Staff Assistant, (INTEL Sys)

TITLE:            Staff Assistant (Intel Sys)

DIVISION:       J2

 GRADE:          G10 (B-4)

SECURITY CLEARANCE: NATO S E C R E T 

Duty Location: Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Naples, Italy

 1. Post Context/Post Summary

Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Naples provides a resilient, static Joint headquarters to plan, prepare and conduct operations across all domains from Baseline Activities and Current Operations (BACO), including deterrence, through Crisis, up to the Maximum Level of Effort (MLE), in order to support NATO’s three core tasks, at the Joint Operational level, as directed by SACEUR. Supported by the Single Service Commands, Allied Joint Force Command Naples integrates allocated forces, including NATO Force Structure entities, and synchronises activity to achieve operational objectives. It maintains comprehensive, regional focused, situational awareness, leads contingency planning and directs exercises. It also provides out-of-theatre support to enduring NATO operations and could contribute specific Joint competencies to other NATO Command Structure or NATO Force Structure entities. It is capable of commanding a Joint Task Force operating within or beyond SACEUR’s Area of Responsibility, with theatre enablement provided by a dedicated Joint Logistic Support Group Headquarters. It has the capability to deploy tailored elements to enable reconnaissance, liaison, and coordination, and support the Joint Commander. Synchronizes and integrates Joint and Combined armed forces within the Joint Operational Area (JOA) in support of a Joint Task Force.

The Operations Directorate is responsible for directing, monitoring, assessing and coordinating operational staff functions.

The J2 Division provides Intelligence in support of the planning, preparation, conduct and assessment of NATO assigned operations across all domains from Baseline Activities and Current Operations (BACO) through Crisis up to the Maximum Level of Effort (MLE), thus supporting the Commanders and HQ Staffs decision process.

The J2/6/7 Branch provides specialized expertise and support to the JF HQ and subordinate Headquarters and supports ACOS J2 in his direction of the Intelligence functions. It develops rules and procedures as well as J2 standard operating procedures.

The Intelligence Systems Section manages knowledge systems by overseeing the establishment, maintenance and upgrading of JF HQ knowledge base. It provides Communication & Information Systems (CIS) and Information Management (IM) support to J2 Division.

Within the section, the incumbent is responsible for providing technical expertise, conducting engineering evaluations, and feasibility studies to ensure all current and future Joint Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) Systems are able to support intelligence requirements and production workflows.

2. Principal Duties

The incumbent's duties are:

- The incumbent's duties are: - Advises the Section Head as a subject matter expert on the wide spectrum of technical and functional aspects of the NATO Intelligence\JISR Functional Area Services (Intel\JISR Functional Area Services (FAS).

-Advises and provides engineering expertise to long-term Communication Information Systems (CIS) planning in order to design and achieve coherent and optimal architecture of Intel\JISR Systems in support of JFCNP led operations and exercises, ensuring that relevant technical strategies, policies, standards and practices are applied correctly.

- Analyses the JFCNP J2 Information Exchange Requirement (IER) processes and initiates the development of CIS solutions supporting Intelligence product workflows in a multi-domain environment.

 - Ensures that the Intel\JISR FAS capabilities are continuously operational in accordance with established procedures to satisfy the needs of JFCNP J2 staff for intelligence and information. This includes problem analysis, identification of solutions and taking preventive action to mitigate the risk of  systems unavailability.

- As a technical lead, drafts and maintains procedures for Intel\JISR FAS systems support, provides guidance on Functional Management and supervises the Functional Administrators, both internal and external to JFCNP.

- Delivers relevant, applicable and continuous training on Intel Systems by customizing learning materials to a variety of Intelligence disciplines and provides conceptual contribution to the Intelligence course designers to include JFCNP J2 specific training requirements.

-Advises users on the best practices and effective use of the Intelligence Systems.

- Performs engineering evaluation and feasibility studies of CIS operational requirements in J2 Division for Intelligence Support Capabilities and ensures their timely and efficient provision.

 - Oversees and analyses the operation\exercise lessons learned to identify shortfalls and deficiencies of Intel\JISR FAS functionalities and negotiates with internal and external stakeholders their implementation in JFCNP and subordinated commands (including RSM HQ).

 -Acts as the focal point in JFCNP J2 regarding functional and operational requirements for Intelligence\JISR Functional Area Services, for both NATO and national affiliated organizations.

 - Contributes with technical competence to the user acceptance test (UAT), installation\activation, configuration, and initial training of new Intelligence Systems or their enhancements.

- Liaises with SHAPE J2, NATO C&I Agency (NCIA), NATO CIS Group (NCISG), BICES Group Executive (BGX) as well as contributes to the relevant conferences, working groups and boards both internal and external to JFCNP in terms of all aspects of assigned responsibilities and duties.

- Undertakes work as part of a project team as directed or assigned.

- Sub-Functional Area decision authority within the assigned area of responsibility. Such decisions should be coordinated within the functional area of JFCNP J2 and with the counterparts in lateral, subordinate and superior HQs.

3. Special Requirements and Additional Duties

-The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organisation at the same grade without there being any change to the contract

- The incumbent may be required to undertake deployments in support of military operations and exercises, and/or TDY assignments, both within and outside NATO boundaries up to 30 days.  The work is normally performed in a Normal NATO office working environment.  Normal Working Conditions apply.  The risk of injury is categorised as No Risk.

4. Essential Qualifications

Education and Professional experience

- Higher Secondary education and intermediate vocational training which might lead to a formal qualification with 2 years experience, or Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.

- Detailed knowledge and broad experience in CIS oriented architecture design and implementation for Command and Control Systems.

- Sound knowledge of defining and developing of data flow in Information Systems networks.

- Broad and sound engineering knowledge and experience in Functional Area Services as they are applied to modern information management and Command and Control Information Systems.

- In depth experience in user functional and military operational requirements identification, analysis, engineering and converting them into Information Systems projects and development processes.

- Practical experience in providing systems training and assistance to the users’ daily activities.

- Demonstrable evidence in the operational business processes of Intelligence competencies.

- In-depth experience in engineering, maintenance and operational testing of software used in military operations.

- Practical experience in the use of modern concepts for project management, configuration management, quality assurance and testing.

Language

English - SLP 3322 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).  NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.

5. Desirable Qualifications

a. Education and Professional Experience

Higher Secondary education and completed higher vocational training in communication, information technology, computer Science, project management or related discipline leading to a formal technical or professional certification with 3 years function related practical experience, OR, Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in communication, information technology, computer science, project management or related discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related practical experience.

- Intelligence background.

- Sound knowledge of NATO CIS, and its concepts, policies and architectures.

-Knowledge of NATO Security Investment Program (NSIP) projects development, implementation and management including resources planning, funding, requirements identification and monitoring changes of operational systems.

b. Training

• NATO Intelligence Course (INT-AS-2522) provided by NATO - School Oberammergau (NSO)

• TOPFAS SAT Train the Trainer (CCC-ET-32258) provided by NATO Communications and Information Academy (NCI Academy)

• TOPFAS for Advanced User-Functional Manager course (CCC-ET-42260) provided by NATO Communications and Information Academy (NCI Academy)

• NATO Intelligence Functional Systems Training (NIFST) (INT-SU-16797) provided by NATO Communications and Information Academy (NCI Academy)

6. Attributes/Competencies

• Personal Attributes: Required tact and good interpersonal skills especially in providing instructions, mentoring and guidance to the staff officers (up to OF-6/A4 level).

High degree of diplomacy, poise and persuasion to influence discussions and ensure that technically sound decisions are made or consensus reached in the various areas dealt with.

Problem solving and driven by results, able to gain new abilities and qualities with strong self-learning skills.

• Professional Contacts: - Representative of ISS Section’s interest in conferences, working groups, and boards such as: JISR Change Coordination Board (JCCB), Systems User Group (ISUG), TOPFAS User Group (TUG), NATO Intelligence Training Working Group (NITWG) and Training Sub Working Group for Intelligence System Tools (TSWG) regarding all aspects of assigned responsibilities and duties. Professional contacts require courtesy, tact, explanations, discussions, persuasion, and approval of action.

• Contribution To Objectives: - J2 Knowledge, Situational Awareness, planning, and decision-making process are directly dependent upon Intelligence Information Systems, which require high quality management and engineering support provided by Incumbent on a daily basis.  An operational availability of Intelligence and JISR Capabilities and proficiency of their use by J2 personnel are essential pillars of successful support to the J2 decision-making process.

• Supervisory Responsibilities:

Depending on requirements, may be required to direct and supervise the work priorities of one or more HQ multifunctional teams.  There are no reporting responsibilities.

This post reports to: Section Head (Intelligence Systems) - OF-4.  This post does not deputise anybody.

This post is not deputised by anybody.

7. Remarks

The work is performed in the basement, with no natural light and industrially processed air, in a typical office environment.  The incumbent is an observer of JF HQ NP Information Management Staff Officers Working Group (MSOWG).

CONTRACT:

The successful candidate will receive a three-year definite duration contract which may be followed by an indefinite duration contract.  NATO-serving staff members will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations (NCPRs).  

The basic entry-level monthly salary for a NATO Grade G10 in Italy is Euro 4,192.44 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. 

 HOW TO APPLY: 

1. HQ JFC Naples uses NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP), TALEO. 

In order to apply for this vacancy, please visit the platform at: https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en, and search for vacancies within the Headquarters of interest. 

2. Essential information must be included in the application form. Each question should be answered thoroughly.  Expressions such as “please see attached CV”, or invitations to follow links to personal webpages, are not acceptable, and will be disregarded.  Application forms must be filled out in English.  Relevant education and certificates must be attached to the application form.

3. Applications are automatically acknowledged within one working day after submission.  In the absence of an acknowledgment please make sure the submission process is completed, or, re-submit the application. 

4. Shortlisted candidates invited to the interview phase, will be requested to provide, where applicable, copies of University diplomas listing the exams sustained, transcripts (that is, list of courses with grades and dates), for all pertinent university and vocational training courses. 

5. Candidates’ individual telephone or email enquiries about the submission of their applications cannot be dealt with.  All candidates will receive a message indicating the outcome of their application.

Note that once you create your profile, you will be able to use it on NTAP to apply for other vacancies within NATO. 

Employment pre-requisites: 

Candidates are invited to submit their applications only if: 

· They are nationals of a NATO member country 

· They are over 21 and under 60 years of age at the time of taking up their appointments. Appointments of definite duration may be offered to candidates of 60 years of age or more, provided that the expiry date of the contract is not later than the date at which the candidate attains the age of 65.  

Additional information: 

 A NATO security clearance and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Advisor are essential conditions for appointment to this post.  Applicants are not required to possess a clearance at the time of applying, but they must be eligible for a clearance.  HQ JFC Naples will take action to obtain the required security clearance from the successful candidates’ national authorities. The selected candidate will be affiliated to the NATO Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (DCPS). For info please visit https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/86790.htm