SHAPE is looking for a Space Architect (Programme Manager).  If you have minimum 2 years of experience in space operations and if you enjoy working in a fast-paced international environment, this post is for you.

General Background:

SHAPE, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, is the Headquarters of Allied Command Operations (ACO), one of the two major military commands of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).  ACO safeguards an area extending from the northern tip of Norway to the eastern border of Turkey.  This equates to nearly two million square kilometres of land, more than three million square kilometres of sea, and a population of about 320 million people.

POST DESCRIPTION:

Location: Casteau/Mons, 60 Km south of Brussels (Belgium)

Division: Strategic Development of Forces

1. Post Context/Post Summary

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 Strategic Development and Preparation (SDP) Directorate is responsible for the development, review and maintenance of Strategic Planning, Advanced Planning and Crisis Planning products for ACO; contributes to the development of strategic policy and concepts for ACO; preparation of the NATO Command Structure (NCS) and declared forces for current and future operations across the full spectrum of mission areas; developing Education, Training, Exercise and Evaluation (ETEE) direction and guidance in line with strategic policy; ensuring that forces are prepared in accordance with evaluation criteria; oversees and executes the ACO Lessons Learned (LL) process.

The Strategic Development of Forces Division (SDF) will coordinate and assure the synchronization and cohesion of all issues related to the development, generation and readiness of NATO forces and force capabilities. SDF will be responsible for generating forces and reporting force readiness, coordinating ACO’s contribution to NATO Defence Planning Process, identifying capability gaps and force operational requirements for desired effects, and providing expertise for concepts, policies, and force standards that facilitate the development of comprehensive, interoperable, and prepared forces through Baseline Activities and Current Operations, Crises and/or Maximum Level of Effort.

The Operational Concepts and Standards Branch (OCS) coordinates the development of operational concepts and acts as the custodian of required force standards supporting the development of forces.

Operational Concepts Section provides cross-functional expertise for the development of operational concepts, military advice, and enhancement of doctrine for the improvement of NATO capabilities.

The Section is responsible for providing the link between operational C2 capabilities requirements, future force standardization, and readiness and reporting requirements. The Space is expanding within NATO. Space is an increasingly important domain for NATO operations and arguably, also for the Alliance’s deterrence and defence posture. Chairman of the DPPC(R) stated that work had sufficiently matured for DPPC to start considering its POL-MIL implications, and who needs to take this important work forward in the months and years to come. Space has been declared as an Operational Domain at the 2019 Leader’s Meeting and the Space responsible should expect to receive several taskers related to the implementation of the Space domain and all the other documentation stemming from it (e.g., the production of Overarching NATO Policy on Space, creation of a dedicated Space Cadre, Space Action Plan, and Space CONOPS).

2. Principal Duties

The incumbent’s duties are:

1. Oversees the integration of Space Domain across the NCS with the focus of implementation maintenance and advancement within ACO.
2. Drafting Space-related documents for implementing Space within NATO (e.g. Space CONOPS).
3. Develops the Operational Requirements Statement (ORS).
4. Enhance the three Space Operational Functions: Space Domain Awareness (SDA), Operational Space Support (OSS), and Space Domain Coordination (SDC).
5. Engage with LEGAD of the actions within NATO’s Space Domain.
6. Provides expertise on current and near term Air and Space operations, ensuring the integration of Space into NATO operations considerations.
7. Represents the conduit between NATO HQ and NATO’s Joint Force/Air/Maritime/Land Commands for relevant current and near term joint operational matters.
8. Provides Space Operations and related C2 advice and expertise in support of other SHAPE Divisions, ACT and other NATO organisations.
1. Support the Space Staff Officer (PFCP 0050)
10. Participate in the NATO’s BiSC Space Working Group.
11. Enhancing the three enablers (NATO Space Centre, Theatre Space Component, and the Space Cadre).
50. Develops and maintains current Space training documentation to include AJP, NSO and NATO HQ introduction course material.
1000. Develops, reviews and coordinates overall Space policy documents to include the development of Space doctrine within NATO Operations.
14. Interacts with civilian and military organizations to support capability integration within NATO.
15. Prepares and conducts briefings, background papers/talking points, to include briefings to the Command Group (CG).
16. Provides Space expertise to SHAPE Tasker assignments.
17. Acts as the Space System Engineering SME.
18. Supports both the Intro to Space Operations and the Space Coordinator Courses (at NSO).
19. Maintains regular liaison with the International Military Staff (IMS) and International Staff (IS).
20. Contributes to staff development induction and training initiatives for the Branch.
21. Responds to actions and requests of authorities within ACO.
5. Develops the documentation and material which will be used for the definition of a Space Domain.
23. Prepares studies on the dependencies and mitigations measures for Space and Counter-Space.
10. Interaction with other communities (NAVWAR, EW, EMO, ISR, etc.)

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

a. Professional/Experience

1. Experience in Space operations and exercises.
2. Experience in operations planning.
3. Experience in program or project management.
4. Expert level in MS Word/PowerPoint/Outlook, intermediate level in Excel /SharePoint.
5. Operational and Tactical experience in Space Operations.

b. Education/Training

University Degree and 2 years function related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.

c. Language

English – SLP 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

a. Professional Experience

1. Previous staff officer experience.
2. Previous working experience with government space agency/commercial space companies.

b. Education/Training

1. Master’s Degree in Space and Astronautical Engineering or equivalent and 3 years post related experience, or a Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification.
2. PMP or Prince2 Certification.
3. Introduction to Space Support to NATO Operations (SOP-SP-21390-1) provided by NATO – School Oberammergau (NSO).

c. Language – N/A

6. Attributes/Competencies

a. Personal Attributes

Good interpersonal and communication skills are necessary in a creative and dynamic environment. It is necessary that the incumbent possess the ability to act with a high degree of common sense, adaptability and versatility. A creative, innovative, analytical, systematic and pro-active approach is important. The duties will require a capacity for lateral thinking in order to provide efficient Space operational planning and management. The incumbent must be able to adapt to emerging technologies and techniques and incorporate such into his areas of responsibility where appropriate. The incumbent should be well motivated and capable of working independently and under pressure. Must be able to work as a member of a team. Some travel on temporary duty may be required. Good health is required.

b. Professional Contacts

Regular exchange of information with Space operational planners and managers ACO wide, also working level contacts with other branches and SHAPE Directorates.

c. Contribution To Objectives

This post enables the timely and effective Space planning, and management implementation of the Space domain, ensuring that the facilities necessary for the installation, operation and sustenance of Command and Control Systems and operational and support equipment, Workforce and capabilities.

There are no reporting responsibilities.

This post reports to: OSC PFCP 0050 – Staff Officer (Space Operations – Force Standards) – OF-4, and

OSC PFCC 0010 – Section Head (Operational Concepts) – OF-4.

This post does not deputises anybody.

This post is not deputised by anybody.

REMARKS:

This post is advertised in anticipation of final approval.

Duration of contract: Serving staff members will be offered a contract according to the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations (NCPR).  Newly recruited staff will be offered a definite duration contract of three years normally followed by an indefinite duration contract.   

HOW TO APPLY FOR A NATO CIVILIAN POST AT SHAPE:

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. Each question should be answered completely.  Expressions such as “please see attached CV, please see annex / enclosed document” or invitations to follow links to personal webpages are not acceptable and will be disregarded. All answers should be in English (preferably) or in French.

Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide original documentary evidence and a set of copies supporting statements in their applications.

Current and past civilians working for NATO or any Coordinated Organization, shall indicate their last grade and step held (next to job title), and specify the name of employing NATO body or Coordinated Organization.

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)         Qualified redundant staff of the same grade interested in this post should inform this office, via their HR/Personnel Office by not later than vacancy’s closing date.

D)         Candidates’ individual telephone, e-mail or telefax enquiries cannot be dealt with. All candidates will receive an answer indicating the outcome of their application.