performance of all areas of responsibility set out above. They share responsibilities and work closely with the other staff officers in the Directorate and the Division. They maintain a good working relationship with members of other Divisions of the International Staff and International Military Staff.

They work closely with the staffs of the NATO Military Authorities, national delegations and liaison officers and, through the delegations, with high-level authorities of both NATO and partner countries, including Defence Ministers, Chiefs of Defence and Political Directors.

• Direct reports: N/a;


• Indirect reports: N/a.

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.

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.

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.

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More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website.

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.

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.