Staff Assistant (Public Affairs Photographer)

Post Context

Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFCNF) provides a resilient, static Joint headquarters to plan, prepare and conduct operations across all domains in peacetime, crisis and conflict, in order to support NATO’s three core tasks, at the Joint Operational level, as directed by SACEUR. 

The Communication Directorate advises the Commander and exercises the Commander’s authority to achieve the desired effects of communication and information activities. It is responsible for directing, monitoring, assessing and coordinating communications staff functions. 

The StratCom Communications and Engagement Branch executes communications capabilities informed by integrated communications plans. It is led by the Chief Public Affairs Officer, who is the lead for internal and external communications, and maintains a direct advisory function to the Commander. 

The media production staff plans, drafts and generates audio, video and printed products. 

The incumbent serves as journalist/photographer for internal and external communication products. 

Principal Duties:

The incumbent's duties are:

• Serves as journalist for JFCNF internal information products, writing and editing content for publication on command web sites under JFCNF responsibility. 
• Performs location photography both during duty and non-duty hours, on and off post, to include deployment in support of exercises or operations IAW AD 95-3 ACO Social Media Policy. 
• Processing and printing of photographic materials, including digital editing, IAW AD 95-3 ACO Social Media Policy. 
• Uploads content to command web sites under JFCNF responsibility. 
• Acts as liaison with web site contract company and with NATO and local PA/Webmaster counterparts. 
• Designs and assembles photographic displays IAW AD 95-3 ACO Social Media Policy. 
• Executes camera loan program for JFCNF members. 
• Assists with production of budget relating to photographic support. 
• Maintains inventory of public affairs photographic equipment and support supplies and requests additional supplies as necessary. 
• Conducts PA aspects of exercises and operations. 
• Represents PA in various HQ committees, boards and working groups. 
• Undertakes work as part of a project team or working group as directed or assigned. 

Essential Qualifications / Experience:

• Higher Secondary education and completed higher vocational training leading to a formal technical or professional certification with 3 years function related experience, or Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 5 years post related experience. 
• Four years’ experience operating, maintaining and troubleshooting audio and video equipment with minimum three years’ experience in videography. 
• Four years’ experience using professional audio and/or video tape editing and post-production procedures, techniques, and standards. 
• Four years’ experience configuring, operating and maintaining studio and/or field audio, lighting and associated production equipment. 
• Four years’ proficiency with video editing software or similar applications: Final Cut Pro, Adobe After Effects, Motion Design, Illustrator, InDesign. 

Language:

English - SLP 3322 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

• Experience in Communications, Public Relations or Journalism.
• Previous staff Public Affairs experience in an international organization or on operational theatres. 
• Journalism/ Social Media training. 
• Trained and experienced with Multimedia editing tool. 

Attributes/Competencies:

Personal Attributes: The incumbent must display a high degree of professionalism and adaptability due to constantly changing nature of tasks and deadlines, excellent presentation and management skills, interpersonal judgment and tact and the ability to work in a fast-paced, changing international environment.  

Professional Contacts: The incumbent would be required to regularly interact with colleagues at SHAPE, other JFC’s and the Single Service Commands. On occasion they might also need to speak with NATO HQs (Public Diplomacy Division), NATO TV and national combat camera teams.  In addition, frequent interaction with regional media outlets would be necessary. 

Contribution To Objectives: This post impacts the success of the Commander’s Intent and Vision via the JFC-NF StratCom Communication and Engagement Branch. 

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 JFC Norfolk Career 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 G12 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 07 May 2025 @ 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).