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 OSC the Speechwriter conducts background research and drafts speeches articles press conferences statements media messages and other written material for the Secretary General the Deputy Secretary General and senior officials as required.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The incumbent must:
possess a university degree in political science history journalism international relations or relevant discipline;
have excellent written and oral communication skills;
have at least 6 years experience in a communications environment or government/diplomacy out of which at least 3 years experience drafting speeches articles press statements media messages or speaking points for senior leadership;
have knowledge of the political military and defence issues of concern to the Alliance;
possess the following minimum levels of NATOs official languages (English and French): VI (Proficient) in one and I (Beginner) in the other.
The following would be considered an advantage:
experience in a research institute think-tank foreign/defence ministry of a NATO Ally an international organisation or the media.
MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES
Expertise Development. Draft speeches articles press conferences statements media messages and other written material for the Secretary General Deputy Secretary General and other senior officials as needed. Edit press conferences and media messages for the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General as required. Keep abreast of NATOs broad political and politico-military agenda in order to gain a deepened understanding of all issues that form the subject of NATOs public communication.
Knowledge Management. Conduct the appropriate research and analysis to draft speeches press conferences articles and policy statements. Ensure that all work is delivered on time and to a high standard.
Policy Development. Contribute to security policy development by providing advice to the NATO Spokesperson and Deputy Spokesperson to shape political messaging.
Representation of the Organization. Provide public briefings as required on NATOs current political agenda. Liaise with event organisers about the speaking engagements of the Secretary General Deputy Secretary General and other senior officials as needed.
Perform any other related duty as assigned.
INTERRELATIONSHIPS
Reporting Line: The Speechwriter reports directly to the Deputy Spokesperson.
Interactions: The post holder maintains close relationships with staff of the Office of the Secretary General Divisions within the International Staff and International Military Staff the NATO Military Authorities and Allied missions.
Direct reports: N/a
Indirect reports: N/a
COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate:
Analytical Thinking: Makes complex plans or analyses.
Clarity and Accuracy: Checks own work.
Conceptual Thinking: Applies learned concepts.
Customer Service Orientation: Takes personal responsibility for correcting problems.
Impact and Influence: Takes multiple actions to persuade.
Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation.
Organisational Awareness: Understands organisational climate and culture.
Teamwork: Solicits inputs and encourages others.
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:
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 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.