Section Head (Monitor and Analysis)

Post Context/Post Summary

Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) provides an integrated Strategic Effects framework, employing a multi-domain and multi-region focus to create a 360-degree approach, with the flexibility to enable, upon direction, a seamless transition from Baseline Activities and Current Operations (BACO) up to the Maximum Level of Effort (MLE).  SHAPE supports SACEUR in fulfilling his terms of reference, as directed by the North Atlantic Council.

The Strategic Communications (StratCom - J10) Directorate is responsible for the implementation of an AOR-wide cognitive campaign in support of ACO vigilance activities and AOR management and the delivery of strategic effects in the cognitive dimension that support SACEUR’s strategic objectives, during peace, crisis, and conflicts

The Information Environment Assessment (IEA) Branch conducts systematic, data-driven analysis and assessment of the Information Environment to support understanding, decision-making and the application of capability in the engagement space.

The Monitor and Analysis Section (MA) is responsible for the generation of clear, holistic and actionable products for decision makers, through the monitoring, analysis and assessment of the Information Environment (IE). The Section Head (Monitoring and Analysis) provides strategic direction, overseeing a diverse team of analysts and ensuring the production of actionable insights through comprehensive monitoring, analysis and assessment of the IE.

Principal Duties

The incumbent's duties are:

• Advise SHAPE and NATO ACO staff on the Information Environment (IE), including the assessment of NATO’s impact on the IE, and of performance and effect within the IE towards the attainment of SACEUR’s Strategic Objectives.

• Own the analysis and assessment of the IE at the military strategic level.

• Develop and lead the implementation of an integrated analysis and assessment programme to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of Strategic Communications Campaigns.

• Provide advice on IE Assessment within all stages of internal decision cycles, including audience baselining, establishment of communications aims and objectives, mid-campaign assessment and post-event evaluation.

• Develop and lead Strategic Communications contributions to the assessment of overarching Military Strategic Objectives, in support of decision-makers at the highest levels.

• Lead the development and standardisation of work-flow processes for governance, objectives, data sources, policy, methodology, processes, and products.

• Lead a diverse team of analysts, including supervising, training, and monitoring readiness.

• Lead the creation of a network of analysts (both in other Divisions and externally) to collaborate on the collection and analysis of information across SACEUR’s AOR.

• Oversee the assessment of Deterrence activities and responses in the IE towards fulfilment of strategic objectives.

• Lead hostile narrative analysis as part of information confrontation modelling, identifying hostile activities, tactics and procedures, and forecasting their potential use in future malign communications efforts.

• Deliver strategic-level briefs on designated aspects of the IE to provide actionable insights and recommendations for decision-makers at the highest organisational levels.

• Represent SHAPE at the highest levels, including by briefing on campaign assessment and providing recommendations.

• Advise on data integration into existing analysis processes towards ACO’s broader Information Environment Assessment capability development.

• Provide leadership and guidance on strategy and policy formulation for the IEA capability.

• Perform other duties as required by Director J10 Strategic Communications.

Special Requirements and Additional Duties

The incumbent may be required to undertake deployments in support of military operations and exercises, and/or TDY assignments, both within and without NATO boundaries up to 180 days. The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organization at the same grade without there being any change to the contract.

Essential Qualifications

a. Professional/Experience

·       Minimum of 4 years’ experience in multinational headquarters environment, preferably within an international or defense organization, providing advice and analysis in support of strategic communication to senior decision makers.

·       Minimum of 4 years’ experience in managing and developing teams of specialist personnel for research and analysis, applicable to the duties of this role.

·       Proven experience in systematic qualitative and quantitative analysis of the Information Environment.

·       Proven experience in setting communications objectives and evaluating communications campaigns.

·       Proven experience in preparing and delivering briefings to senior leadership based on analytical assessment.

·       Proven experience in developing and managing processes that transform complex data into actionable insights using appropriate analytical techniques.

·       Robust knowledge of the global security environment and of the political and security challenges faced by NATO.

·       Proven experience building and maintaining relationships with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

b. Education/Training

University Degree in a related discipline such as international relations, political science, strategic communications, social science behavioral sciences or a related field and 4 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 7 years post related experience.

In case of ambiguity the required job specific experience has priority over the standard education and training levels and experience described here.

c. Language

English - SLP 4343 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Desirable Qualifications

a. Professional Experience

·       Experience in target audience analysis in a strategic communications context.

·       Knowledge of available commercial data analysis tools relevant for IEA.

      b. Education/Training

·       Training and/or education in cognitive and/or behavioral sciences.

·       Master’s degree in a related discipline such as international relations, political science, strategic communication, social science behavioral sciences or a related field

c. Language

Knowledge of other NATO languages, and/or Russian or Chinese, would be an asset.

Attributes/Competencies

• Personal Attributes: The incumbent will need to display a high degree of professionalism, as well as strong organisational, coordination and communication skills in the performance of their duties. The post requires an exceptional leader with proven skills in analysis and assessment, problem solving and conceptual thinking. Strong team leadership, management, and collaboration skills are essential to success in this position.

• Professional Contacts: It is desirable that the incumbent has a wide range of professional contacts with personnel within Allied organisations and agencies, civilian academia and industry.

J10 Strategic Communications will increasingly be embedded in a wide network of committees and working groups, with external and internal stakeholders. The incumbent will be required to hold a leadership role, including representing SHAPE in meetings with internal and external participants up to and including ACO and NATO Commanders.

• Strategic Communications is an integral and essential part of NATO operations, missions, exercises and vigilance activities, and is of utmost importance for DDA and AOR Management. This post provides critical analysis capabilities towards achieving effects in the cognitive dimension either in support of military operations or as a primary objective, by providing baseline and analysis on which to plan activities. The incumbent additionally leads assessment of military strategic communications effect, including deterrence of hostile actors, towards overarching Military Strategic Objectives.

REMARKS:

Duration of contract: 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% 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.

We believe that all people are capable of great things.  Because of this, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the criteria listed within this job description.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A NATO CIVILIAN POST AT SHAPE:

Applications are to be submitted using NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) (https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobsearch.ftl?lang-en).  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 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.

E.    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.