Staff Officer (Modeling & Simulation Technical SME/Advisor)

Post Context

ACT contributes to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of Alliance member states by leading, at Strategic Command level, Warfare Development required to enhance NATO's posture, military structures, forces, capabilities and doctrines.

The Joint Force Development (JFD) Directorate consists of six HQ SACT-based Branches that, together with the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC), Joint Force Training Centre (JFTC) and Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (JALLC), have responsibility for NATO Force Development activities. The aim is to improve interoperability amongst NCS, NFS as well as interoperable Partners' forces allocated to NATO, and enhance capabilities, to undertake the full spectrum of Alliance missions.

The Modelling & Simulation (M&S), Distributed Learning Branch provides M&S and Distributed Learning support to the NCS in the areas of operational planning, capability development (including defence planning), strategic and operational exercising and wargaming, utilizing Subject Matter Experts in M&S, education & training technologies, instructional systems design and information systems.

This position will assist the Section Head M&S to support the NCS in the areas of operational planning, capability development (including defence planning), and Wargaming. This position will also support application of M&S to support the NCS in the areas of strategic and operational exercising and training. In particular, the position will specialize in simulation support to analytical studies while still ensuring to remain up to date on other aspects of simulation use within NATO.

Principal Duties: 

• Lead and conduct work to identify, scope and define NATO needs that may be satisfied with M&S, on strategic and operational planning, functional planning (logistics, CIS, etc.), testing and visualization of new concepts, operational experimentation and wargaming events, definition of NATO capabilities including enabling the evaluation of architectures and comparison of alternative solutions and test of new NATO capabilities against its user requirements.
• Recruit, co-ordinate and supervise the selection of industry and conduct the execution of innovative demonstrations to the NAC and MC during Crisis Management Exercises and other events to gain buy-in from the nations and the IS, IMS and SHAPE to inform the assisted decision-making capability program and other programs as needed.
• Act as the lead and subject matter expert for simulations used to support analytical studies. This includes investigation of possible solutions, liaising with nations and industry to determine likely solutions, selection of the best data sources, budgeting and program execution. This involves working with analysts as part of a team.
• Act as lead for all aspects of analytical simulations during the development of the Next Generation NATO M&S.
• Lead and conduct work with NATO institutions, allied and partner governmental organization when duly authorized, as well as academia and industry from NATO nations to research and identify potential M&S solutions across the spectrum of NATO needs.
• Perform development of methodology, design, execution, post-processing, and socialization of M&S in support of analytical wargames
• Lead the definition of requirements for NATO M&S standards to be developed by the NMSG related to operation analysis, wargames and decision- making.
• Lead and conduct, in coordination with the NATO Innovation Board, the Innovation Champion and the Innovation Branch of Capability Development, specific M&S technology watch, with a particular focus on disruptive technologies, game changing solutions and potential innovation opportunities for NATO.in particular, work with the Innovation Branch to ensure that best practices are followed regarding the use of simulation to support wargaming and experimentation.
• As directed by the Section Head, deliver M&S subject matter expertise that informs the NATO strategic foresight analysis efforts, NATO defence planning and capability and force development efforts, including capability requirements formulation, concept development and experimentation and analysis of alternatives.
• As directed by the Section Head, support to the entire command in order to coherently and effectively outreach, influence and collaborate with M&S entities such as the M&S COE (in coordination with the COE Programme Development Brach), the NATO M&S Group of the NATO Science & Technology Organization (in coordination with the Future Technology Branch), industry, academia (in coordination with the Future Technology Branch) and all other relevant M&S-focused and innovation entities.
• Act as simulation advisor to the Nuclear Branch when conducting specialist studies.
• Lead cross-directorate or cross-divisional teams working on projects requiring an M&S presence.
• Work closely with data scientists, functional SMEs, contracting, legal, and other staffs needed to support the effort.
• When work is being supported by contractors, act as the contracting officer's technical representative in a supervisory role.
• As directed by the Section Head, support BH mentoring of the M&S COE.
• Represent ACT and act on behalf of DCOS JFD and ACOS JFD in M&S NATO, national, industry and academia forums and events when required. The fora include the NMSG, International Training and Education Conference (ITEC), Industry, Inter-service Training, Simulation and Education Conference (1/ITSEC), Computer Aided Analysis exercise and Experimentation (CA2X2) Forum and others.
• As directed by the Section Head, support the BH on management of the M&S portion of the Branch budget when required.
• Organize, lead and promote ACT M&S event as directed by the Section Head,
• As directed by the Section Head, support of the BH on managing of HQ SACT M&S projects.
• Participate in activities of the NATO M&S Group (NMSG) with a focus on the M&S related to operation analysis, wargames and decision-making.

Essential Qualifications / Experience:

• University Degree and 2 years functional related experience.
• Three (3) years of experience on international military environments.
• Three (3) years of experience in M&S 
• Three (3) years of experience in M&S supporting the design, development, planning and reporting of wargames, exercises, experiments, seminars, simulations, workshops, or other similar events.
• Practical experience with PC office automation products, including the use of internet for information research.

Language:

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

Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

• Master's degree in computer science, Operations Research, Mathematics, Statistics, or a very related discipline.
• Graduate education related to information management.
• Experience working in a military and/or multinational organization.
• Participation in the management and conduct of modelling and simulation programs.
• Experience on M&S application to related to operation analysis, wargames and decision making.

Attributes/Competencies:

Personal Attributes:

• Capable of working harmoniously in a multinational environment. Able to work effectively without direct supervision in organizing projects that involve the participation of military and scientific experts. Must be in good health and be prepared to travel within and outside North America in support of the listed duties.

Professional Contacts:

• Able to liaise effectively both within and outside the HQ with military and civilian personnel up to the rank/position equivalent to OF-6. Outside contacts include subject matter experts from NATO HQ, NATO agencies and research centers, and national government agencies and industry.

Contribution To Objectives:

• The incumbent provides modelling and simulation advice to HQ SACT staff that support the development of policy, capabilities, and common-funded M&S in support of capability development, training and education. Must be able to influence on the M&ST solutions as identified by the Strategic Commands, which, in turn, lead to financial decisions on software, hardware and contractor support commitments. 
• Must have an influence on NATO capability development and transformation. 
• This post will ensure that the most effective use is made of M&S in the development and transformation of Alliance 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 HQ SACT web 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 G15 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 29 September 2025 @ 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).