Head, NSPO Secretariat
Pubblicato il 24-02-2026 - Nato in Lu
Primary Location
LU-Capellen
NATO Body
NATO International Staff (NATO IS)
Schedule
Full-time
Application Deadline
22-Mar-2026, 11:59:00 PM
Salary (Pay Basis)
13,039.44
Grade
NATO Grade G22
- SUMMARY
The NATO-Wide Coordination (NWC) Office is an independent office that supports enhanced governance, coherence, and institutional alignment across NATO agencies and bodies. This Office reports to the Secretary General through the Director-General for Management. NWC serves as the central point of coordination between NATO Headquarters and the governance structures of NATO’s executive bodies, ensuring integrated support to Agency Boards and alignment with NATO’s strategic priorities.
The incumbent administratively reports to the Director of the NATO-Wide Coordination Office, and serves functionally under the direction of the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation (NSPO) Agency Supervisory Board (ASB) Chairperson. The role has a high degree of autonomy and manages a dynamic team of specialised professionals.
The mission of the NSPO Secretariat is to serve the Chairpersons and national representatives of the NSPO ASB, NSPO Multinational Programme Boards (PBs) and their respective subordinate bodies. As custodian of NSPO governance frameworks, structures and processes, the NSPO Secretariatadvises on and supports nations’ oversight responsibilities and informed decision-making, through close coordination with the NWC Office, and the NSPO’s executive body, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
The Head of the NSPO Secretariat is responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the NSPO Secretariat staff as summarised below:
- directing the activities of the NSPO staff in support of the NSPO Secretariat’s mission;
- ensuring that the ASB Chairperson’s tasks are accomplished;
- supporting the NWC initiatives to enhance NATO-wide coherence in governance, policy and execution, as well as collaboration across relevant offices and committees;
- serving as custodian for and providing advice on NSPO governance matters;
- promoting consultative relationships and maintaining dialogue with all NSPO stakeholders.
The post holder may be required to travel occasionally and work beyond standard office hours.
Key challenges facing the successful candidate for this post during the next 2-3 years will include:
- Strengthen Enterprise-wide coherence and cross-organisational coordination to enhance the overall decision-making processes, ensuring that both voting and non-voting stakeholders contribute in a coherent and well-aligned manner that supports timely, effective and high-quality outcomes.
2. Reinforce the Organisation’s governance foundations to improve resilience and operational outputs, ensuring the NSPA can consistently meet its mandated strategic objectives and delivers on NSPO’s Mission.
In addition to completing the application form and the pre-screening questions, candidates will be asked to address these key challenges in an essay of no more than 2 A4 pages into total, which will be evaluated as part of the long listing assessment. Please see full instructions on how to apply at the end of the vacancy notice.
The post is part of the NATO Support and Procurement Organisation and administratively managed within the International Staff, NATO-Wide Coordination (NWC) Office and is located in Capellen, Luxembourg.
- QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Essential
The incumbent must:
- hold a university degree preferably in management sciences or business/public administration or equivalent;
- have at least 10 years of progressively relevant professional experience in the area of strategic planning and programme management, out of which a minimum of five years in team management and coordination;
- have broad experience in developing and interpreting policy in an executive or staff position at senior level in an international environment;
- have knowledge of information systems at end-user level with experience in using personal computers and software packages;
- have excellent networking, communication and negotiation skills;
- be able to draft documents and briefings quickly, clearly and concisely, give convincing presentations, and negotiate at senior level;
- be able to formulate and implement a long-term vision and strategic perspective;
- have relevant experience in supporting governance activitities of international organisation(s);
- possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one and II (“Elementary”) in the other;
DESIRABLE
The following would be considered an advantage:
- familiarity with political and protocol issues within NATO is highly desirable;
- defence or civil service staff college training;
- relevant professional qualifications;
- sound knowledge of the enduring principles of effective corporate governance processes, structures and frameworks.
- MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES
Policy Development
Contribute to the development of policy, directive and guidance documents in the areas of responsibility of the NSPO. Advise the Chairpersons of the relevant NSPO bodies, the national representatives and NSPA staff on NSPO’s governance processes, structures and frameworks. Provide advice to other NSPO stakeholders as required. Develop and update NSPO governance guidelines to ensure that the format, accuracy and quality of documents and presentations submitted to the ASB, PBs and other NSPO subordinate bodies,
to include NSPO Support Partnerships, are consistently and coherently applied.
Stakeholder Management
Coordinate the NSPO Secretariat’s support to the Chairpersons of the Central Europe Pipeline System (CEPS) PB, the NATO Airlift Management (NAM) PB and other NSPO subordinate bodies. Coordinate NSPO member nations’ input on documents and seek input from and consult with relevant stakeholders. Liaise with the NSPA General Manager and NSPA’s senior management, Chairpersons of NSPO PBs and other NSPO subordinate bodies, national representatives of NATO and Partner Delegations, the Secretary General’s Liaison Officer, International Military and Civilian Staff, Military Commands and other NATO bodies, as required.
Expertise Development
Provide direction and quality assurance of governance-related documents to be examined by the NSPO ASB and subordinate bodies, ensuring alignment with Nations’ informed decision-making. Respond to NSPO stakeholders’ questions and/or concerns based on sound research. Consider and assess disparate national positions on issues in order to assist national representatives in facilitating consensus based decision-making.
Organisational Efficiencies
Provide sound advice to ASB Chairperson on matters related to NSPO governance policy and administrative procedures, and address nuances associated with issues under consideration. Ensure that NSPO’s existing governance procedures and structures are maintained in order to create the conditions to support the NSPO Member Nations’ decision-making processes.
Project Management
Ensure that project/programme deliverables of the Secretariat are attainable and guide their progress. Identify risks and undertake contingency planning. Oversee the preparation of agendas and records of meetings of the NSPO ASB and its subordinate bodies, Chairpersons’ correspondence and speaking notes for meetings. Ensure appropriate tools are in place to track the status of actions and follow-up on the implementation of NSPO governing bodies’ decisions.
Financial Management
Plan, manage and ensure financial accountability and cost-effective execution for the assigned annual NSPO administrative budget and associated work strands which are developed, monitored and overseen by the Secretariat.
People Management
Support the Secretariat in cultivating a service-oriented, motivating, inclusive and efficient workplace. Plan, lead, direct and supervise the work of the personnel. Provide mentoring, coaching and training opportunities and be available to offer guidance at critical moments. Ensure that all staff under their responsibility have clarity about organisational, team and individual objectives. Provide regular, fair and objective feedback on performance, informally as appropriate, and via the HQ Performance Review and Development (PRD) system.
Representation of the Organisation
Represent the Organisation in internal and external meetings as delegated by the NSPO ASB Chairperson and/or NWC Director.
Knowledge Management
Draft well-staffed background briefs, progress reports, and other items for high-level meetings. Ensure that Representatives of NSPO ASB and those of its subordinate bodies have access to the necessary governance documentation and information. Ensure documents and proposals submitted to NSPO governing bodies have sufficient and relevant background information and context in order to create the conditions to support the NSPO Member Nations’ decision-making processes in line with the NSPO ASB Rules of Procedure. Ensure that records of permanent value are identified and preserved in accordance with the NATO Archiving and Retention policy.
Perform Other Managerial Functions As Required.
- INTERRELATIONSHIPS
The incumbent reports to the NSPO ASB Chairperson in the execution of the assigned function. Administratively, the incumbent reports to the Director, NATO Wide Coordination. The incumbent will develop close working relationships with relevant stakeholders, including National Delegations and the NSPA.
Direct reports: 4
Indirect reports: 4
- COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate:
- Achievement: Sets and works to meet challenging goals;
- Change Leadership: Personally leads change;
- Conceptual Thinking: Clarifies complex data or situations;
- Developing Others: Provides in-depth mentoring, coaching and training;
- Impact and Influence: Uses indirect influence;
- Initiative: Plans and acts for the long-term;
- Leadership: Positions self as the leader;
- Organisational Awareness: Understands organisational politics;
- Self-Control: Stays composed and positive even under extreme pressure.
- CONTRACT
Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of three years; possibility of renewal for up to three years, during which the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite duration contract.
Contract clause applicable:
In accordance with the contract policy, this is a post in which turnover is desirable for political reasons in order to be able to accommodate the Organisation's need to carry out its tasks as mandated by the Nations in a changing environment, for example by maintaining the flexibility necessary to shape the Organisation's skills profile, and to ensure appropriate international diversity.
The maximum period of service foreseen in this post is 6 years. The successful applicant will be offered a 3-year definite duration contract, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years. However, according to the procedure described in the contract policy the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite contract during the period of renewal and no later than one year before the end of contract.
If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a 3-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.
Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Régulations.
- USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS
Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries. Applications must be submitted using e-recruitment system, as applicable:
- For NATO civilian staff members only: please apply via the internal recruitment portal ( link );
- For all other applications: www.nato.int/recruitment
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When submitting your application, please ensure that your Taleo Candidate Profile is updated and that your CV is correctly uploaded in the Taleo attachments section.
Please note that the competition for this post is provisionally scheduled as follows:
Pre-selection testing: mid-April 2026;
Final selection: second half of May 2026, in Brussels, Belgium.
More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/recruit-hq-e.htm)
Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate), approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser, verification of your study(ies) and work experience, and the successful completion of the accreditation and notification process by the relevant authorities.
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.
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
https://www.nato.int/content/dam/nato/webready/documents/hr/2025/article-8.pdf