Staff Officer (Programme Manager iAFSC) - Project Linked

We are NATO’s own Airborne Early Warning and Control Force. We are Many Nations, One Force—United to detect, direct and dominate the airspace and defend the Alliance.

An exciting opportunity has become available on the Force’s capability transition programme for an experienced Project Manager with strong leadership skills and sound knowledge related to the use of military aircraft in European Airspace.

NATO’s current Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet, a key surveillance and control asset, is scheduled to retire around 2035. The initial Alliance Future Surveillance & Control Capability (iAFSC) initiative will deliver an initial element to mitigate the risk of airborne surveillance and control capability gap. The chosen iAFSC acquisition strategy plans to deliver the requirements defined by the NATO strategic commands and to meet operational needs of NATO and nations. The approach recognizes the benefits of economies of scale, commonality and interoperability deriving from multinational acquisition of military off-the-shelf platforms. It also ensures a smooth transition from the existing capability across other lines of development and into the future of an EMAR compliant environment.

This vacancy notice is for a NATO-2030 agenda project-linked NATO International Civilian (PLN) post and is limited to a three-year definite duration project. The position is to be filled as soon as possible. In view of the urgency of this project, qualified candidates who hold or have recently held a valid NATO or National security clearance with previous professional experience related to NATO will be given priority consideration.

To learn more about the NAEW&C Force, click here: NATO AWACS | Home

ABOUT YOU

We are seeking a highly skilled project manager to join our team at the NATO Early Warning and Control Force Geilenkirchen, Germany.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for developing project plans and deliverables, directs all project phases and acts as primary contact for Project activities.
• Oversees all phases of projects or subsystems of major projects from inception through completion.
• Coordinates the operational aspects of ongoing projects and serves as liaison between project and team, planning, scheduling and line management.
• Uses trend, operational value and variance analyses and risk assessments to develop plans or to recommend change.
• Acts as primary project contact to establish key stakeholder requirements and project objectives.
• Manages via project deliverables, all technical and functional staff assigned to the project.
• Performs project close-out and documents progress activities as necessary.
• Effectively communicate project expectations to team members and stakeholders in a timely and clear fashion.
• Identify and manage actively opportunities, risks and issues to ensure effective resolution or mitigation, and co-ordinate required activities to ensure successful delivery.
• Liase with project stakeholders.
• Estimate the resources needed to achieve project goals.
• Determine and assess need for additional staff and/or consultants, contractors.
• Set and continually manage project expectations with team members and other stakeholders.
• Delegate tasks and responsibilities to appropriate personnel through the Force’s tasking system.
• Identify and resolve issues and conflicts within the project team.
• Identify and manage project dependencies and the associated critical path(s).
• Plan, schedule and manage project timelines and milestones using appropriate tools.
• Track and report project status relative to the approved plan and scope, with transparency and insight into overall health of the project.
• Develop and deliver progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation, and Presentations.
• Define project success criteria and disseminate them to involved parties throughout project life cycle.
• Effectively run Project meetings from project kick-off to Post implementation Review ensuring all stakeholders meet their responsibilities.

DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE

Previous or current experience of working with NATO and national Ministry of Defence is desired, but relevant experience with other Military Organisations or Government Departments may be acceptable. The work, both oral and written, in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English. Ideal candidates must process excellent oral and written communication skills (English SLP 4444 or CEFR C2 (Proficient user).

SKILLS

• Analytical thinking, resourceful mindset.
• Creativity, innovation and ethical thinking in applying solutions.
• Taking initiatives to keep skills up to date and thriving for continuous operational improvement.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to brief, mentor and/or influence others.
• Integrity, self-drive and ability to work in a complex environment with minimum supervision.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Basic German language skills would be beneficial.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Please attach any documentation that you consider to be particularly relevant to the qualification requirements specified in this advertisement. Any documentation submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by at least an unofficial translation.

CONTRACT

The successful candidate will fill this post as a Project Related NATO International Civilian (PLN) with a three-year definite duration contract (if not seconded).

For serving NATO international Civilians: contract will be offered in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations and the additional Nations’ guidance (MCM-0061-2023 for NATO 2030 Project Linked NICs). The selected staff member will get a definite duration contract regardless of the current contract, with the exception of the case when they have more than 10 years of service, in which case they will receive an indefinite duration contract.

SALARY

Salary values indicated in this vacancy notice are based on the new Single Salary Spine scale.

WHAT DO WE OFFER?

• Excellent tax-free salary, including (where eligible) expatriation, family and children's allowances and additional privileges for expatriate staff.
• Education allowance for children (where appropriate) and an excellent private health insurance scheme.
• Generous annual leave and home leave (if eligible).
• Retirement Pension Plan.

TEST/INTERVIEW

Our recruitment office will provide further guidance for invited candidates.