Legal Operations Head
JOB DETAIL
1. POST CONTEXT
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) provides an integrated Strategic Effects framework, employing a multi-domain and multi-region focus to create a 360-degree approach, with the flexibility to enable, upon direction, a seamless transition from Baseline Activities and Current Operations (BACO) up to the Maximum Level of Effort (MLE). SHAPE supports SACEUR in fulfilling his terms of reference, as directed by the North Atlantic Council.
The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) provides full spectrum expert legal advice, technical guidance and other legal assistance to SACEUR, the SHAPE Command Group and ACO Staff.
The Legal Operations Team deals with the legal operations considerations affecting the planning and conduct of ACO activities from peacetime through crisis to conflict. The incumbent supervises and ensures supervises the successful execution of the team’s mission along the team’s three lines of effort supporting DDA implementation: i) legal operations response, effects and anticipation (regarding planning, decision-making, joint targeting and effects and policy development); ii) legal vigilance (regarding support to intelligence, strategic communications, early warning and crisis identification); and iii) legal operations, training, education and exercises (regarding support to exercises, training and education for NATO operations and activities).
2. PRINCIPAL DUTIES
| The incumbent’s duties are:
1) Leads the execution of the team’s three lines of effort (legal operations response, effects and anticipation; legal vigilance and; legal operations training education and exercises), coordinating with other OLA branches, SHAPE divisions, subordinate entities and other NATO bodies as appropriate. 2) Leads in the provision and coordination of legal advice and other support to SHAPE staff and subordinate commands on areas related to legal operations, hybrid warfare and gray zone legal matters and all related legal vigilance. 3) Leads in the provision of legal advice on matters related to the law of armed conflict, human rights law, as well as the interpretation and application of international treaties and customary international law in all operational settings and activities of ACO when they relate to legal operations. 4) Participates in meetings and dedicated seminars/conferences, often in collaboration with NATO senior legal advisors and senior officials from NATO and non-NATO countries and relevant IOs, NGOs, GOs and international tribunals representing SHAPE or NATO, to address matters related to legal operations and in order to support NATO-led exercises and operations. 5) In support of the Operational Law Branch Head, provides legal operations legal advice on Legal Operations to SHAPE staff during the operational planning process for current or future NATO-led operations and supports them during the conduction of operations and exercises, this includes but is not limited to OPLANs, NATO ROE, and SOPs. 6) Leads and coordinates the execution of legal vigilance activities and the development of legal vigilance products. 7) Coordinates the development of a library/repository of quick-access legal operations case-studies and materials. 8) Provides legal advice and support to, and coordinates with, senior staff at SHAPE CCOMC, Joint Effects, J2, STRATCOM and relevant working groups on legal operations issues. 9) Leads and promotes the enhancement and use during exercises, planning and operations, of legal operations tools such as the Matrix for Identification of Legal Operations. 10) Leads in the provision of legal support to SACEUR-designated exercises and lectures for courses and seminars at the NATO School (Oberammergau) and other NATO and non-NATO schools or institutions as well as universities. 11) Proactively leads in the organisation and provision of training on legal operations to NATO and national staffs. 12) Leads the inclusion of legal operations considerations in NATO exercises and support their inclusion in national exercises as requested. 13) Actively promotes and maintains a broad legal operations network of contacts among NATO bodies, national staffs, NATO Partners, NGOs, Think-Tanks, academia and other relevant institutions and recognised individuals. 14) Proactively leads the review of ACO, BiSC and NATO policies, directives, templates and procedures in order to align them with extant direction on legal operations. 15) When directed, coordinates with, and supports, other ACO OLA branches. 16) Deputises for Operational Law Branch Head and/or OLA Director as required 17) Legal Authority: Advice given to the commander and his staff will commit the forces assigned to the Commander to actions for which NATO will be held legally accountable. 18) Decision Authority: Decisions made regarding the nature of the professional guidance and advice to the Command Group and to the Staff of the HQ will affect decisions that will commit the command within NATO to a course of action. Responsible to ensure that advice given is coordinated with the advisory functions in lateral, subordinate and superior HQs. Message release authority for matters affecting assigned advisory area. |
3. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND ADDITIONAL DUTIES
| The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organisation at the same grade without there being any change to the contract. The incumbent may be required to undertake TDY assignments both within and without NATO’s boundaries and be willing to work unsocial hours.
The work is normally performed in a Normal NATO office working environment. Normal Working Conditions apply. The risk of injury is categorised as: No risk / risk might increase when deployed. |
4. ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
1. Professional/Experience
1) Ten years of management experience in the legal field, of which at least four years of experience on legal operations at strategic level in an international organization.
2. Education/Training
1) The incumbent must have a University Degree in law or related discipline with 6 years of experience or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 8 years post related experience.
2) NATO Legal Advisor Course.
3. Language
English SPL 3333 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)
NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.
5. DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
1. Professional/Experience
1) Sound knowledge of the NATO and ACO structure, organisation and mission.
2) Sound knowledge of legal operations and operational law including the law of armed conflicts and NATO SOFA issues.
3) At least ten years general legal experience with solid background in Public International Law, Investigation/Intelligence, and Litigation.
CONTRACT
The successful candidate will fill this post as a Project Related NATO International Civilian (PLN) with a three-year definite duration contract within the NATO 2030 Agenda. On expiry of this term the PLN will be deleted or absorded into the ceiling pending approval or will exceptionally be considered for extension.
The salary will be the basic entry-level monthly salary defined by the NATO Grade of the post, which may be augmented by allowances based on the selected staff member’s eligibility, and which is subject to the withholding of approximately 20% for pension and medical insurance contributions.
Applicants who prove to be competent for the post but who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment in another post of a similar nature, which might become vacant in the near future, albeit at the same or lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Applications are to be submitted using NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) (https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobsearch.ftl?lang-en) Applications submitted by other means (e.g. mail, e-mail, fax, etc) are not accepted.
NTAP allows adding attachments. A copy of the qualification/certificate covering the highest level of education required by the job description must be provided as an attachment.
Essential information must be included in the application form. Particular attention should be given to Education and Experience section of the application form. The application should be in English.
Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide original documentary evidence and a set of copies supporting statements in their applications.
After submitting your application, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application.
Remarks:
A) Only nationals from the 31 NATO member states can apply for vacancies at SHAPE.
B) 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.
C) Candidates’ individual telephone, e-mail or telefax enquiries cannot be dealt with. All candidates will receive an answer indicating the outcome of their application.
