General Manager, NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA)

🔍 Belgium

New

📁: Executive Management

📅   : 250693 Requisition #

1. SUMMARY

The position of General Manager is a senior appointment within the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) of NATO Grade G24 (A7). The NCI Agency was established as part of a NATO subsidiary body, namely the NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Organisation, to meet Nations’ requirements in the fields of Consultation, Command and Control (C3), Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR), as well as Target Acquisition, Cyber Defence and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

The NCI Agency is the largest single Agency within NATO. It acts as NATO’s principal C3 capability deliverer and ICT service provider for a broad range of customers. It is a customer-funded organisation, operating in a complex, multinational, political environment. Currently, most of the NCI Agency’s financing is derived from NATO’s common-funded customers. As such, it responds to multiple stakeholders for the execution of its mission, functions and tasks.

The NCI Agency is a matrix based organisation comprising Business Areas delivering capabilities and services and Functional Areas which provide policy, oversight and enabling services to the Business Areas. The Chief of Staff and the Business and Functional Area Chiefs sit on the Executive Management Board (EMB) of the Agency, headed by the General Manager.

The NCI Agency is governed by the Agency Supervisory Board (ASB). The ASB provides strategic and operational direction and guidance to the NCI Agency and oversees its activities and performance whilst ensuring its efficiency, effectiveness, accountability and transparency. As part of its governance function, the ASB nominates the General Manager after consultation with the NATO Secretary General, who confirms the selection through the signing of the nominee’s contract. The ASB also establishes annual Goals and Objectives for the General Manager, and considers the ensuing annual performance appraisal as proposed by the ASB Chair.

The General Manager leads 3000 staff, including military, civilian and contractors. They run an annual business volume of near €1B.

Candidates for the post should be aware of the geostrategic context in which the General Manager (GM) position is to be exercised. This context and NATO’s response is described in the Washington Summit Declaration issued by the Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Washington, D.C. 10 July 2024.

As part of NATO’s broader transformation, the mandate of the GM will focus on readying the Agency to face the challenges and requirements derived from the ambitions stated in the latest Summit Declaration.
The world is changing ever-faster, from rapidly developing geopolitical threats to hybrid warfare and AI-powered cyberattacks. NATO needs to be ready to respond to these disruptions and offer resilience and counterforce. To this end, NATO needs to be at the cutting edge of technology, information, and communication. This is where the NATO Communications and Information Agency comes in: dedicated to enabling and connecting NATO, wherever it operates in the world.

The Agency challenge in the coming years will be to support NATO in translating its ambitious political agenda into reality. The Agency is likely to grow and transform in order to support NATO ambitions. Specifically it will increase industry partnerships; develop its workforce with dynamic talent, with adapted skills and expertise; and undergo internal transformation of performance in order to be more agile, efficient and flexible.

Key challenges facing the successful candidate:

The Alliance is strengthening and enhancing its deterrence and defence posture and investing in Digital Transformation to protect its military and technological edge. The demand for digital solutions is increasing at an unprecedented rate and is rapidly evolving. The NATO Communications and Information (NCI) Agency aims to become a conduit to acquire state of the art national and industry capabilities and capacities, and bring them to bear in delivering NATO’s objectives.

Accordingly, per the Board’s direction, NCI Agency has embarked on an ambitious strategic transformation programme which is intended to deliver greater resilience, partnership with industry, a tech-savvy workforce, and optimised ways of working, with the goal of building capacity and readiness in response to the Alliance requirements. In the course of their first three-year mandate, the GM is expected to deepen and accelerate the transformation programme, including the execution of the Operating Model 2030, and to set the foundation for achieving the desired end-state, as per the Board’s 2026-2030 Strategic Direction and Guidance.

The main challenges include:

1) maintaining and increasing successful delivery;

2) elevating the role of NCI Agency to become an active participant in NATO activities rather than an enabler;

3) delivering efficient and effective portfolio, programme, and project management;

4) embracing agile acquisition;

5) adopting a stepped-up approach to outsourcing;

6) adapting the culture and business processes, both within NCI Agency and with stakeholders.

Instructions: In addition to the application form, candidates are expected to submit a Word or pdf document, maximum of two A4 pages, summarizing their views on the key (and possible other) challenges, and how they would address them if selected for the position.

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The candidate must have:

A university degree at Master’s level, or the equivalent from an institute of recognised standing, in a discipline relevant to the post. Alternatively, a Bachelor’s degree with 20 years post related experience;
A solid background in the specific capabilities and services that the NCI Agency delivers, such as C4ISR (Communications, Command, Control, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), Communications and Information Systems (CIS), Cyber Defence, Information and Communications Technology (ICT), Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), Command and Control Systems (C2);
A proven track record of experience in progressively responsible posts including recent experience in senior-level leadership positions and significant professional experience in managerial positions;
Substantial experience in successfully implementing complex programmes and in the delivery of capabilities and services in a matrixed organisation;
Ability to implement and manage strategic demand planning matched to workforce and capacity planning, against the backdrop of a public sector customer funding framework;
Substantial experience in improving the performance of a large organisation and supporting a diverse customer base across a broad geographic area;
Demonstrable experience implementing a strategic level organisational change programme;
Experience working in a multi-cultural setting with a variety of stakeholders, including political, military, industry and science and/or technology communities;
A very good knowledge of one of the two NATO languages, both written and spoken, is essential and some knowledge of the other is desirable.
NOTE: Most of the work of the NCI Agency is conducted in the English language

DESIRABLE

Further relevant post-graduate qualification(s), for example a Master of Business Administration (MBA), would be an asset;
A good understanding of commercial business, industry and academia, with a view to outsourcing the development and delivery of capabilities and services;
A good understanding of the political and operational environment in which NATO operates;
A good understanding of NATO’s technological edge as an essential enabler of defence and deterrence, of NATO’s Digital Transformation, with a proven ability to participate in the adoption, adaptation, integration and response to new and emerging disruptive technologies such as Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, Autonomy and Space;
Fluency in both NATO’s official languages.

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Planning and Execution

Ensures annual planning of NCI Agency capacity to stated customer demand. Supports customers’ needs by ensuring the execution of the agreed Programme of Work/Plans, and is responsible for the performance of assigned tasks.
In close coordination with respective requirements holders and governing bodies, ensures appropriate prioritisation and resolution of conflicts between portfolios, programmes and projects assigned to the Agency. Ensures continuous CIS support to ongoing operations.
Supports policy development to enable delivery of CIS capability and services to the NATO Enterprise.

Representation of the Organisation

Supports decision-making processes of Allies by providing adequate information, including a set of planning documents and reports as defined by Allies. Reports regularly on progress against the plans, objectives and risks, in accordance with established key performance indicators, and promptly notifies any issue which requires urgent guidance by Nations.

People Management

Directs and manages the activities of the NCI Agency, leading and overseeing a large team of civilian and military staff in accordance with a matrix model organisation, spread across multiple locations.
Vision and Direction

Exhibits leadership, develops the human capital, and ensures the optimal utilisation of resources to meet Agency commitments. Builds and leads a cohesive, multicultural and multidisciplinary team, promoting excellence and the highest professional standards. Undertakes regular performance reviews at the Agency’s executive level.

Organisational Efficiencies

Leads the organisational transformation of the Agency to meet its strategic challenges, including significantly increased demand and the ability to operate at a high state of readiness. Identifies relevant Key Performance Objectives (KPO) and supporting Indicators (KPI) which track the critical aspects of this transformation and reports periodically to the ASB on progress, seeking support where necessary.

Stakeholder Management

Establishes and maintains high-level working relationships with leadership across the NCI Agency and the NATO Enterprise to efficiently deliver and cooperate on corporate initiatives.
Engages regularly with stakeholders, including Allies and respective governance structures, NATO Headquarters, the Bi-Strategic Commands and their subordinate headquarters, as well as industry, to ensure the NCI Agency delivers against the critical requirements for capabilities and services needed for the Alliance to be successful in its mission.
Represents the NCI Agency, speaking in public fora on behalf of the Agency. Participates in ASB formal meetings, unless otherwise decided by the Board. Demonstrates resilience and adaptability in representing the Agency and managing diverse challenges effectively.

Financial Management

Promotes sound management principles in all areas related to financial management and financial internal control function promoting continuous improvement. Ensures adherence to NAC and ASB promulgated policies, such as NATO Financial Regulations, NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations, and the NCI Organisation Financial Rules and Procedures. Exercises the authority delegated by the ASB, including the signing of contracts or agreements which fall within the purview of routine management or business activities.

4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The General Manager shall be directly responsible to the ASB and leads the NCI Agency in its day to day operations against set priorities and planning and executing necessary transformation.

Direct Reports: 4
Indirect Reports: 30

5. COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

Achievement: Demonstrates decisiveness based on solid considerations and trade-offs;
Change Leadership: Champions change;
Conceptual Thinking: Creates new concepts;
Developing Others: Provides in-depth mentoring, coaching and training;
Impact and Influence: Uses complex influence strategies;
Initiative: Plans and acts for the long-term;
Empathy: Listens actively;
Flexibility: Acts with flexibility;
Leadership: Communicates a compelling vision;
Organisational Awareness: Understands underlying issues;
Organisational Commitment: Support the organisation;
Self-Control: Stays composed and positive even under extreme pressure;

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.

Contract clause applicable:

This is a senior post of specialised political nature in which turnover is required for political reasons. 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. The maximum period of service in this post is six years.

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.

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

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

Selection of candidates for NATO posts is based upon the merit principle. Candidates are requested to attach their essay to their application on Taleo, by latest on 04 May 2025.

In addition to the application form, candidates are expected to submit a Word or pdf document, maximum of two A4 pages, summarizing their views on the key (and possible other) challenges, and how they would address them if selected for the position. The title of the attachment must include the vacancy reference 250693 and the words “Key challenges”.

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Please note that the competition for this post is provisionally scheduled as follows:
Pre-selection testing in mid May 2025;
Final selections on 11 and 12 June 2025, in Brussels, Belgium.

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

https://www.nato.int/structur/recruit/2024/2024-09-13-para8.pdf

General Manager, NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA)

🔍 Belgium

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