ACO Strategic and International Affairs Advisor

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 Strategic and International Affairs Advisor is the senior Advisor to SACEUR for Strategic and International Affairs.

Principal Duties

The incumbents duties are:

1) SACEURs senior civilian advisor and SACEURs principal advisor responsible for all strategic issues of the Alliance involving policy strategy operations transformation and is the Command expert for these strategic and international issues. Is responsible for advising formulating and assisting SACEUR in the development and multi-national coordination and harmonization of SACEURs strategic military advice with NATO HQ including the Office of the Secretary General International Secretariat as well as NATO and non-NATO national missions military delegations and national governments and subordinate ACO HQs and staff as required.

2) Responsible for:

a. Supporting SACEURs engagement at the Head of State and Government level and below ;

b. Leading negotiations on behalf of SACEUR ;

c. Assisting the Command Group in the execution of its crisis management responsibilities ;

d. Developing strategic assessments and forecasts of critical military-political issues at the strategic level ;

e. Developing strategic-political-military advice and provides pertinent information that relates to the mission of the SACEUR during peace crisis and war.

3) Responsible for strategic-political-military advice relating to on NATOs Article 4 and Article 5 mandates missions and operations with recommended policy courses of action.

4) Establishes professional links with academic institutes think tanks relevant governments and International Organizations to advance SACEURs (ACO) strategic military advice. Assists with the implementation of NAC direction as required.

5) Is SACEURs principal personal representative to inform and influence senior political officials of NATO and non-NATO member governments. Often serves as the informal channel for high-level consultations on political guidance with senior NATO civilian and military officials as well as with senior contacts in national governments and international organizations.

6) Is SACEURs and ACOs command expert and senior adviser on issues related to strategy policy cooperation and policy development by NATO with the nations of the Former Soviet Union (Russian Federation Ukraine Georgia Belarus Moldova Azerbaijan Armenia Kazakhstan Kyrghyz Republic Turkmenistan Tadjikistan) all PfP partner nations Istanbul Cooperation Initiative nations Mediterranean Dialogue nations and other global partners in support of Alliance operations and activities.

7)Develops contacts with other organisations in the international global security architecture inter-alia the UN EU OSCE NATO-Ukraine Commission NATO-Georgia Commission and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council to advance SACEURs strategic military advice and fulfill tasks assigned to SACEUR/ACO by the NAC and MC.

8) Collects and analyses information on broad Alliance strategic-political-military issues affecting NATO and ACO with a focus on ongoing operations crisis management transformation and partnership. Develops strategic analysis and forecasts of political and military issues impacting on SACEURs mission and ACO activities and operations.

9) Maintains continuous exchange of views and consults with HQ NATO subordinate commands commanders and staff on strategic and international affairs and manages the ACO POLAD network.

10) Directs and leads the team of SACEURs Special Policy Advisors in the Office of Strategic and International Affairs and oversees policy-oriented internal workflows and staff processes to support SHAPE-wide integrated advice to SACEUR and the Command Group.

11) Serves as the link to the international community and political-strategic-military interface to academic bodies e.g. the Atlantic Treaty Association the US Council for Foreign Relations the International Institute for Strategic Studies and Centre for European Policy Studies making presentations and contributing to advancing Alliance strategic messages and educating civilian and military audiences on the Alliance.

12) Contributes to and is involved in the co-ordination preparation and execution of both high level visits to SHAPE by senior NATO and non-NATO officials and visits to NATO and non-NATO countries by SACEUR and the SHAPE Command Group.

Special Requirements and Additional Duties

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 180 days. The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organization at the same grade without there being any change to the contract.

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.

Essential Qualifications

a. Professional/Experience

1)Minimum of 15 years of practical experience in international affairs with an emphasis on strategic-political-military related to military operations.

2)15 years of experience as an adviser at the strategic level in NATO or other military HQs. Broad experience in policies plans operations command decision making and relationships with subordinate commands and International Organisations.

3)Broad understanding of SACEURs role in NATO policy development execution of crisis management tasks force generation and the NATO political-military decision cycle for producing strategic military advice to the North Atlantic Council and the Military Committee.

4)Proven ability to mentor personnel direct integrated policy development and manage complex decision-making processes across multi-stakeholder environments. Experience overseeing internal workflows and staff processes in a large matrixed organization is essential.

b. Education/Training

University Degree in political science public administration international relations or related discipline and 15 years related experience.

c. Language

English - SLP 4444 - (Listening Speaking Reading and Writing)

Desirable Qualifications

a. Professional Experience

1) Experience as an advisor in a major national or international HQ or government agency or security negotiations as well as service in Embassies abroad.

2) Education and Experience in North American and European geo-political affairs including with the Russian Federation and other nations of the former Soviet Union.

Attributes/Competencies

a. Personal Attributes

The incumbent must display analytical thought and demonstrate independent judgment in the development of policy and strategies for the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) in fields of strategic-political-military interest and concern. Must be able to provide high-level advice and briefing to senior level on key strategic-political-military issues to serve in the formulation of Command policy. Diplomacy and tact are essential in interacting with high-level officials in a multi-national environment. The incumbent must have strong communication skills both oral and written. Listening and persuasiveness are crucial to the incumbents effective participation in policy and planning initiatives in advising the Command Group in coordinating policy matters within SHAPE and with other agencies and government staffs. Problem analysis skills and critical thinking underlie the incumbents contribution to the development of effective strategies and formulation of policy in own area of competence.

The incumbent must be able to:

Represent SACEUR in certain international political organisations and in international meetings and conferences as directed by SACEUR.

Cultivate and maintain personal contacts on behalf of SACEUR with a wide range of related international bodies including the EU UNHCR ICRC Atlantic Treaty Association NATO Parliamentary Assembly and leading think-tanks.

Cultivate and maintain contacts with the diplomatic community.

Cultivate and maintain contacts with relevant international academic bodies.

b. Managerial Responsibilities

He/she is assigned the direct oversight and execution of the annual NATO Workshop SACEURs premier outreach program to the wider audience in NATO and Partner nations bringing together senior political military diplomatic and industrial leaders for intensive discussions of current defence and security issues.

c. Contribution to Objectives

The assessments of this office have direct influence on wide ranging decisions of the SACEUR. They contribute to the HQ Staffs work in all those matters where military planning and political positions have to be commonly considered.

REMARKS:

Duration of contract: Pending Approval. 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.

The salary will be the basic entry-level monthly salary defined by the NATO Grade of the post which may be augmented by allowances based on the selected staff members eligibility and which is subject to the withholding of approximately 20% for pension and medical insurance contributions.

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.

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.

Applicants who prove to be competent for the post but who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment in another post of a similar nature which might become vacant in the near future albeit at the same or lower grade provided they meet the necessary requirements.

We believe that all people are capable of great things. Because of this we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the criteria listed within this job description.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A NATO CIVILIAN POST AT SHAPE:

Applications are to be submitted using NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) ( Applications submitted by other means (e.g. mail e-mail fax etc) are not accepted.

More information to be found on these links:

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Application Process

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.

Remarks:

A. Only nationals from the 32 NATO member states can apply for vacancies at SHAPE.

B. Applications are automatically acknowledged within one working day after 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 vacancys 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.

E. 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 NATOs sole discretion and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.