1. SUMMARY
The Cyber and Digital Transformation Division (CDT) oversees all aspects of cyber and digital transformation across the NATO Enterprise, advancing the Alliance’s agenda in these areas. As a fully integrated civilian-military Division, CDT combines the strategic insight of the International Staff (IS) with the operational expertise of the International Military Staff (IMS), enabling coherent, credible, and actionable advice to NATO’s senior decision-making bodies.
Within the Cyber Operations Section (CYOP), the Officer, Accreditation Support is responsible for tracking the accreditation backlog and monitoring the status of unaccredited systems across the NATO Enterprise. The incumbent contributes to the security accreditation process for traditional and cloud-based CIS solutions by coordinating and prioritising Security Audits (Type 3 and 4), applying a risk-based approach to prioritisation, performing gap analysis, and supporting remediation planning in accordance with NATO risk management frameworks. The incumbent also provides strategic advisory support to senior stakeholders, contributing to decision-making related to enterprise cybersecurity posture, accreditation readiness, and risk acceptance.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The incumbent must:
• possess a university degree relevant to the position;
• have at least 5 years of experience in the cyber operations field, including experience in leading remote teams effectively;
• demonstrate strong experience in cybersecurity risk assessment, compliance frameworks (ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR), and security accreditation processes for both traditional and cloud-based solutions, including the aspects to be addressed during cybersecurity inspections;
• have experience designing, implementing, and improving cybersecurity governance programmes, including ISMS, audit readiness, and enterprise security controls within traditional and cloud-based CIS capabilities and services;
• have the following minimum levels in NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; I (“Beginner”) in the other.
The following are considered an advantage:
• professional certifications relevant to the position, such as: security certifications (CISSP, CCSP, CISM, etc), audit certifications based on international standards (ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, etc.), project management and IT service management certifications (PRINCE2, ITIL v4, etc.);
• experience providing executive-level reporting and cybersecurity briefings, and coordinating multi-stakeholder environments across large organisations; and
• experience developing, executing, coordinating, and improving accreditation processes for a large organisation.
3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES
Policy Development: Contribute to the development of policies, directives, and guidance documents related to enterprise security accreditation. Advise the section head on NATO Enterprise security accreditation processes and procedures. Support and contribute to policy changes related to CIS security and its management, in coordination with the Security Accreditation Authority (SAA) and the Communication and Information Systems Provider (CISP). Assess and verify risks, and develop proposals to strengthen existing CIS security policies related to accreditation at the enterprise level. Develop high-level strategic documents and advice to enhance enterprise security accreditation and support interoperability within the Alliance.
Project Management: Participate in project management boards as required, contributing to accreditation and cybersecurity risk perspectives. Maintain and contribute to enterprise-level cybersecurity programme execution within assigned responsibilities. Identify, monitor, and proactively mitigate cybersecurity and accreditation-related risks across programmes; provide expertise and leadership to resolve exceptions and issues. Coordinate and lead accreditation and risk management activities, including remediation planning and prioritisation based on business impact, across traditional and cloud-based CIS solutions for classified and unclassified capabilities and services. Coordinate and develop mitigation and remediation actions with other members of the Cyber Operations Section to ensure a coherent and consistent approach.
Stakeholder Management: Establish and maintain a network of key experts across the NATO Enterprise, with a specific focus on enterprise-wide security accreditation. Develop close cooperation with the NATO operational community across the lifecycle of enterprise security processes and practices, with emphasis on accreditation management. Provide advisory support to senior leadership on enterprise cybersecurity risk posture, accreditation readiness, and accreditation-related decisions.
Knowledge Management: Draft background briefs, progress reports, presentations, and other materials for high-level meetings. Track accreditation status and support enterprise situational awareness by contributing relevant information to appropriate NATO bodies and boards (e.g., CyOC, CRMG, BCISOAs). Based on briefings, discussions, and security accreditation outcomes, provide advice on evolving security programmes across NATO nations, NATO civilian and military bodies, and non-NATO entities. Perform any other related duty as assigned.
4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS
Reporting Line: Reports to the Team Lead, Cybersecurity Risk Management.
Interactions: Interacts with staff across the NATO Enterprise and works in close cooperation with CDT staff.
Direct Reports: N/A
Indirect Reports: N/A
5. COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate:
• Analytical Thinking: sees multiple relationships.
• Flexibility: adapts to unforeseen situations.
• Impact and Influence: takes multiple actions to persuade.
• Initiative: is decisive in a time-sensitive situation.
• Organizational Awareness: understands organisational climate and culture.
• Teamwork: cooperates.
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, during which the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite duration contract.
Contract clause applicable:
In accordance with the contract policy, this is a post in which turnover is desirable for political reasons in order to be able to accommodate the Organisation's need to carry out its tasks as mandated by the Nations in a changing environment, for example by maintaining the flexibility necessary to shape the Organisation's skills profile, and to ensure appropriate international diversity.
The maximum period of service foreseen in this post is 6 years. 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. However, according to the procedure described in the contract policy the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite contract during the period of renewal and no later than one year before the end of contract.
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. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.
Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Régulations.
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
Before you apply to any position, we encourage you to click here and watch our video providing 6 tips to prepare you for your application and recruitment process.
Do you have questions on the application process in the system and not sure how to proceed? Click here for a video containing the information you need to successfully submit your application on time.
When submitting your application, please ensure that your Taleo Candidate Profile is updated and that your CV is correctly uploaded in the Taleo attachments section.
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 reference documents without proper quotes (plagiarism), or any tools available on internet, including but not limited to translation facilities, or generative artificial-intelligence (AI) 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 tools will be rejected without further consideration, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.
8. 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.
NATO is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible working environment, where all candidates living with disabilities can fully participate in the recruitment and selection process. If you require reasonable accommodation, please inform us during your selection process.
Candidates will be required to provide documented medical evidence to support their request for accommodation.
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.
Applicants who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment to another post of a similar nature, albeit at the same or a lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.
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.
The organization offers several work-life policies including Teleworking and Flexible Working arrangements (Flexitime) subject to business requirements.
Please note that the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium is a non-smoking environment.
For information about the NATO Single Salary Scale (Grading, Allowances, etc.) please visit our website. Detailed data is available under the Salary and Benefits tab.
NATO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. For more info please click here.