Deputy Director, Operations and Security Services (OSS)

Brussels - Belgium

Monthly Salary: Not Disclosed

Posted on: Yesterday

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

1. SUMMARY

The BICES Group Executive (BGX) a NATO entity is the executive body of the BICES Group (BG). The BG exists to enable the sharing and exchange of Intelligence and Information between and amongst the NATO nations with NATO and with other non-NATO nations and Organizations.

Under the leadership of the Director BGX is comprised of four key pillars:

Intelligence and Enterprise Services (IES) Division
Programmes Engineering and Maintenance (PEM) Division
Operations and Security Services (OSS) Division
Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Cell

The OSS Division is responsible for ensuring CIS operational functions of BICES infrastructure and maintain its security posture in accordance with the expectations and requirements of the BICES Board of Directors. OSS works closely with the other BGX divisions especially PEM for incidents maintenance and project implementation of CIS related activities.

The Deputy Director OSS serves as BGXs principal provider of Operations and Cyber Security services and as the primary interface to the BICES operational and cyber security communities. The incumbent is responsible for overseeing and directing the day-to-day operations of the BICES network ensuring its health and security and providing front-line support to BICES nations on operational and security matters. They are also responsible for allocating OSS personnel and financial resources prioritizing OSS-led projects and activities and requesting support from other divisions as appropriate. The incumbent serves as a member of BGX Senior Management provides functional advice to the BGX Director and may serve as Acting Director when necessary. They may be required to undertake operational deployments and/or travel assignments both within and beyond NATO boundaries.

Candidates are expected to attach to their application a document of no more than two A4 pages summarising their views on the key challenges facing BICES/ NATO in the coming years and the role of the Operations and Security Services (OSS) Division in addressing them along with an endorsement letter from their nations Board of Directors (BOD) Representative. Both the essay and the endorsement letter will be considered as a part of the shortlisting assessment (see full instructions on how to apply at the end of the vacancy notice).

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential:

The incumbent must possess:

A masters degree in Computer Science Information Systems Management or a related discipline;
At least 10 years of experience in senior IT or intelligence roles within complex information-centric service-oriented environments;
Demonstrated leadership of multi-disciplinary teams and strategic oversight of enterprise IT systems including cyber security and service delivery;
Familiarity with business continuity disaster recovery and operational resilience planning;
Proven ability to assess and communicate complex technical issues contribute to policy development and support senior decision-making;
Experience collaborating across national and multinational organizations including chairing or contributing to NATO working groups;
Strong organizational problem-solving and communication skills with advanced briefing capabilities;
Working knowledge of NATO structures procedures and security frameworks;
Level V (Advanced) proficiency in English.

Desirable:

The following would be considered an advantage:

Post-graduate education in business management IT security information systems or a related technical or strategic discipline;
Completion of senior-level defense or intelligence education (e.g. NATO Defence College Command & Staff College or equivalent);
Experience supporting or deploying IT systems in military or operational environments;
Prior involvement with BICES architecture technology or security protocols;
Familiarity with NATO and multinational intelligence systems including interoperability and exploitation frameworks;
Understanding of intelligence collection analysis and dissemination processes;
Experience fostering collaboration within international military-civilian teams.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Operational Oversight and Cyber Security Leadership
Direct the day-to-day operations of the BICES network ensuring continuous availability resilience and cyber security integrity. Serve as the principal interface to BICES operational and cyber security communities providing expert guidance and front-line support. Lead incident response coordination and ensure alignment with security policies and operational standards.

Strategic Resource & Personnel Management
Allocate OSS personnel and financial resources in line with organizational priorities and operational readiness. Oversee staffing plans shift schedules and workload distribution across the division. Promote staff development through mentoring performance feedback and targeted training initiatives.

Service Delivery & Organizational Efficiency
Ensure user support requests are prioritized and resolved effectively by BNOSC and cyber cell teams. Monitor service performance through KPIs and user satisfaction metrics driving continuous improvement. Coordinate with PEM Division to manage transitions during installations upgrades and maintenance activities.

Planning Continuity and Technical Execution
Plan and oversee activities that maintain the operational posture of BICES services including cryptographic and networking functions. Ensure readiness of the Alternate BICES Operations Centre and lead testing of Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Plans. Maintain and update technical documentation related to BGX infrastructure and services.

Policy Strategy and Project Development
Contribute to the development and execution of Technical Agreements with NATO nations and partner organizations. Support the preparation of strategic documents such as the BICES Combined Plan and IT service strategies. Act as operational escalation point and support PEM Division in transitioning new services and functionalities.

Stakeholder Engagement and Representation
Represent BGX at NATO and national meetings working groups and stakeholder forums. Chair the BICES Security Working Group and interface with senior officials across BICES nations and NATO bodies. Foster effective liaison with other BGX divisions and external partners to ensure seamless service delivery.

Leadership Vision & Governance
Provide functional advice to the BGX Director and contribute to senior management decision-making. Ensure OSS Division activities align with BGXs strategic vision and mid-term work plans. Uphold inclusive management principles and support performance assessments and governance processes across OSS.

Reports directly to the BGX Director. Collaborates closely with senior officials across BICES nations and NATO bodies.

Direct reports: 3
Indirect reports: 25

The incumbent must demonstrate:
Achievement: Creates own measures of excellence and improves performance. Keeps track of and measures outcomes against self-imposed standards of excellence (i.e. not imposed by others such as management or customers). Makes specific changes in the system or in own work methods to improve performance. Proactively seeks out changes in work assignments to increase personal effectiveness.
Change Leadership: Personally leads change. Challenges the status quo in a constructive manner. Establishes structures and processes to plan and manage the orderly implementation of change.
Conceptual Thinking: Creates new concepts. Develops new concepts and explores new approaches in order to explain situations or resolve problems. Starts new lines of thought aimed at reaching key objectives.
Developing Others: Provides in-depth mentoring coaching and training. Arranges appropriate and helpful assignments formal training or other experiences for the purpose of fostering a persons learning and development. Understands and identifies a training or developmental need and establishes new programmes or materials to meet it. Provides mentoring to employees regarding their long-term career objectives.
Impact and Influence: Uses indirect influence. Pursues indirect as well as direct lines of influence: get A to show B so B will tell C and Influences audiences at more than one level or forum with each step adapted to the specific audience. Uses experts or third parties to help the influencing process.
Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation. Acts quickly and decisively in a crisis or other time-sensitive situation. Is unafraid to propose and/or take action when the norm would be to wait study the situation and hope the problem will resolve itself.
Leadership: Positions self as the leader. Leads by example. Promotes the teams achievements in the larger organization. Strives to have the appropriate resources in place to ensure the teams effectiveness.
Organizational Awareness: Understands organisational politics. Takes power and political relationships into consideration with a clear sense of how to obtain the required organizational impact. Has a clear understanding of organizational politics alliances and rivalries.
Self-Control: Stays composed and positive even under extreme pressure. Consistently keeps disruptive emotions and impulses in check even in trying moments. Remains positive despite severe setbacks.

6. CONTRACT

Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of three years; possibility of renewal.

Contract clause applicable:

This is a senior post of specialised political nature in which turnover is required for political reasons per the direction of the BICES Board of Directors. The successful applicant will be offered a 3-year definite duration contract with the option of a further 3-year extension however all contract renewals are at the discretion of the BICES Board of Directors.

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 with the option of a further 3-year extension subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned and with the approval of the BICES BOD.

Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

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.
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 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.
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

1. SUMMARYThe BICES Group Executive (BGX) a NATO entity is the executive body of the BICES Group (BG). The BG exists to enable the sharing and exchange of Intelligence and Information between and amongst the NATO nations with NATO and with other non-NATO nations and Organizations.Under the leadershi...