Close Protection Operations Centre (CPOC) Team Leader, Close Protection Unit
🔍 Belgium
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE RECRUITMENT/SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE NATO CLOSE PROTECTION UNIT PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK:
https://www.nato.int/structur/recruit/2025/recruitment-2025-info-sheet-cpoc-tl-en.pdf
1. SUMMARY
The Joint Intelligence and Security Division (JISD), under the leadership of the Assistant Secretary General (ASG) for Intelligence and Security, comprises two principal pillars: Intelligence, headed by the Deputy ASG for Intelligence (DASG-I); and the NATO Office of Security (NOS), headed by the Deputy ASG for Security (DASG-S) / Director of NOS.
Within the NOS, the mission of the Close Protection Unit (CPU) is to protect the Secretary General (SG) at NATO Headquarters (HQ) or any other location, in Belgium or abroad, armed or otherwise, as the environment and circumstances demand. The CPU ensures a secure environment for the SG to include personal and physical protection against all forms of actual or potential threats.
The CPU is comprised of a management, administration and training structure as well as the operational teams, which focuses either on close protection or physical protection of the official SG Residence in Brussels, Belgium. The incumbent leads the close protection operations centre and manages a team of agents and an Assistant within the SG Residence. This team ensures the security of the SG Residence by monitoring the Residence’s surroundings, alarm systems and technical installations and provide support to global CPU operations by real-time monitoring and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering and distribution.
The Team Leader has the management and operational responsibility for the practical planning of the operations, the shift-based work schedule of the team under their supervision, detailing and managing the shifts and leave periods for the team as well as the overall performance, and line management responsibilities for each member of the team. The team works on a shift system basis. The Team Leader covers shifts at the Residence as well as office hours at the NATO HQ.
The Team Leader coordinates with the SG’s front office in regards to visits or works carried out at the official NATO residence. The physical protection duties at the operations centre includes, among other duties, planning and execution of high-level visits and events at the SG Residence. The Team Leader supports the CPU teams in their protection duties for the SG by real-time mission monitoring and OSINT gathering and distribution. The CPOC Team Leader is responsible for monitoring the official Residence’s surroundings, alarm systems and technical installations according to assigned tasks. The Team Leader reports through the Deputy Head to the Head of CPU and participates in weekly management meetings.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
The incumbent must:
- have an educational background, equivalent to higher secondary level;
- have at least 4 years’ experience from national police, military institutions or other institutions similar to NATO and related to the post description;
- be experienced in tactical leadership on the level of a Team Leader;
- be experienced in the use of firearms and be able to pass the yearly CPOC shooting test;
- be in physical good condition to enable and intervene in emergency situations and to be able to pass the yearly CPOC physical test;
- have a good understanding and knowhow in first responder medical training and self-defence;
- possess excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills and have experience adapting these skills to the needs of a team and stakeholders;
- possess the ability to adapt to changing situations and to manage stress and emergency situations;
- have a valid B category (or equivalent) driving licence;
- possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages; (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; II (“Elementary”) in the other.
- be able to work in a shift system outside normal office hours including weekends, holidays and nights - sometimes at short notice. Overtime will occur.
DESIRABLE
The following would be considered an advantage:
- close Protection training and experience;
- have experience in physical access control;
- knowledge of the Belgian police and judicial organisation and legislation, in particular in the areas of public security, public order, firearms, legal self-defence and priority vehicles;
- possess an “Advanced” level in both NATO official languages (English/French);
- basic knowledge of Dutch or another NATO member’s official language;
- knowledge of basic fire-fighting measures;
- certification in first-aid/medical training such as BLS-AED, TCCC, PHTLS, etc.;
- certification with regard to firearms skills;
- knowledge of and certification in advanced driving skills;
- basic understanding of Surveillance Detection Techniques;
- basic knowledge in the operation and use of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV), Intruder Detection Systems (IDS) and fire detection systems;
- understanding of using OSINT for security;
- knowledge in secure communication and GPS systems.
3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES
Planning and Execution
In close coordination with the Deputy Head of CPU, organise and manage the day‑to‑day and overall administration of the team under your responsibility. Manage the shift and leave schedule for the team in close coordination with the Deputy Head of CPU in order to ensure that the staff is used in the most efficient way. Develop, plan and execute trainings for the team under your responsibility, as per the guidance and assistance of the training coordinator and in consultation with the CPU management. Follow training organised by the management of CPU, including management development training, as appropriate. Staff the CPU team under your responsibility and provide operational support to the CPU close protection teams deployed in Belgium and abroad through real time mission monitoring and OSINT gathering. Ensure the SG’s physical protection against all forms of actual or potential attacks/threats whilst he is within the official Residence. Take the appropriate steps according to CPU standard operating procedures (SOP’s) to provide protection in a crisis or a high-pressure situation. Protecting the Secretary General may include the use of force and/or firearms as directed by the CPU SOP’s. Ensure the physical security of the SG Residence and operate all security and communications equipment.
Stakeholder Management
Act tactfully, politely and discreetly with members of the Office of the Secretary General, host nation support officials and other high-ranking members of the diplomatic community. Be beyond reproach in regards to individual professional standards and appearance. Demonstrate discretion when dealing with information pertaining to the SG’s personal and official life. Establish and maintain good working relationships and effective communication with stakeholders involved in the security of the SG. Represent the Organization in a professional manner.
Organisational Efficiencies
Communicate to the Head, CPU any gaps or inaccuracies that you identify in the existing CPU SOPs and formulate in writing, any improvements that would enhance the efficiency of the CPU. In close coordination with the training coordinator of CPU, and under the guidance of the CPU management, assist in drafting new or modifying existing procedures and apply them correctly. Coordinate the security related to the daily activities at the CPOC ensuring it adheres to the CPU SOPs and that there is a coherent approach before providing information to all relevant stakeholders (including the Private Office and CONSEC).
People Management
Under the overall supervision of the Head of CPU, lead the team assigned under your responsibility, including performing constructive performance management activities. Coach and mentor the team under your responsibility and conduct team meetings and team-building activities to maintain and strengthen team spirit and morale amongst team members. Adapt organisational and communications skills to the specific needs of the team. Monitor and administrate training activities for the team in order to align all training with the CPU training manual. Assign each team member the role of Subject Matter Expert (SME) in one of the essential training domains.
Financial Management
Ensure that all timesheets of the team members are gathered, verified and forwarded to the Deputy Head and CPU training coordinator within the determined deadlines. Ensure that the staff submit the required mission liquidation information upon accomplishment of a mission and that the team members reimbursement requests for their expenses are justified. Provide all necessary receipts to the CPU Senior Program Coordinator.
Perform any other related duty as assigned.
4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS
The Team Leader reports through the Deputy Head of Unit to the Head of the Close Protection Unit. The Team Leader manages the assigned personnel and when required, they interact and coordinate events and arrangements with relevant staff at NATO, Belgian Police and any other actors involved in events at the SG Residence.
Direct reports: 9
Indirect reports: N/A
5. COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate:
- Achievement: Creates own measures of excellence and improves performance.
- Analytical Thinking: Sees multiple relationships.
- Change Leadership: Supports general need for change.
- Clarity and Accuracy: Monitors others’ work for clarity.
- Flexibility: Adapts to unforeseen situations.
- Impact and Influence: Takes multiple actions to persuade.
- Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation.
- Organizational Awareness: Understands the Organization’s structure.
- Teamwork: Expresses positive attitudes and expectations of team or team members.
In accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations, the successful candidate will receive a definite duration contract of three years, which may be followed by an indefinite duration contract.
7. USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries. Applications 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: www.nato.int/recruitment
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More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/recruit-hq-e.htm)
Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate), approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser, verification of your study(ies) and work experience, and the successful completion of the accreditation and 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 NATO’s 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 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.
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.
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