Staff Assistant (Operations and Exercise Support)

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 Management Directorate is responsible for the integration, coordination and implementation of services and activities to support, facilitate and contribute to the full JFCNF mission spectrum. The Directorate advises and assists the COS on the implementation of policy and related issues. 

The Base Support Group (BSG) is responsible for internal management and coordination of base support operations for JFCNF and collocated entities. 

The Real-Life Support (RLS) Office provides a single point of contract and helpdesk function within the BSG for support services and equipment requests for supply, transportation and infrastructure management. It is also responsible for all coordinating activities and requirements within BSG. 

The incumbent serves as primary support in the conduct of Operations and Exercises. 

Principal Duties:

• Assists with the Command’s future RLS requirements for Operations and Exercises, this includes but not limited to catering, lodging, transportation, supplies, security, medical, morale and welfare services and activities. 
• Establishes and maintains links with HQ elements and Host Nation to support Arrangements. 
• Secures lodging accommodations for external personnel participating in Operations, exercises and events. 
• Initiate and handle purchase order requests in coordination with J4 and J8 for requisition of goods and services. 
• Initiate and coordinate input to administrative instructions and information in support of operations, exercises and events. 
• Organize, coordinate and conduct in-processing of event participants in relation to event staffing, on-ward travel arrangements, transportation, catering, accommodations and other specific RLS requirements, security and facilities access, and CIS accessibility. 
• Contributes to the planning of allocation of facilities for event participants. 
• Report and escalate any RLS issues to the Office Head as necessary, about event/exercise planning, preparation and execution phases. 

Essential Qualifications / 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.
• Four years’ extensive experience in finance and audit function at large units, including knowledge of working practices of large organizations. 
• Four years’ recent operational experience in a Joint Headquarters. 
• Participation to at least two major multinational or combined exercises. 
• Experience as Instructor at Training Institutions. 

Language:

English - SLP 3322 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

• Exercise and training background, with knowledge on the organization and planning of Operations and Exercises. 
• Experience in interacting with senior and flag officers. 
• Instructional Techniques for Instructors. 
• Familiarity with NATO structures and procedures. 

Attributes/Competencies:

Personal Attributes: The incumbent must be self-motivated and is expected to work unsupervised in the performance of assigned duties. The incumbent should display sound independent judgment and have the confidence to exercise that judgment where required. The incumbent must exhibit and employ tact and diplomacy within a team environment.  He/she must also be capable of expressing both him/herself orally and written to Senior Management. 

Professional Contacts: The incumbent would be required to regularly interact with colleagues at JFC’s and the Single Service Commands. Must be able to liaise effectively, both internally and externally with military and civilian personnel of all grades and ranks. 

Contribution To Objectives: The post provides Real Life Support (RLS) for operations and exercises issues in close coordination with Protocol, Office of Financial Controller, Legal Advisor, and other Divisions as necessary. 

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 G10 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.

This vacancy will close on 26 April 2025 @ 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).