Special Advisor (International Affairs)
JOB DETAIL
SHAPE is looking for a Special Advisor to assist in providing advice on a wide range of strategic, political and military issues, and contribute to the development of concepts, operational plans and initiatives, support SACEURs political and military engagement, interventions, and related activities and fulfil the Executive Officer role for the office of the Strategic and International Affairs (SIA).
General Background:
SHAPE, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, is the headquarters of Allied Command Operations (ACO), one of the two strategic 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)
Directorate: Command Group
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 Command Group (CG) provides and sustains strategic level command and control capabilities to support SACEUR in exercising his command functions.
The Office of the Strategic and International Affairs Advisor is part of the SHAPE Command Group, directly supporting SACEUR, DSACEUR, COS and VCOS. It supports the SHAPE Command Group and senior staff of Allied Command Operations, plus deployed NATO Commanders and Forces, with integrated advice, strategic approaches, courses of action and international affairs subject matter expertise as it relates to Alliance operations, policy, transformation, defense planning and partnership at the strategic military level during peace, crisis and conflict.
The Office of the Strategic and International Affairs Advisor is part of the SHAPE Command Group, directly supporting SACEUR, DSACEUR, COS and VCOS. It supports the SHAPE Command Group and senior staff of Allied Command Operations, plus deployed NATO Commanders and Forces, with integrated advice, strategic approaches, courses of action and international affairs subject matter expertise as it relates to Alliance operations, policy, transformation, defense planning and partnership at the strategic military level during peace, crisis and conflict. The post of Special Advisor (International Affairs) assists the Office of the Strategic and International Affairs in providing advice on strategic, political-military issues facing Allied Command Operations (ACO).
Principal Duties
The incumbent’s duties are:
1. Assists in providing advice on a wide range of strategic-political-military issues involving NATO, ACO Operations, Activities and Partnerships.
2. For matters pertaining to NATO Operations, the incumbent is responsible for:
– contributing to the development of concepts, operational plans and initiatives;
– supporting SACEUR’s political and military engagement, interventions, and related activities;
– assisting in the execution of Command Group crisis management responsibilities;
– contributing to strategic assessments and forecasts of strategic-political-military issues;
– assisting in recommending policy courses of action.
3. Maintains awareness of key initiatives under consideration at NATO HQ and the status of critical, related documents. Contributes to an understanding how they impact Command priorities and key lines of staff effort within SHAPE.
4. Assists in the coordination and harmonization of SACEUR’s strategic military advice and SHAPE/ACO views with NATO HQ plans, policies and direction.
5. Contributes to advice on a wide range of strategic-political-military issues in direct support of Command policy formulation and decision-making related to the Balkans and the Caucasus; relations with the EU, NGOs, and other International Organizations.
6. Contributes to advice in support of ACO exercises and training.
7. Drafts high-level memoranda and briefing materials in English on short notice.
8. Performs an Executive Officer role for SIA. Oversees development and coordination of office priorities, tasks, and functions. Screens and Analyses office taskings, tracks their status and assists in submitting required responses. Maintains awareness of office requirements within the HQ and facilitates submission of office input as required.
9. Contributes to the coordination and execution of high-level visits to SHAPE by senior NATO and non-NATO officials and visits to NATO and non-NATO nations by SACEUR and the SHAPE Command Group.
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.
Handle routine or special matters as directed by Section Chief.
The incumbent may be required to undertake deployments in support of military operations and exercises, and/or TDY assignments, both within and without NATO boundaries up to 30 days.
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
Essential Qualifications:
a. Professional/Experience
Experience:
1) 4 years practical experience in a civilian capacity, working on defence policy, plans, operations in a National Ministry of Defense or Foreign Affairs; NATO; or another International Organisation with significant relevance to Euro-Atlantic security.
2) Broad experience of major Euro-Atlantic security issues.
3) Practical experience managing an office for a senior officer or senior official in an Executive Officer role, to include development and coordination of office priorities, functions and tasks.
4) Practical experience in drafting high-level memoranda and briefing materials.
b. Education/Training
University Degree in political science, public administration, international relations or related discipline and 4 years post related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 5 years post related and 2 years function 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.
Desirable Qualifications:
a. Professional Experience
1) Practical experience in NATO at the political, strategic or operational level in an advisory or policy making role.
2) Practical experience in the organisation, coordination and execution of high-level visits and events.
3) At least 6 months relevant deployed experience on a military operation in a civilian capacity, directly supporting senior officers
b. Education/Training
1) Advance university degree in International Affairs, Political Science, Defense and Security or related Studies.
c. Language
English – SLP 4444 – (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)
Attributes/Competencies
a. Professional Contacts
Post requires regular professional contacts within and outside the organization. Solicits/provides information as well as provides advice. Involves working contacts within ACO Commands, the International Military Staff and International Staff. May involve working contacts with both Allied and Partner nation representatives. Requires high level of maturity, understanding of sensitivities within an international environment and diplomatic tact in dealing with others.
b. Contribution To Objectives:
Post provides information, analysis and contributes directly to the planning, initiatives and development of military advice submitted by this Headquarters to the Nations. Incumbent will be involved with and contribute to the decisions of senior staff and the Command Group.
There are no reporting responsibilities.
REMARKS:
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.
More information to be found on these links:
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.
Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide original documentary evidence and a set of copies supporting statements in their applications. Appointment is subject to obtaining a NS security clearance and a medical certificate.
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.
