Head of Press
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Job Summary
1. SUMMARY
The Office of Strategic Communications (OSC) provides communications direction and guidance to stakeholders across the NATO enterprise and coordinates strategic communications activities across all NATO civilian and military bodies. The Office carries out full-spectrum communications analysing the information environment designing and creating content managing communications technology and platforms overseeing media relations and engaging audiences through a wide range of channels.
Within the Press and Media Section in the OSC the post holder manages the work of the Press Office. The Head of Press supports the OSC leadership by overseeing the drafting of media products for the NATO Secretary General and the Deputy Secretary General handling journalists queries and supporting the organisation of media engagements together with the Head of Media Operations and Monitoring.
The post holder may be required to travel occasionally and work beyond standard office hours.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The incumbent must:
have a university degree in a relevant field;
have at least 7 years experience in a media / communications environment;
have experience in managing or leading teams;
have excellent drafting editing and communications skills and political judgement;
have the following minimum levels of NATOs official languages (English/French): VI (Proficiency) in one; I (Beginner) in the other.
The following would be considered an advantage:
familiarity with the international press corps;
familiarity with or experience in international organisations and/or the security and defence sector.
3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES
Expertise Development. Ensure the timeliness quality consistency and newsworthiness of media products. Deal with media queries corrections and rebuttals in a proactive and accurate way within the news cycle. Keep up-to-date with NATOs political agenda and help to craft key messages for the media. Ensure timely and accurate transcripts of media engagements by the Secretary General and other NATO officials. Brief on media issues and travel with the Secretary General Deputy Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council as required.
Knowledge Management. Draft and review press conferences and statements for the Secretary General Deputy Secretary General and the Spokesperson demonstrating sound political judgement organisational awareness and newsworthiness. Write and review products and updates for the NATO website and relevant social media channels. Support the delivery of the OSCs communications strategy and plans.
Representation of the Organisation. Brief journalists visitor groups and other audiences on NATOs policies responsibilities and activities. Represent the Press and Media Section in internal and external meetings. Support the organisation of press conferences briefings press tours and media interviews together with the Head of Media Operations and Monitoring.
People Management. Ensure that all staff under their responsibility are clear on organisational and OSC objectives. Create a motivating and effective workplace. Provide mentoring coaching and training opportunities and direct the work of the team. Provide regular and fair feedback on performance.
Financial Management: Oversee the management of the sections budget in compliance with NATOs financial regulations and procedures.
Perform any other related duty as required.
4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS
Reporting Line: The Head of Press reports to the Deputy Director OSC.
Interactions: The post holder works closely with the leadership and team members across the OSC other IS and IMS Divisions/Offices the military chain of command members of national delegations other NATO entities service providers and representatives from the media.
Direct reports: 12
Indirect reports: N/a
5. COMPETENCIES
The incumbent will demonstrate:
Achievement: Creates own measures of excellence and improves performance;
Change Leadership: Personally leads change;
Clarity and Accuracy: Monitors data or projects;
Conceptual Thinking: Applies learned concepts;
Flexibility: Adapts own strategy;
Impact and Influence: Takes multiple actions to persuade;
Initiative: Plans and acts up to a year ahead;
Leadership: Promotes team effectiveness;
Organisational Awareness: Understands organisational climate and culture;
Self-Control: Responds calmly.
6. CONTRACT
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 Organisations 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 Organisations 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 which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years. However according to the procedure described in the contract policy the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite contract during the period of renewal and no later than one year before the end of contract.
If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATOs member States a 3-year definite duration contract will be offered which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.
Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Régulations.
7. USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member must be submitted using e-recruitment system as applicable:
For NATO civilian staff members only: please apply via the internal recruitment portal (link);
For all other applications: you apply to any position we encourage you to click here and watch our video providing 6 tips to prepare you for your application and recruitment process.
Do you have questions on the application process in the system and not sure how to proceed Click here for a video containing the information you need to successfully submit your application on time.
When submitting your application please ensure that your Taleo Candidate Profile is updated and that your CV is correctly uploaded in the Taleo attachments section.
More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment can be found at our website ( will be subject to receipt of asecurity clearance(provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) approval of the candidatesmedical fileby the NATO Medical Adviser verification of your study(ies) and work experience and the successful completion of theaccreditationand notification process by the relevant authorities.
NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared in whole or in part by means of reference documents without proper quotes (plagiarism) or any tools available on internet including but not limited to translation facilities or generative artificial-intelligence (AI) 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 tools will be rejected without further consideration and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.
8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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.
NATO is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible working environment where all candidates living with disabilities can fully participate in the recruitment and selection process. If you require reasonable accommodation please inform us during your selection process.
Candidates will be required to provide documented medical evidence to support their request for accommodation.
Building Integrity is a key element of NATOs core tasks. As an employer NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.
Due to the broad interest in NATO and the large number of potential candidates telephone or e-mail enquiries cannot be dealt with.
Applicants who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment to another post of a similar nature albeit at the same or a lower grade provided they meet the necessary requirements.
The nature of this position may require the staff member at times to be called upon to travel for work and/or to work outside normal office hours.
The organization offers several work-life policies including Teleworking and Flexible Working arrangements (Flexitime) subject to business requirements.
Please note that the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels Belgium is a non-smoking environment.
For information about the NATO Single Salary Scale (Grading Allowances etc.) please visit ourwebsite. Detailed data is available under the Salary and Benefits tab.
NATO does not charge any application processing training interviewing testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. For more info please click here.
Required Experience:
Director
