Post Context

ACT contributes to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of Alliance member states by leading, at Strategic Command level, Warfare Development required to enhance NATO’s posture, military structures, forces, capabilities and doctrines.

The Capability Development Directorate (CAPDEV) comprises two Divisions—Requirements and Capabilities. The Directorate supports SACT in his Capabilities Requirement Authority (CRA) role. 

It is responsible for a holistic through lifecycle Capability Development approach that infuses innovation and transformative efforts that are an integral part of the Warfare Development. This includes responsibilities for elicitation, development, capture and collection, quality review, traceability and visibility of capability requirements.

The Capabilities Division coordinates the development of capabilities from capability planning through acceptance and then disposal with the management entities, NATO Headquarters staff and the NATO Governance Structure. This entails synchronizing horizontally across capabilities to achieve coherent efforts and outcomes.

The Operational C2 Branch addresses the unique NATO Command Structure capabilities and leads ACT’s DOTMLPFI capabilities programme, plans development activities for Maritime, Land, Joint, and Special Operations Command and Control with SMEs in the areas of Joint C2/Operations Planning,  Land/Special Operations (SOF) C2,  Maritime C2, Maritime Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) and Maritime Mine Countermeasures (MCM). The Branch coordinates cross-functionally to ensure that all Operational C2 functions are covered in a consistent and holistic manner.

The incumbent will serve as Deputy Branch Head for Operational Command and Control and as the Senior Integrator for Joint/Multi-Domain, Land/SOF and Maritime C2 common funded capability development programmes.

Principal Duties\:

  • Manages the Operational C2 branch resources, submitting annual resource requirements and spending plans, as well as emergent requirement requests when necessary. Acts as the day-to-day manager of the branch budget (61T) on behalf of the Branch Head.
  • Ensure traceable links from Branch Programmes and Projects to formal requirements (NDPP, Operational, and Transformational), with clear and integrated objectives, milestones, outputs, and activities documented in the appropriate ACT management databases.
  • Having enduring knowledge and expertise on NATO policies and processes to include governance, common-funding, doctrine and training management, and technical standards, he will guide Operational C2 Portfolio integration and architecture efforts to ensure that each has a logical and detailed continuum of development and implementation, making best use of C3 taxonomy, and staying coherent with NDPP target solution implementation.
  • Serve as the primary link between the Branch’s activities and those Operational C2 posts in the Capability Requirements and Forward elements, to ensure consistent and smooth transition between the phases of development, implementation and disposal, and to ensure effective relationships with Allied Command Operations HQs.
  • Deputises for the Branch Head and routinely supports the Branch Head managing 11 personnel including three OF-4 programme directors. Assists coordinating the provision of Branch expertise to support to other branches, divisions, and directorates as necessary.

Essential Qualifications / Experience\:

  • University Degree in management information systems, accounting, economics, finance, business administration, public administration, operations research, project management or related discipline and 6 years post related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 6 years post related and 2 years function related experience.
  • Minimum 6 years experience serving as a project or programme manager for a capability development activity.
  • A minimum of 6 years of resource management, budgetary processes, requirement prioritization, risk management and their inter-relations with business process and management systems.
    A minimum of 6 years managerial and supervisory experience
  • Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in interpretation and implementation of policies and processes, including governance, common funding, doctrine and training management, and technical standards
  • Excellent analytical, problem solving and verbal and written communication skills

Language\:

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

Desirable Qualifications / Experience\:

  • Worked in a large organization with management experience leading diverse teams.
  • Master in related discipline (accounting, economics, finance, business administration, public administration, operations research, project management) with six years of practical experience in the field.
  • Intermediate Service College (ISC) or equivalent graduate.
  • Qualifications and/or certification as a Project Management Specialist.
  • English - SLP 4343 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Attributes/Competencies\:

Personal Attributes\:

  • The incumbent should have highly developed capacities for tact and judgment. He/she will represent the command at the highest levels of military and political leadership. He/she must be highly adaptable to dynamic and changing situations and able to work under intense pressure imposed by short timelines for critical missions/ information. Due to the likelihood for travel on a regular basis, the incumbent should be in good to exceptional physical and mental health. On occasion the incumbent may be required to work beyond “normal business hours” on an exceptional basis.

Managerial Responsibilities\:

  • The incumbent will integrate the activities of 11 personnel across three programmes to ensure the delivery of coherent Operational C2 capabilities.

Professional Contacts\:

  • The incumbent will require high level social skills as much of his/her work will be in coordinating with external agencies and commands. The incumbent will frequently be in the position of committing the organization to specific levels of effort and must possess the conviction and understanding necessary to carry command messages to senior military commanders as well as political leadership. A significant relationship will be necessary with the NATO C3 Headquarters staff and the NATO ASG/DI staff, both located in Brussels, on level of 'partnership'.

Contribution To Objectives\:

  • This work contributes significantly and directly to the objectives of the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT). Daily efforts and analyses will be used by senior personnel to chart the direction for transformation initiatives in NATO. Decisions based on the incumbent’s analysis, insight and opinions will be used daily for the commitment and obligation of legal, fiscal, and personnel resources of the command and NATO.

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 HQ SACT web 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 G20 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 28 January 2026 @ 17\:59hrs (EST)/11\:59hrs (CET).

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.