Deputy Assistant Secretary General, Partnerships
🔍 Belgium
- 📅
- 251082 Requisition #
1. SUMMARY
Within the NATO International Staff, the Political Affairs and Security Policy (PASP) Division leads on the political aspects of NATO’s fundamental security tasks.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary General (DASG) for Partnerships covers the following principal issues:
- Partnerships and Partnership Policy;
- Enhancing relations with partners, with a specific focus on the Western Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Apart from being the DASG for Partnerships, this role holds the important responsibility of serving as the Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia.
- Strengthening NATO’s political role, including through external engagement, in the context of growing geo-strategic competition.
- In close coordination with the Assistant Secretary General for PASP, providing strategic direction and guidance to the Global Affairs and Partnerships Directorate, including ensuring the implementation of modern management principles.
- Manage the political aspects related to the security and geopolitical dynamics in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Candidates are asked, as part of this application, to attach one MS Word document, summarising their views on these key (and possible other) challenges and how they would address them if selected for the position. This essay, which should be no more than 2 A4 pages long, will be evaluated as part of the longlisting assessment.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
The incumbent must:
- have a university degree, (Master’s level preferred) in a relevant field for this position;
- have familiarity and knowledge of Alliance policies and procedures;
- have at least 15 years of experience in progressively senior posts with recent experience in senior-level diplomatic positions;
- have at least 10 years of professional experience in senior management positions and be able to lead, inspire and engage a diverse and multidisciplinary team;
- have a proven track record of chairing and/or facilitating high-level meetings, and of helping to achieve consensus;
- have experience working in a politically sensitive and multilateral environment where various interests are at stake;
- have experience working in a multilateral environment or an environment with a variety of stakeholders from multi-cultural backgrounds;
- have the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): VI (“Proficiency”) in one and II (“Elementary”) in the other;
DESIRABLE
The following would be considered an advantage:
- working experience in NATO and understanding of the NATO environment, structures, working practices, and business processes, in particular as they relate to Partnerships;
- a higher level of proficiency in the other NATO’s official language (English/French).
Vision and Direction
In concert with the ASG PASP, the DASG Partnerships will develop and formulate strategic goals and objectives on the range of subjects handled by the Division. S/he will motivate subject matter experts under her / his direct authority to describe, explain and share their knowledge with others within the Division and across the Organization, as well as with Committees and senior bodies.
Representation of the Organization
The post holder will be the Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia. In this role s/he will be representing the organization on behalf of Secretary General.
S/he must be prepared to work outside normal office hours, to travel extensively when required and to speak in public fora and the media. Additionally, s/he will represent the organization in other events and/or committees as required.
Policy Development
The DASG Partnerships will coordinate committee work and will chair relevant committees on partnership matters related to the Western Balkans, Caucasus and Central Asia under PASP purview, composed of NATO nations, and, where relevant, Partners. S/he will regularly be called upon to draft and edit policy documents, and advise the ASG and the Secretary General on policy initiatives.
Stakeholder Management
The DASG Partnerships will establish and maintain close working relations with the leadership of other International Staff Divisions & Independent Offices, the International Military Staff and NATO Command Structure, national delegations to NATO, including partner missions, as well as with national officials in capitals who are responsible for partnership issues falling under the remit of the PASP Division.
Organizational Efficiencies
Develop clear lines of communication to facilitate inter-Section collaboration, communication and transparency of activities. Translate the Division’s strategy for the management of resources into medium- and long-term plans for the Directorate.
Expertise Development
Apply knowledge and experience to support the Secretary General, the Deputy Secretary General and ASG/PASP in the management of partnerships pertaining to the PASP Division. Motivate subject matter experts under her/his direct authority to describe, explain and share their knowledge with others within the Division and across the Organization, as well as with Committees and senior bodies.
People Management
Be directly responsible within the Division for the Global Affairs and Partnerships Directorate. Act as a role model of inclusive leadership and promote resilience, flexibility and innovation. Promote transparency in decision-making, equal access to opportunities for all staff and ensure that all staff under her / his responsibility are clear on Organizational, Divisional and Directorate objectives. Provide mentoring, coaching and training opportunities and be available to offer guidance at critical moments. Provide regular and fair feedback on performance, informally as appropriate and via the HQ Performance Review and Development (PRD) system. Participate in recruitment procedures for vacant posts in the Division, in accordance with NATO guidelines and with the best interests of the Organization in mind.
Financial Management
Integrate and endorse financial plans and the annual budget for the directorate under your responsibility. Advise and allocate as necessary funding for strategic priorities.
4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS
The incumbent reports to the ASG for Political Affairs and Security Policy. S/he maintains a close working relationship with the Secretary General’s Private Office, with NATO’s senior leadership and with other key members of the International Staff and International Military Staff. S/he must also establish and maintain close working relations with national delegations to NATO, including Partner missions, as well as with national officials in capitals who are responsible for the areas of work falling under her/his purview.
Indirect Reports: 33
5. COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate:
- Achievement: Demonstrates decisiveness based on solid considerations and trade-offs;
- Change Leadership: Champions change;
- Conceptual Thinking: Creates new concepts;
- Developing Others: Provides in-depth mentoring, coaching and training;
- Impact and Influence: Uses complex influence strategies;
- Initiative: Plans and acts for the long-term;
- Leadership: Communicates a compelling vision;
- Organizational Awareness: Understands underlying issues;
- Self-Control: Stays composed and positive even under extreme pressure.
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
Please note that the competition for this post is provisionally scheduled as follows:
Pre-selection testing in August 2025;
Final selection in early October 2025, in Brussels, Belgium.
Selection of candidates for NATO posts is based upon the merit principle.
Candidates are requested to attach their essay to their application on Taleo, by latest 29 July 2025. The title of the attachment must include the vacancy reference and the words “Key challenges” .
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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.