Director, NATO Office of Resources

1.  SUMMARY

The NATO Office of Resources (NOR) provides independent and integrated expert advice to the Secretary General, NATO Resource Committees, Allies, and other stakeholders on the planning, allocation and utilisation of military common funding made available to achieve NATO’s goals and objectives. The NOR advice is based on sound judgement underpinned by facts, figures expertise and knowledge. It follows NATO policies, procedures and standards, and is independent of external stakeholder’s viewpoints. It supports efficient and effective use of public funds by assessing the policy compliance, eligibility, affordability, technical viability, and lifecycle implications of military requirements and proposed solutions. Furthermore, the NOR facilitates resource-informed political decision-making.

The incumbent is accountable for the overall leadership, direction, and management of the NOR. In this capacity, s/he ensures the effective and efficient accomplishment of the NOR’s mission, priorities, and objectives, in line with overall Alliance objectives. S/he sets the strategy of the Office, in line with the objectives of the Alliance and ensures the provision of high quality, timely, independent, advice on staff matters. S/he identifies, plans and implements initiatives aimed at improving efficiency and proficiency across all branches.

Key challenges facing the successful candidate for the Director NOR (D/NOR) will include:

1. Lead continuous improvement in NATO resource policy and processes towards optimising the value provided to all stakeholders and towards speeding up the delivery of capabilities in a changing landscape. Fully enabling planning, authorisation and implementation of Military NATO Common Funded Capabilities and emergent high priority requirements, while ensuring financial transparency, accountability,  management performance, and strong leadership to staff;
2. Lead efforts to improve management of common funded resources and contribute to wider Institutional Adaption efforts. As NATO Head of Financial Reporting Policy (HFRP), advocate for improvement in the quality, timeliness, and transparency of NATO financial reporting;
3. Ensuring effective implementation of the decision by the NATO Heads of State and Government to increase and broaden the use of NATO common funding;
4. Engage with Nations, the NATO Military Authorities and NATO Agencies on matters of governance and accountability, aspiring to introduce public governance best practices to resource management, capability delivery and implementation.

The D/NOR reports to the Secretary General, through the Office of the Secretary General, of NATO and advises them on military resource matters. They manage a staff of approximately 100 members.

Candidates are asked, as part of this application, to attach 1 MS Word document, summarising their views on these key 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 or equivalent level of qualification in a field relevant for this position;
• have a strong background in financial management and international affairs, and have several years’ progressively responsible experience in developing and implementing concepts and plans, with focus on financial and resource management;
• have at least 15 years’ relevant professional experience, including recent experience in senior-level leadership positions;
•       have at least 10 years of recent experience at the senior executive level, with responsibility for management of a large, complex organisation and staff;
• have significant experience in programme management and development;
• have experience facilitating high-level dialogue and proactively finding solutions within large and complex organisations;
• have experience working in a politically sensitive and multilateral environment where various interests are at stake;
• have expertise in interpreting, analysing and presenting resource-related information to facilitate understanding of options to resolve complex problems and take available opportunities;
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; and II (“Elementary”) in the other. 

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage: 

• experience in change management in a large organisation;
•       experience with planning, execution, and oversight of the delivery of large, complex infrastructure and/or technology capabilities;
•       working experience in NATO and understanding of the NATO environment, structures, working practices, and business processes, in particular as they relate to common funding;
• a higher level of proficiency in NATO’s second official language (English/French).

3.  MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Vision and Direction

Communicate NOR perspective and impact on determining the future course and focus of the Organization on policies relating to common-funded resources. Ensure that NOR advice supports the Alliance in reaching its goals. 

Representation of the Organization

Represent NOR to the Secretary General, NATO committees, NATO Agencies, NATO Military Authorities, and National delegations. Provide central coordination and act as NATO’s main point of contact on financial policy. 

Stakeholder Management

Develop and foster relations at senior levels to facilitate discussion and negotiation of resource issues. Ensure and enhance early awareness of potential military common funding implications in NATO capability development and sustainment. Maintain close working relationship with the national chairpersons of the resource committees. Direct NOR staff in working closely with the rest of the IS throughout the HQ, including the International Military Staff (IMS) Division Logistics & Resources, and counterparts in strategic commands, NATO Agencies and national administration. 

People Management

Ensure continuous and satisfactory staff support to the Chairpersons of the Resource Policy and Planning Board, the Budget Committee and Investment Committee. Develop clear objectives for NOR and its staff. Exercise management and human resources functions for all staff in NOR, including those members of staff tasked with working in direct support of the resource committee chairpersons. Provide mentoring, coaching and training opportunities and be available to offer guidance at critical moments. Ensure that all staff under her/his responsibility are clear on the Office’s objectives. Provide regular and fair feedback on performance, informally as appropriate and via the HQ Performance Review and Development (PRD) system. Promote integrity, professionalism and accountability through a sound and inclusive leadership culture. 

Policy Development

Direct NOR staff to develop policy for NATO resource committees. Enhance policy development efforts with other policy disciplines within NATO HQ and throughout the IS. Support Nations in reaching consensus-based decisions on issues related to common funding.

Expertise Development

Direct resource management policy and implementation within NOR. Ensure the provision of advice by NOR to the Divisions of the IS, IMS and other bodies on NATO military resource issues. Ensure consistency of approach and attendance of NOR staff at resource committees and apply knowledge to optimise committee support arrangements. Increase Organizational awareness of NATO resources by providing regular reports and ad hoc independent analysis of resource issues to a wider NATO stakeholder community. 

Financial Management

Understand how resource advice recommended by NOR will affect specific NATO capability programmes and NATO as a whole. Develop and administer the NOR budget. 

Planning and Execution

Anticipate future needs of the Alliance to proactively address common-funded resource management. Ensure that NOR is resourced to offer high-quality support to all assigned committees. Monitor and follow-up on the implementation of resource policies and provide reports/updates. 

Organisational Efficiencies

Manage the organisational structures of NOR and other related parties to ensure that the needs of the Organization on military common-funded resources are met. Direct the optimisation of processes and interactions between parties on resource issues to improve Alliance agility and responsiveness by contributing to capability delivery within expected scope, timelines and agreed cost. Direct and monitor work across NOR staff and ensure that cross-cutting issues are dealt with effectively and efficiently to enhance integrated resource management.

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

4.  INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The incumbent reports to the Secretary General and is responsible for NOR performance to the Nations through the Office of the Secretary General. They ensure proper support to NATO resource committees, offers policy advice and guides staff in multiple efforts to provide comprehensive and accurate recommendations and analyses that will be utilised throughout the HQ and by NATO bodies. They will need to interact throughout the Organization, both on the civilian and military side, as well as with National delegations and capitals, and NATO Agencies, at senior levels.

Direct reports: 6

Indirect reports:  94

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;
• Organisational Awareness: Understands underlying issues;
• Self-Control: Stays composed and positive even under extreme pressure.