Staff Officer; Strategic Policy

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 Plans Directorate is responsible for the development, review and maintenance of Strategic Planning, Advanced Planning and Crisis Planning products for ACO. The J5 Division leads the overarching strategic campaign and operations planning processes to prepare for and respond to crises and conflicts that threaten the security and integrity of the Alliance. The Strategic Policy Branch is responsible for the development of strategic policy and concepts in its area of expertise for ACO.

• Conduct preliminary research and data compilation on Chinese military strategy and PLA (People's Liberation Army) modernization to inform reporting and briefings.
• Track developments in NATO's China‑related policies, maintaining a living reference repository to support policy harmonization across J5 and related branches.
• Support the development of reports and relevant material about China.
• Pre‑screen documents and stakeholder inputs for relevance, consistency, and implications before review.
• Support the management of tasking calendars and deliverable timelines to ensure alignment and plan and coordinate internal meetings on China.
• Support representation at working‑level engagements when required, providing reliable follow‑up and continuity.
• Track and update China‑related Lessons Identified and Lessons Learned across NATO stakeholders.
• Maintain task trackers and calendars, ensuring alignment of deliverables with deadlines and internal dependencies.
• Support the coordination of working‑level policy harmonization by identifying overlaps or divergence in perspectives, and flagging issues for escalation.

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 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.

a. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of two years of professional experience in a national or international defence organisation, focused on China‑related issues in a strategic or operational capacity.
• Academic or policy experience related to China's military strategy with demonstrated ability to connect analysis to operational or doctrinal implications.
• Understanding of NATO's political‑military processes, including NAC‑MC direction, strategic planning cycles, and coordination mechanisms.
• Experience integrating China‑related intelligence, foresight, and trend analysis into actionable military assessments and recommendations.
• Ability to communicate, negotiate and liaise with relevant stakeholders to achieve optimum outcomes.

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.
• In case of ambiguity the required job‑specific experience has priority over the standard education and training levels and experience described here.

c. LANGUAGE

• English – SLP 4444 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).

a. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Previous work experience in a Joint environment and/or NATO environment.
• Previous work experience in a political/military advisory role.

b. EDUCATION/TRAINING

• Master's degree in international relations, political science, security studies or similar.

• Personal Attributes: The incumbent is expected to approach problem solving from a comprehensive inter‑disciplinary perspective, be capable of…