Officer, Innovation Unit (2 posts + Reserve List) *

(*) Through this competition, the NATO International Staff seeks to select qualified applicants in order to constitute a reserve list for Officer Positions in the Innovation Unit. Two positions are currently open, pending budget availability: Innovation Officer, Emerging and Disruptive Technologies (EDT) and Innovation Officer, Transatlantic Defence and Security.

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
The incumbent must:

• hold a masters’ degree in the field of international security, business administration, or an innovation related science masters’ degree;
• have a minimum of 4 years’ work experience in fields relevant for this position;
• have experience of work with very senior (political) executives in international and/or political organisations;
• demonstrate innovation experience across either the public, private, and/or academic sectors;
• be familiar with the strategic issues and security challenges facing the Alliance;
• possess excellent communication skills and the ability to convince senior stakeholders;
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“advanced”) in both English and French.

DESIRABLE

• very good understanding and knowledge of the NATO enterprise to assist with the coordination of implementing NATO’s EDT Strategy;
• degree in economics or defence economics;
• professional certification in project and/or programme management;
• experience in a similar position, with a focus on defence acquisition or security policy and/or international relations, for a national administration or in an international environment, including working experience with academia, government institutions in NATO Member and partner countries;
• working knowledge of macroeconomics, trade policies and their applicability to defence and security when merged with emerging technologies;
• good understanding of the capital markets and how to create and use financial tools to support innovation efforts.

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Stakeholder management
Work with stakeholders at multiple levels (political through to implementers) across the NATO enterprise, with Allied nations, other international organizations, the private sector and academia. With a view to both helping to coordinate the delivery of strategic efforts and also seeking new opportunities.
Project Management
Find opportunities for innovation in the context of emerging technologies to grow across the NATO enterprise whilst also helping to manage ongoing projects. This would include collaborating with entrepreneurial actors through innovation events to drive NATO’s innovation agenda.

Policy Development
Support the development of general and specific policy documents relevant for the efficient implementation of the Innovation Unit’s work. Contribute to the development and provide input to policy, strategy and conceptual papers developed by colleagues and Allies. In coordination with other NATO stakeholders, advocate and coordinate the Alliance’s robust approach towards emerging and disruptive technologies. Under the guidance of the Head of Unit, develop and implement high-level frameworks and policies to enable NATO to draw value from developments in innovation, with an initial focus on Alliance operations and missions.

Expertise Development
Provide advice and recommendations. Draft speeches, reports, briefing materials, and other items for high-level meetings. Apply and expand professional experience in the innovation and technology fields relevant to defence and security issues. Support decision makers in understanding the opportunities and risks of emerging and disruptive technologies to support political and operational decision making. Ensure that NATO is able to make a significant contribution in broader innovation related discussions beyond the Alliance.

Information Management
Be responsible for the development and application of assessment tools and techniques. Ensure cross-sectional and divisional collaboration. Enhance coordination and harmonise the different aspects of work. Prepare documents and inputs, including tables of figures requiring careful presentation on innovation activities in Excel and PowerPoint.

Representation of the Organization
Contribute to public information efforts, including making presentations to visitors to NATO Headquarters, providing briefings to the media, and by representing the Alliance at conferences and symposia. Present and communicate NATO policies and goals on behalf of the Organization.

Knowledge Management
Support the development of articles, briefings and web stories on innovation activities. Provide input to different public documents which are being issued in relation to innovation efforts. Support public diplomacy efforts, including on social media and the website, in co-operation with NATO Public Diplomacy Division (PDD) in this regard. Organise events, and information days in NATO and partner countries, as needed.
Perform any other related duty as assigned.

4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS
The incumbent reports to the Unit Head, Innovation. S/he will develop close working relationships with other sections of the ESC Division, and will oversee coordination with other divisions of the NATO International Staff, the International Military Staff, the Science and Technology Organization, NATO Strategic Commands – in particular Allied Command Transformation – the NATO Communications and Information Agency, and national delegations as necessary.
Direct reports: N/A
Indirect reports: N/A

5. COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate:

• Analytical Thinking: Makes complex plans or analyses;
• Clarity and Accuracy: Checks own work;
• Conceptual Thinking: Applies learned concepts;
• Customer Service Orientation: Takes personal responsibility for correcting problems;
• Impact and Influence: Takes multiple actions to persuade;
• Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation;
• Organisational Awareness: Understands organisational climate and culture;
• Teamwork: Solicits inputs and encourages others.
  

6. CONTRACT