YPP, Business Continuity, Technology & Digital Transformation

The Young Professionals Programme (YPP)

In a more dangerous and competitive security environment, NATO continues to do everything that is needed to keep one billion people across Europe and North America safe. We are strengthening our defences, responding swiftly and decisively to threats to our security, and working together – as allies and partners – to protect our freedom and shared interests.

We are launching an accelerator for your international career – the fourth cycle of our Young Professionals Programme (YPP). Through this global three-year programme, you will experience the frontline of a political and military alliance and start a journey of personal and professional development in a diverse and inclusive work environment. Together, we will ensure NATO continues to:

• respond with unity, strength and resolve to growing dangers to our security across the Euro-Atlantic area and in all domains – land, sea, air, space and cyberspace;

• build stronger defences by investing more in defence and accelerating defence production and innovation;

• harness new technologies for our security, and stay ahead in cutting-edge domains such as cyber and space;

• leverage partnerships, including with the European Union, individual countries and the private sector, to protect our freedom and shared interests; and

• contribute to fighting terrorism and rampant instability in NATO’s southern neighbourhood.

Do you want to make a difference and help protect close to one billion people across 32 NATO member states, including your own? If you are ready to take on this challenge, and are a national of a NATO member state, hold a Master’s degree and have at least one year of work experience, then apply for the YPP.

With you, we are stronger.

#WeAreNATO

Your role

During the three years of the programme, you will be assigned to three different NATO bodies:

For more information, please see the path narrative here. You can also find more information about the NATO bodies here & the NATO Young Professionals Programme here.

This is an opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and skills in the broader area of Business Continuity, Technology & Digital Transformation. As you gain experience, you will be given increasing responsibilities, such as:

• Drive or support the use of enterprise programme, project and portfolio management software, analyze project data and provide reporting and advice to stakeholders;
• Drive or support the transformation of business inputs into concrete actions through initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling and closing projects and programmes in the core and support functions of NATO;
• Support business continuity through the implementation of relevant international standards and NATO policies, tools and best practices;
• Develop project and programme management activities as a project analyst, addressing scope, schedule, risk, quality, resources, communications, procurement, stakeholder management and integration matters;
• Contribute to project acceptance of the delivered projects (User Acceptance (UA) and Operational Acceptance (OA));
• Improve the Business Continuity Management System for NATO Headquarters, with a focus on the Technology dimension;
• Contribute to NATO Innovation activities and innovation projects;
• Participate in portfolio management and solution architecting activities related to key NATO scientific and technical portfolios
• Contribute to the communications and change management efforts of projects and programmes, facilitating workshops and developing communications products and reports;
• Exploit technology and drive innovation-related activities in a pro-active dialogue with NATO stakeholders and in collaboration with other business units & NATO Bodies, and
• Research new trends and innovation in the topic of Business Continuity, Programme and Project Management or Technology (Enterprise Architecture).

Who we are looking for

The changing pace of the world demands that NATO and its people remain flexible, eager to learn and able to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. For a YPP position, we are looking for candidates with at least one year of professional experience.

For the YPP, Business Continuity, Technology & Digital Transformation path, we are generally interested in the following educational backgrounds:

• Masters’ degree in the field of Business Administration, Information and communication Technology, Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics

• Any other degree that you believe can be useful to the area of Business Continuity, Technology & Digital Transformation – let us know how your knowledge and skills can be applied

Any of the following experience or skills would be considered as an asset:

• Professional experience in ICT, business continuity and/or business ICT transformation;

• Professional experience in managing projects and programmes (preferably in a ICT environment – Core communications and IT infrastructure or with emerging technologies);

• Knowledge of management information systems, enterprise architecture frameworks and/or robotic process automation;

• Academic knowledge or professional experience with CIS project analysis, monitoring and reporting, risk management for CIS projects, planning and execution of acceptance testing activities;

• Genuine interest in ICT, business continuity, technology innovation topics in international and multi-disciplinary contexts;

• Knowledge of specific project and/or programme management standards (MSP, PRINCE2 or PMBoK) and tools (Scrum, Agile or similar);

• Experience with at least one data analysis tools (such as Power BI, Matlab, KNIME, Python, VBA) preferably in the context of a project;

• Any additional certifications in the field (ITIL, Prince 2,..);

• Have excellent analytical & drafting skills;

• Be proactive, can do attitude & have willingness to learn and share information;

• Able to build relationships across the Alliance. Teamwork, excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills.

What we offer

NATO will offer the Young Professionals:

• An experience of a lifetime at the forefront of an international organization where you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills and expand your professional network;

• A diverse and stimulating work and personal experience where you will be assigned to three different NATO bodies around the globe, one each year; and,

• A competitive salary and other benefits, including excellent health insurance and a generous annual leave package of 30 days

Are you interested in being part of NATO and the YPP?  Apply by 31 May 2026 [23:59 – Brussels time]

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

Please note that at the time of the interviews, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of their education and professional experience as relevant for this vacancy.

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser.

More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (https://www.nato.int/en/work-with-us/careers).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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.

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.

Due to the broad interest in NATO and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or e-mail enquiries cannot be dealt with.

The nature of this position may require the staff member at times to be called upon to travel for work and/or to work outside normal office hours.