Officer, Defence Planning

SUMMARY

The Defence Policy and Planning (DPP) Division leads work in the NATO International Staff (IS) on the defence-related aspects of the Alliance's fundamental security tasks at the political-military level.

The Officer acts as a rapporteur and produces comprehensive, factually consistent and correct reports on the defence and security related plans and policies of individual Allies, drawing on, and rationalising inputs from a number of specialists. They further contribute to the effective planning and coordination of the bi-annual review of Allied capability delivery efforts.

This post requires flexibility and availability to travel frequently (approximately 40% of working time).

The incumbent must:

• possess a university degree in a relevant field for the post, or have attended a NATO or national military joint staff college (OF-3 level or higher);
• have at least 6 years of experience in either land, maritime, aerospace or joint and enabling forces and/or capabilities as well as good knowledge of joint operations;
• have considerable experience in the field of defence planning or military capability development;
• have excellent written and oral communication skills; and
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO's official languages (English/ French): V (Advanced ") in one; I (Beginner ") in the other.

The following would be considered an advantage:

• military staff experience at senior officer level or experience at the joint operational (two starts or above) level;
• good general knowledge of NATO, specifically NATO's defence plans and policies and their relationship with the NDPP; and
• very good knowledge of the NDPP or national defence planning processes.

Policy Development: Draft reports on Allied national plans and policies and assess these against the corresponding NATO capability targets. Draft speaking notes and coordinate the preparation of committee meetings. Develop defence planning-related policy documents. Prepare senior leadership for high level engagements. Prepare and coordinate advice to individual Allies as needed.

Stakeholder Management: Build a network of expert contacts on defence planning issues and encourage a culture of cooperation through developing relations with national defence planning experts and with the relevant defence planning staffs across the NATO Enterprise. Regularly represent the DPD in various meetings with national authorities.

Knowledge Management: Keep up-to-date with the different steps of the NDPP and developments in the different domains, in particular technological developments and how they impact on military capability requirements. Contribute to the development of NATO's capability requirements terminology. Keep up-to-date on the development of NATO's defence policy and plans and their interaction with NATO's defence policy and the NDPP.

Project Management: Plan and manage the execution of NDPP Step 5, including the drafting and negotiation of the Defence Planning Capability Survey. Engage with NATO defence planning staffs across the HQ, the International Military Staff and the Bi-Strategic Commands to ensure their coordinated contribution to NDPP Step
5. Liaise with Allied delegations to ensure the planning of bilateral and multilateral meetings. Drive the evolution of the NDPP through constant adaptation of the Step 5 related products to NATO's defence policy and plans.

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

Reporting Line: The Officer reports to the Head, Defence Planning Section.

Interactions: The incumbent works closely with the other Officers of the Directorate, members of other Divisions, staff of the two NATO Strategic Commands, and National Defence Transformation experts.

Direct reports: N/A

Indirect reports: N/A

• Achievement: creates own measures of excellence and improves performance.
• Analytical Thinking: sees multiple relationships.
• Change Leadership: expresses vision for change.
• Impact and Influence: uses indirect influence.
• Initiative: is decisive in a time-sensitive situation.
• Organizational Awareness: understands the Organization's politics.
• Teamwork: solicits inputs and encourages others.

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,…