Staff Officer (Emerging and Disruptive Technologies)

Post Context/Post Summary

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) provides an integrated Strategic Effects framework, employing a multi-domain and multi-region focus to create a 360-degree approach, with the flexibility to enable, upon direction, a seamless transition from Baseline Activities and Current Operations (BACO) up to the Maximum Level of Effort (MLE).  SHAPE supports SACEUR in fulfilling his terms of reference, as directed by the North Atlantic Council.

The Support Directorate is responsible for directing, monitoring and co-ordinating the implementation of Integrated Resource Management (IRM) activities and staff functions at all levels of command across Allied Command Operations (ACO), consistent with IRM policies, planning and prioritisation it serves as the focal point for the development and execution of ACO’s IRM at the military-strategic level to include the associated ACO wide processes of Planning, Performance Management, and Risk Management across the three resource pillars (Workforce, Military Budget and NATO Security Investment Program), in close coordination with SHAPE J8; it develops, manages and supports all Operational Requirements and statements, providing ACO’s perspective in the Capability Development Process.

The Resource Management Division (REM) is responsible to SACEUR through COS SHAPE for the development and support required for the employment and monitoring of the ACO Strategic Management (ASM) System, including the ACO Strategic Management Plan (ASMP).

The AIM Branch is responsible for sign-posting, co-ordinating, facilitating and monitoring all innovation matters across ACO, including the areas of Emerging and Disruptive Technologies, Digital Transformation, Concept Development, Operational Experimentation, Wargaming, Modelling and Simulation, NATO-accredited Centres of Excellence, Allied Command Transformation (ACT) Open Innovation. It maintains a link to the ACO Strategic Management system, the Lessons Learned process and other adjacent processes. It acts as ACO’s interlocutor to ACT and other stakeholders regarding all aspects of the innovation environment.  It acts as the initial ACO Point of Contact for innovation matters and subject to SHAPE Command Group (CG) Direction and Guidance, represents ACO at relevant bodies.  It coordinates and facilitates the development of ACO’s inputs to high-level policies, direction and guidance, and doctrine in the innovation environment. It coordinates the preparation for the SHAPE CG participating in relevant senior decision making and coordination bodies regarding innovation matters, and advices SHAPE CG on the development of ACO’s approach to innovation. It supports ACO HQs to understand and benefit from the innovation environment, and to identify and exploit innovation opportunities. It acts as the proponent for, and facilitates, the employment of ACO Directives in the innovation space, champions innovation literacy and assists ACO Commanders to improve and sustain a culture of innovation.

Principal Duties

The incumbent's duties are:

• Acts as the ACO Focal Point for Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDTs) work strands across the Command.

• Facilitates ACO’s understanding of EDTs’ military applications and supports ACO’s efforts for their utilisation.

• Supports ACO’s Digital Transformation efforts.

• Acts as the initial Point of Contact within the AIM Branch for matters regarding NATO Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) and coordinates respective work strands across the Command.

• Represents ACO at working-level, governance and senior coordination bodies' meetings involving EDT matters as directed as directed.

• Coordinates and facilitates the development of ACO’s inputs to high-level policies, direction and guidance and doctrine for EDTs.

• Supports ACO Headquarters’ knowledge and understanding of the benefits and scope of EDTs, and the identification and exploitation of respective opportunities.

• Supports ACO’s engagements with NATO/non-NATO EDT communities of interest.

• Remains appraised of developments in academia and industry related to EDTs.

• Champions EDT literacy across ACO and builds ACO EDT community networks.

• Supports other AIM Branch areas as required.

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.

Is required to undertake TDY assignments within and outside NATO's boundaries.

Essential Qualifications

a. Professional/Experience

1.             Minimum of 3 years' experience in a role relevant for the responsibilities of the post within an innovative organisation.

2.             In-depth scientific knowledge of EDTs, in particular Artificial Intelligence, Data, Autonomy, Quantum Technologies, and Digital Transformation.

3.             Skills in assessing the exploitation of EDTs within a military context.

4.             Broad knowledge of the global military and civilian EDT ecosystem, its stakeholders, dynamics and trends.

5.             Ability to translate (verbally and in writing) complex scientific topics into strategic-level understanding.

6.             Ability to prioritize tasks and allocate resources in a dynamic context and capacity of delivering under pressure and short timelines.

b. Education/Training

University Degree and 4 years post related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 7 years post related experience.

c. Language

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

Desirable Qualifications

a. Professional Experience

1.             Proved specializations in Quantitative and/or Operational Analysis, Open Source Intelligence.

2.             A broad background that can include previous staff experience in a joint or combined staff in a large HQ, Joint Command, NATO HQ or MOD.

3.             High level of organisational, coordination and communication skills.

b. Education/Training

Courses:

1.             ISO 56002 Innovation Management System certification course.

2.             NATO Orientation Course provided by NATO - School Oberammergau (NSO) or equivalent.

3.             NATO recognized project management certifications (e.g. PRINCE2) or equivalent.

c. Language

English - SLP 4444 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Attributes/Competencies

• Personal Attributes: Personal qualities of tact, judgment, adaptability, coupled with motivational and listening skills. A sense of diplomacy and propriety in order to work harmoniously with colleagues and other staff, both civilian and military. Able to work effectively to support the team activities. Possess the ability to assess the impact of a wide variety of NATO and national capability developments towards meeting NATO’s overall required capability. Ability to use initiative and good judgment to propose optimum options in materializing effectively the capability delivery.

• Professional Contacts: This post requires to establish and maintain professional contacts with relevant Innovation/EDT stakeholders across the NATO enterprise, in particular within SHAPE, subordinates ACO Headquarters, ACT and NATO Headquarters, and within Allied Nations.

• Contribution To Objectives: The incumbent supports the delivery of ACO’s warfighting functions by enabling and enhancing ACO’s understanding of EDTs’ military applications and efforts to utilise EDTs.

REMARKS:

Duration of contract: Serving staff members will be offered a contract according to the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations (NCPR).  Newly recruited staff will be offered a definite duration contract of three years normally followed by an indefinite duration contract.

The salary will be the basic entry-level monthly salary defined by the NATO Grade of the post, which may be augmented by allowances based on the selected staff member’s eligibility, and which is subject to the withholding of approximately 20% for pension and medical insurance contributions.

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.

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.

Applicants who prove to be competent for the post but who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment in another post of a similar nature, which might become vacant in the near future, albeit at the same or lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.

We believe that all people are capable of great things.  Because of this, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the criteria listed within this job description.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A NATO CIVILIAN POST AT SHAPE:

Applications are to be submitted using NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) (https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobsearch.ftl?lang-en).  Applications submitted by other means (e.g. mail, e-mail, fax, etc) are not accepted.

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Application Process 

Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide original documentary evidence and a set of copies supporting statements in their applications. Appointment is subject to obtaining a NS security clearance and a medical certificate.

Remarks:

a)    Only nationals from the 32 NATO member states can apply for vacancies at SHAPE. 

b)    Applications are automatically acknowledged within one working day after submission. In the absence of an acknowledgement please make sure the submission process is completed, or, re-submit the application.  

c)    Qualified redundant staff of the same grade interested in this post should inform this office, via their HR/Personnel Office by not later than vacancy’s closing date.

d)    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.