Staff Officer (Exercise Coordination & Alignment)

Post Context

ACT contributes to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of Alliance member states by leading, at Strategic Command level, Warfare Development required to enhance NATO’s posture, military structures, forces, capabilities and doctrines.

The Multi-Domain Force Development (MDFD) Directorate consists of eight HQ SACT-based Branches that, together with the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC), Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC), Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC) and Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre (JATEC), have responsibility for NATO Force Development activities. The aim is to improve interoperability amongst NCS, NFS as well as interoperable Partners’ forces allocated to NATO, and enhance capabilities, to undertake the full spectrum of Alliance missions.

ACOS MDFD manages, coordinates and quality assures the outputs of the 8 branches within the MDFD directorate in order to achieve the tasks and fulfil the responsibilities as laid out in the Statement of Function for DCOS MDFD.

The Exercise Coordination & Alignment Branch is responsible for coordinating warfare development activities in exercises.

The incumbent is responsible for coordinating warfare development activities in exercises.

Principal Duties:

• Lead CT&E related Critical Enablers / Lines of Development.
• Lead exercise WDA Exploitation Teams.
• Develop & maintain a 3-year Warfare Development in Exercises (WDiE) rolling Programme Of Work (POW).
• Coordinate ACT input to SACEUR’s Guidance on Education, Training, Exercises and Evaluation (ETEE), including the 3-year WDiE POW.
• Provide guidance and direction to JWC and JFTC for education, training and exercises related matters through the development of a balanced Bi- SC Collective Training Support (CTS) POW, based on the approved Military Training and Exercise programme (MTEP), and the WDiE POW.
• Provide guidance and direction to JWC and JFTC for exercise transformation toward Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), based on Bi-SC requirements, including setting and scenario, and in support of DDA family of plans.
• Coordinate ACT (HQ, JJJs, COE) WD participation to exercises: initiation, specification, planning and conduct, with attendance therein as required.
• Support NATO’s exercise scenario development planning.
• Coordinate ACT exercise feedback process.
• Coordinate ACT support to NATO HQ’s High Level Exercise Programme (HLEP).
• Support the embedding of Emerging Disruptive Technologies into Exercises.
• Be prepared to conduct periodic strategic evaluation of SHAPE as Strategic Warfighting Headquarters.
• Liaise and coordinate with Reserve Forces to support ACT missions.
• Any other tasks as directed by Branch Head.

Essential Qualifications / Experience:

• University Degree  in business administration, public administration or related discipline  and 2 years function related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training  in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.
• At least 2 years’ experience in Exercise programming and planning in a military, multinational, or dynamic environment.
• At least 2 years’ experience producing high quality briefing papers/staff work within a large organisation.
• Demonstrated expertise in preparing and delivering briefings for large programmes.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office Tool suite and collaborative software.
• Good negotiation skills.

Language:

• English - SLP 3333 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

• A background in planning and performing education and training.
• Familiarity with NATO and the NATO Command Structure (NCS) and NATO Force Structure (NFS).
• Good knowledge of the current NATO Education and Training Policy and related procedures.

Attributes/Competencies:

Personal Attributes:

Must be able to use interpretative thinking to analyse and plan in order to identify solutions from a broad range of options. Will be required to implement a wide variety of tasks and issues directly to the Branch Head and ACOS MDFD.  Lead Warfare Development Exploitation Teams on detailed management issues and execution during Exercises. High-level managerial skills are required to coordinate the development of an integrated programme across the ETEE entities (JWC/JFTC/JFD).

Managerial Responsibilities:

There are no direct subordinates, however the incumbent will be required to support the BH in supervising, directing, coordinating and leading a mix of military, civilians and contractors during Warfare Development Exploitation team execution.

Professional Contacts:

The incumbent will be expected to control his/her own work priorities and due to the pivotal coordination function of this post will also affect the direction and work priorities of the Branch. The post is intrinsically involved in directing, planning and coordination with many external interlocutors. The incumbent must have excellent tact and diplomacy as he/she will negotiate with subordinate commands as well as nations/partners in the development of exercise plans, requiring considerable briefing skills in order to persuade and gain consensus. Required to brief and staff complex issues up to 4 star Flag & General officer level. Interacts on a routine basis with both 1 Star and 2 Star level Flag & General Officers. Interacts with and coordinates within the bounds of his responsibilities with HQ SACT/JWC/JFTC, DCOSs, ACOSs and Branch Heads. Represents MDFD at relevant NATO and international meetings and at internal boards. Extensive communication at all levels throughout the organization will be required.

Contribution To Objectives:

The work involves responsibility for analysis and research affecting major exercises and tasks affecting plans and organization of the Branch. The work of the incumbent significantly impacts both directly and indirectly the outputs and objectives of HQ SACT. The incumbents’ subject matter expertise on Education, Training, Exercise and Evaluation development will guide and direct the objectives of numerous products and supporting areas both within and outside the command.

Security Clearance

The successful applicant will be required to apply for and receive a NATO SECRET Security Clearance prior to final confirmation of contract and commencement of employment.

Contract

Serving NATO International Civilian staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations. Newly recruited staff will be offered a three year definite duration contract.

Notes for Candidates

The HQ SACT web site gives full details on the eligibility criteria and application processes to be adopted by all candidates.  However, candidates should particularly note:

Please answer each of the pre-screening questions completely in English. Expressions such as: “please see attached CV, please see annex, please see enclosed document, etc” are not acceptable; this is a cause of immediate rejection of the application.

Particular attention should be given to Education and Experience section of your application form, which should be populated with details of your career to date and educational achievements and certifications as they relate to your application.

The candidature of NATO redundant staff at grade G15 will be considered with priority.

NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO’s sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.

This vacancy will close on 6 April 2026 @ 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).