Through this competition, the NATO International Staff seeks to identify qualified applicants for 2 positions:
• Assistant, Legal Adviser (grade G17)
• Assistant, Legal Adviser (grade G15/G17) – please refer to the Post Description via the following link:
1. SUMMARY
The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) at NATO Headquarters is responsible for providing legal advice to the Secretary General, the International Staff (IS), the North Atlantic Council, other NATO Committees and NATO subsidiary bodies. The Office supports policy development, negotiates and drafts agreements, represents the Organization in litigation, and engages with Allied legal offices in capitals on strategic legal issues.
The incumbent works as an Assistant Legal Adviser. While the incumbent advises, as a legal generalist, on a variety of questions of international and domestic law, the focus of their work is on public international law (including privileges and immunities, the jus ad bellum, the jus in bello, and other areas relevant to military planning and operations) and international administrative law (including employment-related and governance-related policy development and implementation). The incumbent works to a wide and demanding portfolio, maintains and develops contacts with clients, and helps manage the day-to-day running of the Office.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The incumbent must possess:
• possess a university degree in law from an institute of recognised standing and professional legal qualifications, as appropriate;
• have at least 5 years’ experience in providing legal advice on public international law and/or international administrative law;
• possess resilience and experience managing a significant workload and maintaining calmness under pressure;
• have excellent written and oral communications skills as well as a practical and collegial approach to problem solving; and
• the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; II (“Elementary”) in the other.
The following would be considered an advantage:
• expertise and experience with the legal framework appliable to defence and security matters, including military operations, arms control, and the development and use of advanced technologies in military operations;
• expertise and experience with the legal framework applicable to employment-related issues, including policy development and advocacy work in relation to staff disputes; and
• experience in an International Organization, national ministry or similar complex environment including stakeholder Nations, providing legal advice on issues comparable to those arising at NATO.
3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES
Expertise Development. Follow major activities in the field of international law of other International Organisations and international or national courts with a direct impact on assigned tasks. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legal publications and jurisprudence in the field of public international law and international administrative law. Independently plan, research and prepare decisions on questions of legal and policy matters. Draft and, as required, assist in discussing and reviewing policies for use within NATO. Prepare and contribute to project work as required in OLA.
Knowledge Management. Provide advice to officials of the Organization on legal issues related to any assigned fields. Analyse the legal questions affecting the Organization and NATO-led operations under international and applicable domestic law, including host nation law. Prepare legal texts, internal memoranda and other legal documents. As required, prepare and give briefings/lectures on the legal aspects of NATO related subjects.
Representation of the Organization. Assist, as requested, in preparation for, or conduct of, the defence of the Organization before any internal or external Board/Tribunal, in co-ordination with the defence of other subsidiary bodies as well as military Headquarters. Assist or represent OLA, as required, in the preparation and discussion of agreements or other legal documents to be concluded by NATO. As required, represent OLA in meetings of relevant Committees.
Project Management. Prepare and contribute to project work as required. Assume accountability and drive projects/initiatives to completion. Find timely and creative solutions to problems that meet client and Organisational needs and priorities while respecting rules and procedures. Support the co-ordination of legal issues across the NATO enterprise, including in consultation with legal offices of Agencies, the International Military Staff at NATO Headquarters, Allied Command Operations (ACO), and Allied Command Transformation (ACT).
Perform any other related duty as assigned.
4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS
Reporting Line: The Assistant Legal Adviser works under the overall authority and supervision of the Legal Adviser and Deputy Legal Adviser, and under the management of a Senior Assistant Legal Adviser.
Interactions: As required by any assigned fields, the incumbent coordinates with the Office of the Secretary General and all other Divisions and entities at NATO HQ, including national delegations, as well as with other NATO bodies.
Direct reports: N/A
Indirect reports: N/A
5. COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate:
• Achievement: works to meet standards.
• Analytical Thinking: sees multiple relationships.
• Clarity and Accuracy: checks own work.
• Conceptual Thinking: applies learned concepts.
• Impact and Influence: takes multiple actions to persuade.
• Customer Service Orientation: takes personal responsibility for correcting problems.
• Empathy: is open to others’ perspectives.
• Impact and Influence: takes multiple actions to persuade.
• Initiative: is decisive in a time sensitive situation.
• Teamwork: solicits inputs and encourages others.
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.
NOTE for Assistant, Legal Adviser (grade G15/G17) post: Irrespective of previous qualifications and experience, candidates for twin-graded posts will be appointed at the lower grade. These circumstances are described in the IS directive on twin-graded posts.
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
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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.
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