NATO - Senior Policy Officer (Investment and Industry Adviser)

United Kingdom Joint Delegation to NATO

Brussels, Belgium

A full time position as a Senior Policy Officer in the Resources Team in the UK Joint Delegation to NATO in Brussels has become available. Initial responsibilities would be to act as the Investment and Industry Adviser in the team but the successful candidate will need to be flexible and adaptable to perform other duties as and when required.

NATO is a political/military Alliance of 28 nations, which needs resources to run its own civil and military headquarters and to sustain its own activities and programmes. Member countries make contributions to budgets managed directly by NATO, in accordance with an agreed cost-sharing formula, known as NATO Common Funding. The NATO Security and Investment Programme (NSIP) finances capital investment projects to support NATO operations such as Afghanistan, and to provide military headquarters/installations (i.e. airfields and harbours) and communication systems across the Alliance. The NSIP is worth around €800m annually and offers potential business opportunities for UK industry.

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity. We are looking for a professional and motivated officer to work in a busy team dealing with a wide range of NATO Common Funding issues. Resource issues are high on the NATO agenda and the UK is at the forefront of reform efforts, pursuing an ambitious agenda to balance resources and requirements, and changes to NATO’s financial and programme management practices.

You will work in a fully integrated civilian and military delegation representing UK interests in a fast moving multilateral environment. You will need excellent interpersonal and negotiating skills to build and exploit a large network of contacts across UK Government, industry representatives, other national delegations at NATO and the International Staff.

MAIN ROLE

• To represent the UK’s interests on the NATO Investment Committee which is responsible for implementing the NATO Security and Investment Programme (NSIP);
• To ensure that investment decisions are consistent with MoD priorities and deliver critical capabilities in a timely fashion and represent value for money;
• To pursue reform of NATO’s financial and resource management procedures as part of a process of continuous improvement;
• Establish and maintain contact with stakeholders in NATO and in UK Government departments, particularly the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence;
• To provide a structured, targeted service of support to UK industry pursuing NATO business;
• Working with UKTI and FCO, to develop innovative ways to promote NATO business opportunities to UK industry;
• Work closely with other colleagues in the Resources team to ensure coherence and visibility of common funding issues;
• Line management of a locally engaged support assistant.

SKILLS REQUIRED

Essential

• Good analytical skills and sound judgement to deliver results;
• Experience of working with a wide network of contacts demonstrating lobbying and influencing skills;
• Strong interpersonal and customer focus skills;
• Ability to grasp complex issues quickly and communicate them simply and effectively;
• Ability to work in a team, covering colleagues as necessary;
• Good organisational skills;
• Adaptability under pressure;
• Fluent written and spoken English;
• Good IT skills, preferably experience of Outlook, Word and PowerPoint;
• The job holder will occasionally be required to work extended hours during peak periods.

Desirable

• Knowledge of NATO and UK Government institutions and procedures;
• Resource/programme management experience;
• Previous industrial or commercial background would be useful but will be developed quickly on the job;
• Understanding of written and spoken French.

This position will be subject to satisfactory completion of UK security checks, and will be filled on a fixed term contract.

Gross Monthly LEI Salary: € 3444.87

Applications with a full CV in English and cover letter outlining how you meet the essential skills should be sent to the Recruitment Officer (brussels.recruitment@fco.go.uk), Corporate Services Benelux (CSB), Avenue d’Auderghem 10, 1040 Brussels by Wednesday 7 March 2012.

We expect to hold interviews on the week commencing 19 March 2012 with a view to the successful applicant starting work before the end of April 2012, subject to security clearance and administrative processes. Only applicants called for interview will be contacted. Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Belgium.

The British Missions in Brussels are an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified applicants regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or physical disability. We aim to reflect the diversity of society.