Program Management/Deputy Director

Post Context

Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFCNF) provides a resilient, static Joint headquarters to plan, prepare and conduct operations across all domains in peacetime, crisis and conflict, in order to support NATO’s three core tasks, at the Joint Operational level, as directed by SACEUR.

The Support Directorate is responsible for planning, directing, monitoring, assessing and coordinating Support staff functions. It assists and provides advises on policy matters and in the execution of all support activities, including provision of regional focus. Directs and oversees all J1, J4, J6 activities.

As an integral part of the development of Joint Force Command Norfolk, the Programme Management Office for JFCNF 2.0 provides:

• a holistic, cross-functional, objective analysis and advisory capacity for the delivery of JFCNF 2.0 across the HQ, IAW MC direction and aligned to AAP-16(E) Procedures;
• a HQ-wide strategic organisational change management capability for the delivery of JFCNF 2.0;
• a common Project and Programme Management capability within ACO based on proven project and programme management principles and techniques.

Principal Duties:

The incumbent’s duties on behalf of Director PMO are to:

• Direct and supervise the PMO team;
• Acts as JFCNF User Representative at any coordination meeting with internal and external stakeholders and/or the HN;
• Control administrative spending related to the PMO ensuring effective and efficient spending;
• Attend senior working groups, committee and board meetings on key issues for the JFCNF to define and develop the HQ position for the relevant NATO boards and committees.

The incumbent’s duties as Project Integration are to:

• Provide guidance and advice to the PMO Staff within the assigned advisor area.
• Coordinate with the HNs (USA and NCIA) in order to assure that works are integrated and synchronized at point of delivery.
• Coordinate deliveries advising on all aspects of the projects development during all of its phases, establishing and coordinating workload forecast
• Oversee management of military requirements and Quality assurance with support of SME throughout the Staff not only during construction, but also during definition process, and warranty period.
• Oversee all Configuration Changes with support of SME throughout the Staff.
• Provide Programme Management functionalities to PMO.
• Initiate the development of Programme Overview taking into account all dependencies to other projects impacting CP, including CIS and Security as well as general base development.
• Develop the Transformation Programme Strategy, ensuring coherence, planning, consistency between all aspects, of transformation from old to new JFCNF Static Command facilities, developing the programmatic approach for the integration of Infra, ITM/CIS, Security aspects liaising with internal HQ and external stakeholders as HN (USA), NCI Agency, EUCOM, NMRs etc.
• Lead the development of interdisciplinary Project Management Plans.
• Lead the development and execution of Programme / Project Risk Management Plan, including formulating the operational impact statement and proposing and initiating mitigation measures if required.
• Lead the development and execution of Project Change Management Plan, including the assessment and advice to Chain of Command on major changes with impact on Scope, Cost and/or Time.
• Lead the development and execution of Acceptance criteria and Benefit Management Plan, including internal and external coordination with key stakeholders and HNs.
• Oversee the development and execution of an interdisciplinary Transition Strategy, including legal arrangements with HN (USA) and Nations to integrate third party contractors into the capability delivery process.
• Responsible for the data mining that would produce any type of report or required information taking into account any past decision or assumption as part of the institutional knowledge during all phases of the project from conception till warranty period.

Essential Qualifications / Experience:

• University Degree  in management information systems, accounting, economics, finance, business administration, public administration, operations research, project management or related discipline  and 6 years post related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training  in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 6 years post related and 2 years function related experience.
• Eight years’ experience in working with or for a major consultancy organizations engaged in complex programmes.
• Eight years’ experience in Portfolio, Programme and Project Management methodologies, metrics and concepts, and capability to apply such concepts within the context of the post.
• Six years experience in operating with recognised business tools and analysis models commonly used in best practice analysis and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Four years direct managerial and supervisory experience.

Language:

English - SLP 3333 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

• Managerial experience of developing, planning and implementing significant organizational change in large multi-national organization.
• Deep knowledge of the NATO Governance and Management model for common funded capabilities.
• Understanding of the NATO Command and Force Structure organization and how it affects JFCNF.

Attributes/Competencies:

• Personal Attributes:
  • Integrity, confidentiality and diplomatic skills need to be of the highest order. Inherent cooperative and directional leadership skills required and must be able to demonstrate excellent team building abilities to direct/ guide/ influence standing and ad hoc internal and strategic level working groups at the senior level.
  • Must possess exceptional inter-personal skills and extensive communication at all levels throughout the organization is required.
• Professional Contacts: Must be able to liaise effectively both within and outside the HQ with international military and civilian personnel up to the OF-8 level. Outside contact include senior officials in NATO HQ, SHAPE, ACT, NATO agencies and national government agencies and industries.
• Contribution To Objectives: The work of the incumbent impacts both directly and indirectly to the work and objectives of JFCNF. The work will directly impact the strategic objectives of the organization and will refine the efficiency and effectiveness of the management process to deliver capabilities.

Security Clearance

The successful applicant will be required to apply for and receive a NATO SECRET Security Clearance prior to final confirmation of contract and commencement of employment.

Contract

Serving NATO International Civilian staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.  Newly recruited staff will be offered a three-year definite duration contract.

Notes for Candidates

The JFC Norfolk Career Site gives full details on the eligibility criteria and application processes to be adopted by all candidates.  However, candidates should particularly note:

Please answer each of the pre-screening questions completely in English. Expressions such as: “please see attached CV, please see annex, please see enclosed document, etc” are not acceptable; this is a cause of immediate rejection of the application.

Particular attention should be given to Education and Experience section of your application form, which should be populated with details of your career to date and educational achievements and certifications as they relate to your application.

The candidature of NATO redundant staff at grade G17 will be considered with priority.

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.

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.

This vacancy will close on 05 June 2025 @ 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).