Cultural Advisor/Language Specialist
🔍 United Kingdom
- 📅
- 251341 Requisition #
OPEN TO NATIONALS OF NATO MEMBER STATES ONLY
Post Number: OMC UXEX 0060
Job Title: Cultural Advisor/Language Specialist
NATO Grade: A2/G15
NATO Body: Headquarters Allied Maritime Command
Location: Northwood, Middlesex, UK
SECURITY CLEARANCE: NATO SECRET
Basic Monthly Salary: £ 5,937.79 (tax free)
Closing date: Sunday 28 September 2025
1. Post Context/Post Summary
Allied Maritime Command is the Maritime Theatre Component Commander delivering 360 degree maritime focused awareness and connectivity while planning and commanding the full range of maritime operations.
The Communications Directorate provides the Commander with advice and functionality across the full range of Information Activities and is responsible for delivering strategic effects in the cognitive dimension that support MARCOM and higher headquarters objectives, during peace, crisis, and conflicts.
The Information Environment Assessment (IEA) Branch conducts systematic, data-driven analysis and assessment of the information environment to support understanding, decision-making and the application of capability in the engagement space.
The Cultural Advisor/Language Specialist (CULAD) supports the monitoring, analysis and assessment of the Information Environment (IE) by providing cultural and language expertise The CULAD is the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for cultural norms, behaviors and audience dynamics to deliver research-based analysis in support of IEA.
2. Principal Duties
The incumbent's duties are:
- Collaborate internally to conduct and support the monitoring, analysis and assessment of the Information Environment (IE) to support decision making.
- Contribute to the identification, monitoring and analysis of relevant Russian language media outlets across all domains, including traditional, digital and social media.
- Contribute to the monitoring, analysis and assessment of the Russian language IE.
- Contribute to the identification, analysis and assessment of relevant narratives and their role in the IE.
- Contribute to the monitoring, analysis, assessment of the effectiveness of NATO communications for specific Russian speaking audiences.
- Contribute to the monitoring, analysis and assessment of the effectiveness of other actors’ information efforts, particularly disinformation or propaganda targeting NATO/MARCOM operations.
- Contribute to audience analysis of relevant audiences in the Russian language IE.
- Contribute to behavioral analysis of relevant audiences in the Russian language IE.
- Contribute to human factors analysis and historical analysis.
- Provide research backed insights on cultural norms, variations in support of the monitoring, analysis and assessment of the Russian language IE.
- Provide briefs on designated aspects of the Russian language IE as required.
- Provide target language translation as required.
- Contribute to the linguistic and cultural accuracy of outgoing messages.
- Exploit analytical tools to develop relevant inputs in support of IEA.
- Perform other duties as assigned by Branch Head - IEA.
- Identify key Russian language media stakeholders (operators, owners, financers) and their perception of NATO and its activities.
- Integrate with PsyOps planners to determine what actions will produce changes in perceptions and attitudes of designated audiences.
- Undertake work as part of a project team or working group as directed or assigned.
- Create understanding of current events in the context of culture and history.
- Apply descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics.
- Provide support to NATO's comprehensive approach to crisis management operations.
- Perform other duties as assigned by Branch Head - IEA.
- Undertake additional duties and assume other responsibilities as directed by the Chain Of Command.
- Submits observations in his/her area of expertise and contributes to the Lessons Learned process.
- Internal coordination authority. Authorised to make decisions on work priorities of the supporting staff within the organisational unit.
3. Special Requirements and Additional Duties
The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organisation at the same grade without there being any change to the contract
The employee may be required to
• to undertake TDY assignments both within and without NATO’s boundaries and be willing to work unsocial hours.
• to deploy in support of NATO Exercises.
• to deploy in support of a core element for MARCOM.
The work is normally performed in a Normal NATO office working environment / Secure office environment with artificial light and air (e.g. Bunker).
Normal Working Conditions apply.
The risk of injury is categorised as No risk / risk might increase when deployed.
4. Essential Qualifications
a. Professional/Experience
(1) Sociology and cultural studies
Sociology and cultural studies is the study of human beings and the way they behave in groups and in relation to society. The study of ethnology and social anthropology are included here, likewise the study of human and social geography.
Skill Level (Ensure/Advise)
Works under broad direction. Work is often self-initiated. Is fully responsible for meeting allocated technical and/or project/supervisory objectives. Establishes milestones and has a significant role in the assignment of tasks and/or responsibilities. Influences organisation, customers, suppliers, partners and peers on the contribution of own specialism. Builds appropriate and effective business relationships. Makes decisions which impact the success of assigned work, i.e. results, deadlines and budget. Has significant influence over the allocation and management of resources appropriate to given assignments. Performs an extensive range and variety of complex technical and/or professional work activities. Undertakes work which requires the application of fundamental principles in a wide and often unpredictable range of contexts. Understands the relationship between own specialism and wider customer/organisational requirements. Advises on the available standards, methods, tools and applications relevant to own specialism and can make appropriate choices from alternatives. Analyses, designs, plans, executes and evaluates work to time, cost and quality targets. Assesses and evaluates risk. Communicates effectively, both formally and informally. Demonstrates leadership. Facilitates collaboration between stakeholders who have diverse objectives. Takes all requirements into account when making proposals. Takes initiative to keep skills up to date. Mentors colleagues. Maintains an awareness of developments in the industry. Analyses requirements and advises on scope and options for continuous operational improvement. Demonstrates creativity, innovation and ethical thinking in applying solutions for the benefit of the customer/stakeholder.
Experience
- 2 years' demonstrated experience in eastern European culture.
- 2 years' experience collecting and analysing polling and other statistical data for strategic insights on population perceptions/sentiment;
(2) Foreign languages
The study of the structure and composition of foreign languages. It includes the study of related cultures, literature and linguistics.
Skill Level
Works under broad direction. Work is often self-initiated. Is fully responsible for meeting allocated technical and/or project/supervisory objectives. Establishes milestones and has a significant role in the assignment of tasks and/or responsibilities. Influences organisation, customers, suppliers, partners and peers on the contribution of own specialism. Builds appropriate and effective business relationships. Makes decisions which impact the success of assigned work, i.e. results, deadlines and budget. Has significant influence over the allocation and management of resources appropriate to given assignments. Performs an extensive range and variety of complex technical and/or professional work activities. Undertakes work which requires the application of fundamental principles in a wide and often unpredictable range of contexts. Understands the relationship between own specialism and wider customer/organisational requirements. Advises on the available standards, methods, tools and applications relevant to own specialism and can make appropriate choices from alternatives. Analyses, designs, plans, executes and evaluates work to time, cost and quality targets. Assesses and evaluates risk. Communicates effectively, both formally and informally. Demonstrates leadership. Facilitates collaboration between stakeholders who have diverse objectives. Takes all requirements into account when making proposals. Takes initiative to keep skills up to date. Mentors colleagues. Maintains an awareness of developments in the industry. Analyses requirements and advises on scope and options for continuous operational improvement. Demonstrates creativity, innovation and ethical thinking in applying solutions for the benefit of the customer/stakeholder.
Experience
- Expertise in Russian Language and culture.
b. Education/Training
University Degree in relevant modern languages, any subject if education accomplished in both of the mandatory languages or related discipline and 2 years function-related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.
The additional job specific qualifications and experience is described under Professional/Experience paragraph (4/a). In case of ambiguity the required job specific experience have priority over the standard education and training levels and experience described here.
• NATO Communications & Information Activities (Comm&IA) Planner Course (STC-ST-36954) provided by NATO - School Oberammergau (NSO)
• NATO Stratcom Foundation Course (STC-ST-26885) provided by NATO - School Oberammergau (NSO)
c. Language
English - SLP 3333 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)
NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.
5. Desirable Qualifications
a. Professional Experience
- Experience using social media analysis tools to generate actionable insights, including query scripting in unfamiliar languages.
- Demonstrate strong knowledge of information confrontation and disinformation, as well as knowledge of common communications strategies of relevant nations.
b. Education/Training
NATO Information Environment Assessment Foundations Course – (Stratcom Centre of Excellence – Riga, Latvia)
NATO Tactical PSYOPS Planner (STC-PO-32147) provided by Italian 28th Regiment "PAVIA"
c. Language
Knowledge of other NATO nations’ languages, or any other languages of interest to include Russian and Eastern European languages.
6. Attributes/Competencies
• Personal Attributes: The incumbent solicits and provides information as well as advice. The job involves working with contacts within NATO Command Structure (NCS) and NATO Force Structure (NFS) Commands, and requires high level of maturity, understanding of sensitivities within an international environment and diplomatic tact when dealing with others .
• Professional Contacts: Professional contacts with others inside and/or outside immediate organisation and at higher level to include the Chief of Staff and other Flag officers providing advice and recommendations, other than normal professional courtesies or information gathering.
• Contribution To Objectives: The post provides information, assurance and analysis and contributes directly to the planning, initiations and development of wide range of products submitted by HQ. Provide direct feed into both the delivery and assessment of all StratCom messaging objectives.
• Supervisory Responsibilities: Authorised to intervene to adjust the day-to-day work priorities of the staff to ensure that they match those of the head of the organisational unit and the HQ.
This post reports to:
This post does not deputise anybody.
This post is not deputised by anybody.