Director of the Collaboration Support Office

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The position Director of the Collaboration Support Office is vacant as of 1st July 2026.

The competition for this post is provisionally scheduled to take place at the CSO in Paris (FR) during the week 12th 16th January 2026 and will comprise an evaluation by an external assessment center and the interview by the selection committee.

1. POST CONTEXT AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The mission of the NATO Science & Technology Organization (STO) is to help position the Nations and NATO Bodies S&T investments as a strategic enabler of the knowledge and technical advantage for the defence and security posture of Allies and partner Nations. As described in the STO Charter the STO Collaboration Support Office (CSO) is one of the Executive Bodies of the STO. Within the framework of the STO Collaborative business model the CSO provides executive and administrative support to the S&T activities conducted through the STO Scientific and Technical (level 2) Committees (STCs) and level 3 working its areas of expertise the CSO provides assistance and support to the NATO Science and Technology Board (STB) its Chair the Chief Scientist and his/her office.

The CSO Director as the Head of a NATO Body acting on behalf of NATO has the authority to perform the legal actions essential to the CSOs operations within the policy and regulations established for NATO common funded organizations. Within these limits and within the framework of the STO Charter he/she has the authority exercised either personally or through appropriate delegation to direct the CSO.

The CSO Director is directly accountable to the STB for the operations of the CSO which will be consistent with NATO policies and procedures. He/she is one the main interlocutor of the Chief Scientist in the preparation of all interaction with authorities in the NATO International Staff (IS) and the NATO International Military Staff (IMS) as well as S&T highest authorities in the Nations.

He/she will closely interact with the STB Chair the NATO Chief Scientist and with other NATO S&T providers.

The CSO Director is expected to assume the necessary leadership to enable the most effective ways for NATO and Partner Nations to use their research and development capabilities to the common benefit of NATO and the Nations. He shall:

Guarantee the most effective and efficient operations of the STO collaborative business model;

Further plan and implement the effective evolution of the STO collaborative business model;

Guarantee the effective implementation of the NATO Science and Technology Boards (STB) intent received through guidance.

Key challenges facing the successful candidate during the next 3 years () are likely to include:

- implementing the STO Collaborative Programme of Work Strategy 2024-2030 in particular through the implementation of a revised CPoW structure to strengthen the two-way interaction between the STO Scientific Community and the NATO capability development community. This will be done by analysing the findings of the different STCs to provide S&T knowledge and advice to the capability development community and by allowing the NATO capability development community to more actively inform STO scientific research to better address capability development needs;

- building trust with and strengthening the connection with Allied Capability Development communities and communicating the importance of S&T in general and specific S&T results to high level political and military decision makers;

- leading change by managing major ongoing changes both at the wider CPoW community and at the CSO comprising a significant increase in workforce a major adaptation of the existing infrastructure and a jump forward towards digital transformation;

- all this occurring in a human environment proud of its corporate identity and happy to move forward as a team.

Candidates are asked as part of this application to attach one MS Word document summarising their views on these key (and possible other) challenges and how they would address them if selected for the position. This essay which should be no more than two A4 pages long will be evaluated as part of the assessment.

2. QUALIFICATIONS

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must justify:

Professional /Experience

At least 10 years of experience in Science and Technology some of which must have been in a management capacity including:

Organizational management experience particularly with respect to planning programming and budgeting;

Demonstrated creative ability and ingenuity to devise original solutions to complex technical and management problems frequently involving international relations;

A broad knowledge of Science and Technology organizations and programmes and related scientific and military activities within NATO Member Nations and NATO Bodies;

Experience as a spokesperson for the scientific and technical community in dialogue with the representatives of the military-user community;

Experience in the supervision and management of a large group of people with varied and diverse interests and backgrounds;

Practical experience in conducting international relations and demonstrated ability to work effectively in an international environment with scientific and military personnel at all levels;

A strong knowledge of NATO especially its organisation and functioning.

Education/Training

A high-level university degree (Masters degree as a minimum) or equivalent qualifications in the field of defence sciences and technologies is mandatory.

Language

Very good knowledge in one of the two official NATO languages and a fair knowledge of the other are mandatory. The work in the CSO is mainly conducted in the English language.

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

Professional /Experience

Level of experience at STB or Panel-level activities under the STO;

Level of experience in dealing with Military Authorities;

Level of experience in operating within NATO S&T business models or similar;

Demonstrated creative ability and ingenuity in dealing with complex problems of both a scientific and management nature;

Exceptional ability in written and oral communications.

Education/Training

An advanced degree (PhD) preferably related to defence/security science or technology.

3. COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

Achievement: demonstrates decisiveness based on solid considerations and trade-offs;

Analytical Thinking: uses facts to draw conclusions;

Change Leadership: champions change;

Developing Others: provides in-depth mentoring coaching and training;

Empathy: listens actively;

Impact and Influence: uses complex influence strategy;

Initiative: plans and acts for the long-term;

Organisational Awareness: understands underlying issues.

4. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

The CSO Director as the Head of NATO Body shall even in the case where he/she has delegated a portion of his/her authority to his/her staff be directly responsible to the STB for the efficient and effective operation of the CSO to include but not limited to:

Vision and Direction

Preparing and submitting recommendations to the Chief Scientist in support of the STB in its strategic roles in particular: implementation of the CPoW Strategy 2024-2030. Providing proposals for the CSOs long-term developments aligned with todays key challenges: adaptation of the CPoW structure supported by a personal increase a major infrastructure project and the digital transformation. Advising the Chief Scientist in support of his/her role of senior scientific advisor on the latest developments in the various fields of defence science on associated promising areas for research and development and on new sources of research information.

Planning and execution

Contributing to elaborating and implementing the CSO Policies and Directives and carrying out within its area of responsibility the implementation of the STBs particular he establishes the administrative procedures for implementing the policies established by the STB. Planning and conducting the activities required to provide executive technical funding and administrative support to the STO collaborative PoW. Directing the STO Collaborative Program of Work to bring together the leading personalities of the NATO Nations and Partners in the field of Science and Technology.

Representation of the Organization

Maintaining personal contacts with members of the NATO IS IMS NATO Committees and structures involved in S&T activities; the STB Members National Coordinators level 2 Committees Chairmen and Scientific and Engineering authorities throughout the NATO Members and Partner Nations. Contributing to partnerships and other officially established NATO programs.

People Management

Selecting appointing and releasing the Offices civilian personnel in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations and accepting offered military personnel. Leading a team of approximately 75 international staff members. Ensuring the development of staff through sound management principles. Monitoring and promoting performance by ensuring that common standards are applied across the CSO and by fostering continuous improvement.

Organizational Efficiencies

Implementing best practices lessons learned policies and tools in relation to a collaborative multinational environment. Implementing security measures to protect NATO information assets and personnel in accordance with NATO Security Policy and supporting directives including taking measures to protect NATO information Infrastructure consistent with NATO Cyber Defence Policy.

5. SECURITY CLEARANCE LEVEL

The applicant must be eligible for a NATO Cosmic Top Secret security clearance.

6. WORKING ENVIRONMENT

The CSO operates in an international dynamic multi-cultural environment. The functions require frequent business travel to NATO and national facilities and involve irregular office hours. The CSO is a non-smoking office environment.

7. EMPLOYMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The position is at grade G 23. The starting basic monthly salary is Euro 14.606 (salary value as per 2025 subject to future adjustments in accordance with NAC decisions) exempt from income tax. Specific allowances may apply depending on personal circumstances of the incumbent.

The post holder will benefit 30 days annual leave life and medical insurance a retirement pension plan education allowance for dependent children and biennial home leave.

The post is rotational; the selected candidate will be offered a definite duration contract of three years. At the discretion of the Science & Technology Board a contract extension for a further period not exceeding three years may be exceptionally considered.

The Secretary General of NATO will appoint the selected candidate through the signature of his/her contract. This contract will be ruled by the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

The appointment is subject to the receipt by the CSO of a security clearance at COSMIC TOP SECRET level (provided by the national Authorities of the incumbent) and to the delivery of a certificate of medical fitness by the CSO Medical Advisor.

8. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Only nationals of the 32 NATO member countries can apply for this position.

Applications must be submitted as follows as applicable:

For NATO serving civilian Staff members only: please apply via the internal recruitment portal (for more information please contact your local Civilian HR Manager).

For all other applicants: Selection Panel will evaluate the applications. Applicants who pass an initial screening by that Selection Panel will be evaluated by an assessment centre and invited to attend an interview with the Selection Committee in Paris France (tentative date week 12 16 January 2026).

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to present educational qualifications certificates.

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.

NATO as employer values diverse backgrounds and perspectives and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all NATO Nations and strongly encourages women to apply. According to the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations Staff members are appointed on the condition that they are over 21 and under 60 years of age at the time of taking up their appointment. However appointment may be offered to candidates of 60 years of age or more provided that the expiry date of the contract is not later than the date at which the candidate attains the age of 65.