Staff Officer (2030 OPFOR STRATCOM)

We are seeking a Staff Officer with strong analytical and interpersonal skills to join the OPFOR team within the RIVAL Division JWCs focal point for developing realistic adversarial effects that challenge and prepare NATO forces for modern warfare.

In this role you will play an important part in shaping how the full Information Environment spanning the physical virtual and cognitive dimensions is represented across JWCs collective training and exercises. Your contribution will support JWCs mission to plan prepare and deliver joint operational-level training strengthening NATOs warfighting readiness and operational effectiveness against increasingly sophisticated threats.

Shape how information effects are represented in NATO exercises

Lead the integration of new NATO StratCom initiatives and adversary capabilities into future exercises

International work environment in Norway

If you bring experience of information operations or strategic communications a deep understanding of information warfare and thrive in a dynamic multinational environment we encourage you to apply!

This vacancy notice is for a NATO-2030 agenda project-linked NATO International Civilian (PLN) post. This post is limited to a three-year definite duration project. It will be filled as soon as view of the urgency of this project qualified candidates who hold or have recently held a valid NATO or National security clearance will be given priority consideration.

Please note that the JWC is currently trialling a new organizational structure. Consequently reporting lines job titles functional alignments and some duties may differ slightly from those outlined in the vacancy notice.

Duties
The incumbents duties are:
Provide ET&I with an understanding of information confrontation capabilities and effects in order to support the testing and training of NATO StratCom in modern warfare and through the Cognitive Warfare Concept and NATOs evolving strategic priorities for 2030. Highlighting emerging technologies and opportunities for JWC to enhance its representation of the IE within JWC CT&E events to deal with the growing sophistication of threats in the physical virtual and cognitive dimensions;
Develop a NATO 2030 StratCom CT&E Integration Roadmap for implementing new StratCom initiatives and emerging ACO requirements to address adversarial capabilities into JWCs exercises and training;
Develop tools to monitor and measure the effectiveness of JWCs 2030 StratCom CT&E Integration Roadmap and provide recommendations on potential improvements to JWCs structure and ways of working in relation to StratCom;
Contribute to the development testing and incorporation of new scenarios that challenge exercise participants to respond to a realistic IE that incorporates emerging trends threats and disruptions;
In line with ACT/JWCs wider Next Gen Modelling and Simulation requirements and in close coordination with JWC Media Simulation develop recommendations for the implementation of improved functional services and synthetic IE to deliver a realistic setting to incorporate adversarial information effects that meets updated training audience requirements;
In close coordination with JWC Media Simulation and NATO war gaming capabilities develop recommendations for alternative and innovative solutions that help NATO find solutions for sophisticated and often ambiguous threats in the cognitive dimension;
By addressing these areas the staff member will help JWC to develop a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between contemporary information confrontation and JWCs preparedness to support NATO 2030 and identify actionable strategies for enhancing the integration of StratCom in coordination with wider MDO concepts into JWCs exercises and training.
The staff member will deliver an updated suite of SOPs an operating concept or academic paper that incorporates and addresses contemporary information confrontation effects and its impact within NATO. This will detail threats and opportunities focusing on current doctrine policies and concepts at the strategic operational and tactical levels and how these can best be replicated in collective training and exercises. These products will be used to ensure JWC retains the knowledge and expertise to effectively deliver future information environments.

Qualifications
Education/Training
University Degree in behavioural or social psychology political theory or related discipline and 2 years function related experience
or
Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.

Professional Experience
At least 2 years experience in strategic communications information operations psychological operations public affairs or a related field.
At least 2 years professional experience in contemporary information confrontation with a focus on Russia and China and thorough understanding of current adversarial information warfare effects.
Understanding of NATO processes information and doctrine within the STRATCOM field.
Robust skill set in strategic thinking communication crisis management digital proficiency academic research and academic writing.
Understanding of the operational and strategic planning processes within NATO or equivalent national or international organisation.

Language
English Upper Intermediate/Advanced

Desirable Qualifications
Professional Experience
Managerial or leadership experience in a related function.
Experience working in a strategic communications function at an operational or strategic level
2 years experience in exercise development and delivery.
4 years experience in military planning in a NATO or National military environment at operational or strategic level.
Advanced degree in Strategic Communications or related field.
University Degree in Political Science (Russian or other peer adversary)
Valid security clearance

Personal Attributes/Competencies
Considerable maturity and professional judgement is required to make decisions on to ensure seamless provision of high-quality support to the JWC and supported Training Audiences. High level of organisational and coordination skills. Excellent managerial interpersonal and communication skills with a visionary view to evolving requirements to meet future challenges. Able to cope with stress and possessing good health. Must be able to work as a member of a team in a multi-national environment. An analytical systematic and pro-active approach is important. The duties will require a capacity for original thought including the incorporation of emerging concepts. The incumbent should be self-motivated and capable of working under pressure.

Work Environment
The work is normally performed in an office environment.
NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.
Travel on temporary duty may be required for several conferences.
Irregular working hours may be required especially during exercises/events

How To Apply For a Project Linked NATO Civilian Post at JWC:
JWC as an equal opportunities employer values diverse backgrounds and perspectives and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce. We welcome applications from nationals of all NATO Member States and strongly encourage women to apply.

Applications are to be submitted in English using the NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) Applications submitted by other means will not be accepted.

NTAP allows for the adding of attachments. Candidates are to attach a copy of the qualification(s)/certificate(s) covering the highest level of education and vocational qualifications held to support their application as well as a copy of a diploma/certificate which confirms any relevant professional status.

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.

Remarks:
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.

Notes for candidates: The candidature of NATO redundant staff at grade G15 / A-2 will be considered before any other candidates.

Notes for NATO Civilian Human Resources Managers: if you have qualified redundant staff at grade G15 / A-2 who wish to be considered for this post please advise JWC Civilian HR no later than the closing date.

Contract:
This project post is limited to a definite duration of three years. There is no guarantee that the post will continue beyond that period. The successful applicant will be offered a three-year definite duration employment contract. Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

Salary:
Starting basic salary is NOK 93933.00 per month (tax-free). Additional allowances may apply depending on the personal circumstances of the successful candidate. For further details see NATO Terms & Conditions.

For any queries please contact the Joint Warfare Centre Recruitment Team at