Job Title: Staff Assistant (2030 OPFOR Non-Linear Expert 1)

Description

We are seeking a Non-Linear Expert with strong analytical and interpersonal skills to join the OPFOR team within the RIVAL Division - JWC's focal point for developing realistic adversarial effects that challenge and prepare NATO forces for modern warfare.

In this role, you will play an important part in shaping how the full Hybrid (Non-Linear) Environment - spanning the physical, virtual, and cognitive dimensions - is represented across JWC's collective training and exercises. Your contribution will support JWC's mission to plan, prepare and deliver strategic and joint operational-level training, strengthening NATO's warfighting readiness, strategic and operational effectiveness against increasingly sophisticated threats.

🧠Shape how Hybrid effects are represented in NATO exercises

🗺️Lead the development and exercise delivery of Hybrid Campaigns into futureexercises

🌍International work environment in Norway

If you bring the following and thrive in a dynamic, multinational environment, we encourage you to apply:

·Experience in HYBRID Warfare.

·Experience in Special Operation Warfare / Unconventional Warfare or Destabilization Operations.

·Experience or deep knowledge about Foreign INTEL Services (mainly Russia) with regards to Organization / Operations/ role in Russian  Security Architecture.

·Deep knowledge about Russian Doctrine with focus on Hybrid warfare and RUS security architecture.

·Basic understanding of Cyber Warfare, Information Warfare and Civil Resilience.

·Experience in NATO Exercise planning and understanding how an OPFOR branch is working.

·Experience in Civil/ Military Multinational environment.

This vacancy notice is for a NATO-2030 agenda project-linked NATO International Civilian (PLN) post. This post is limited to a three-year definite duration project. It will be filled as soon as possible. In view of the urgency of this project, qualified candidates who hold or have recently held a valid NATO or National security clearance will be given priority consideration.

Please note that the JWC is currently trialling a new organizational structure. Consequently, reporting lines, job titles, functional alignments and some duties may differ slightly from those outlined in the vacancy notice.

NATO Body: Joint Warfare Centre (JWC)
Primary Location: Stavanger, Norway
Schedule: Full-Time
Salary (Pay Basis): 75,465.00 NOK Monthly 
Grade: G12
Clearance Level: NATO Secret (NS)
Application Deadline:  23 August 2026
 

Duties

The incumbent's duties are:

•    Providing subject-matter advice in all aspects of non-linear warfare during the creation of setting or scenario products for specific JWC-directed exercises, wargames, or other collective trainings.
•    Providing subject-matter advice in all aspects of non-linear warfare to the respective Chief OPFOR for an exercise, wargame, or other collective training event.
•    Drafting detailed schemes of manoeuvre for non-linear actors and threat-networks based on doctrine of adversaries (in particular Russia) and on DDA assumptions.
•    Leading a team of non-linear warfare experts during specific JWC-directed exercise events according to the guidance of the respective Chief OPFOR.
•    Providing internal training to the OPFOR Branch and JWC in general.
•    Attending internal and external workshops or other individual training events related to non-linear warfare in order to keep the knowledge up to date.
•    Establishing a liaison network with other relevant subject-matter experts (in particular in NATO Command Structure).
 

Qualifications

Education/Training

  • Higher Secondary education and completed higher vocational training in criminology, police, public or business administration, administration of justice, accounting, business or criminal law, comparative government, area studies, general management, political theory, behavioural or social psychology or related discipline and 3 years function related experience,

or

  • Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 5 years post related experience.

Professional Experience

  • Previous staff officer qualified and worked at 2-star (Division Level) or higher in one of the following: Multi-Domain, JOINT or NATO Command or- NATO Force Structure HQ in the G2/J2 domain (or equivalent) or an equivalent national civilian intelligence background.
  • Knowledge of and minimum of 3 years functional experience of representing Russian ways of non-linear warfare and the use of TESSOC (Terrorism, Espionage, Sabotage, Subversion and Organized Crime) to further political aims.
  • Operationally experienced and background in leading and developing teams in the collection or analysis and the development of countering hybrid threat activities for NATO or other international or national body.

Language

English –Upper Intermediate

Desirable Qualifications

  • Knowledge of and 3 years functional experience in exercise planning or exercise production.
  • Previous work in a red team or opposing forces team
  • Basic understanding of NATO Functional Area Systems such as TOPFAS, Intel-FS, and NCOP or similar.
  • Demonstrated academic research in applied social anthropology.
  • Master’s degree in a social science.

  • Russian- SLP 2222 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing) Intermediate

    NOTE: This post may require research in documents and literature in the Russian language.

  • Valid security clearance
     

Personal Attributes/Competencies

Possess excellent communication skills and the ability to engage and manage stakeholders effectively. This should include stakeholder analysis, engagement planning and conflict resolution. Considerable maturity and professional judgement is required to make decisions on to ensure seamless provision of high-quality support to the JWC and supported Training Audiences. High level of organisational and coordination skills. Excellent managerial, interpersonal, and communication skills with a visionary view to evolving requirements to meet future challenges. Able to cope with stress and possessing good health. Must be able to work as a member of a team in a multi-national environment. An analytical, systematic and pro-active approach is important. The duties will require a capacity for original thought, including the incorporation of emerging concepts. The incumbent should be self-motivated and capable of working under pressure.

Work Environment

The work is normally performed in an office environment.

NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.

Travel on temporary duty may be required for several conferences.

Irregular working hours may be required, especially during exercises/events.

How To Apply For a Project Linked NATO Civilian Post at JWC:

JWC, as an equal opportunities employer, values diverse backgrounds and perspectives and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce. We welcome applications from nationals of all NATO Member States and strongly encourage women to apply.

Applications are to be submitted, in English, using the NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) (https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobsearch.ftl?lang-en). Applications submitted by other means will not be accepted.

NTAP allows for the adding of attachments. Candidates are to attach a copy of the qualification(s)/certificate(s) covering the highest level of education and vocational qualifications held to support their application as well as a copy of a diploma/certificate which confirms any relevant professional status.

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.

Remarks:

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.

Notes for candidates: The candidature of NATO redundant staff at grade G12 / B-5 will be considered before any other candidates.

Notes for NATO Civilian Human Resources Managers: if you have qualified redundant staff at grade G12 / B-5, who wish to be considered for this post, please advise JWC Civilian HR no later than the closing date.

Contract:

This project post is limited to a definite duration of three years. There is no guarantee that the post will continue beyond that period. The successful applicant will be offered a three-year definite duration employment contract. Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

Salary:

Starting basic salary is NOK 75,465.00 per month (tax-free). Additional allowances may apply depending on the personal circumstances of the successful candidate. For further details see NATO Terms & Conditions

For any queries, please contact the Joint Warfare Centre Recruitment Team at jwc.recruitment@nato.int.

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.