Post Context/Post Summary
NATO Communications and Information Systems Group (NATO CIS Group) provides deployable CIS services in support of Alliance operations, missions, activities and tasks, as directed by SACEUR. It plans, trains, provides and maintains operational readiness of deployable CIS to enable and support secure and resilient NATO Command and Control (C2).
The J2/J6 Division is responsible as the DCIS technical coordinating authority for the NATO CIS Group and the NSBs, for the operational integration, coordination, direction and provision of required Communications, Core Information Systems and Community of Interest (COI) Services, Information Technology (IT) Service Management, Information Assurance (IA) and Defensive Cyberspace Operations (DCO) for operations and exercises. It provides advanced remote and deployable Level 2 support to assigned COI Services for operations, missions and exercises. It is also responsible for management and coordination of IT Service Management processes in peacetime locations, operations and exercises and static Command and Control Services provision.
The Deployable Community of Interest Services Support Branch (DCOI SPB) is responsible, as the NATO CIS Group DCOI Services technical authority, to plan, prepare and execute lifecycle management activities for all DCOI Services matters within NATO CIS Group.
The Deployable Community of Interest Services Support Section (DCOI SPT) provides advanced Level 2 support to assigned COI Services for NATO operations, missions and exercises.
The incumbent is responsible for planning the activities and managing the DCOI Services Support Centre.
Principal Duties
The incumbent's duties are:
1. Analyses and executes direction from the Branch Head.
2. Provides advanced level 2 support to assigned COl Services for NATO operations, missions and exercises, including installation, setup, configuration, data loading, backup and recovery and other system administration tasks for all deployed COl Services.
3. Supports the planning and execution of COI Services during operations and exercises.
4. Responsible for maintaining the COI Services baseline to be applied to all NATO DPOPs.
5. Develop SOP and other policy documents in order to align and standardize the COI Services domain across subordinated Battalions.
6. Contribute to the coordination of COI Services requirements from subordinated Battalions.
7. Under the technical direction of the DCOI Engineering Section, co-ordinates the provision of required functional services for operations and exercises.
8. Develops and executes the exercise/operation lessons learnt analysis for the identification of generic COI Services capability shortfalls and initiate appropriate actions to address them.
9. Coordinates and executes the risk management analysis and related activities for the COI Services domain within the DCOI Services Support Centre.
10. Responsible for maintaining the adequate level of training for the NCISG DCOI Support Centre personnel, as per DoDCP requirements.
Special Requirements and Additional Duties
1. The incumbent 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.
2. This a mandatory deployment post. The incumbent may be required to undertake deployments in support of military operations and exercises, and/or TDY assignments, both within and outside NATO's boundaries. Such operational deployment may exceed 30 days duration up to 183 days in any period of 547 days, and may be on short notice. For NATO International Civilian Staff, acceptance of an employment contract linked to this post constitutes agreement to deploy in excess of 30 days if required.
Essential Qualifications
a. Professional/Experience
1. Extensive experience in a large CIS Office of an international organization or military Headquarters, or major private companies.
2. Deep technical knowledge and experience in architectural and technical integration and support for Community of Interest (COI) Services, including Command and Control, JISR, Intel, Logistics and Special Systems.
3. Extensive and recent experience with military information systems operations.
4. A minimum of 2 years of experience in managing and administering Level 1 support to applications, with at least three years of managerial experience leading a technical team.
5. Experience in Core information systems.
6. Good experience in requirements analysis and engineering.
7. Experience in technical support of large-scale CIS systems.
8. Good Knowledge of system interoperability, LAN/WAN and network concepts.
9. High level of organizational, coordination and communication skills.
10. Good knowledge and practical experience in incident / change / configuration management.
11. Knowledge and practical experience in quality assurance and testing.
b. Education/Training
University Degree in business administration, engineering, economics, public administration, operations research, business process engineering 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.
c. Language
English - SLP Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)
NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.
Desirable Qualifications
A Professional Experience
1. Extensive experience in the CIS planning of NATO exercises.
2. Knowledge of risk management procedures.
3. Senior Software Engineer/Requirements Analyst.
4. Experience in management of equipment/system projects.
5. Broad experience as a multi disciplined systems engineer.
6. Experience with at least two of the following:
a. IT Service Management.
b. Interoperability assurance.
c. Cyber-security.
7. Experience with NATO Information Systems administrative procedures.
8. Knowledge of NATO CIS, and its concepts, policies, and architectures.
9. Experience in at least two of the following DBMS: SQL Server / Oracle / Postgresql.
10. Unix or Linux experience or professional certification.
11. Apache / IIS experience or professional certification.
B Education/Training
1. Demonstrable evidence in maintaining knowledge of advances in IS engineering.
2. ITIL certification
3. PRINCE II certification
4. COBIT 5 certification
5. Course: CCC-SM NATO C4ISR Orientation for Officers
6. Course: ETE-MW NATO Orientation Course
Attributes/Competencies
1. Personal Attributes:
a. Highly competent and skilled incumbent, with broad experience on support to COI systems.
b. A very high level of independent judgement is required.
c. A very high degree of initiative, as he can be deployed commanding a CIS Operations Centre on any NATO operation, mission or exercise.
2. Professional Contacts:
a. Regular professional contacts with others inside and outside NCISG on CIS and COI functional matters. Solicits/gives information and provides advice/guidance to ACO, ACT and NATO and external agencies. Able to report to flag level inside and outside ACO.
3. Contribution To Objectives:
a. The work involves the analysis and research of a complete task with recommendations affecting the plans and management of the organisational element.
REMARKS:
During crisis of MLE the incumbent is reassigned to the NCISG HQ Crisis Establishment (CE) or the DCIS Support Group, as detailed in the respective CE.
Contract:
The contract start date is estimated before Q3 2026, pending formal approval of the Peacetime Establishment. 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 member's eligibility, and which is subject to the withholding of approximately 20%25 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 NATO's 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.
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.
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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 submission. In 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 vacancy's 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.