Senior Analyst (DCIS Requirements and Policies)

Post Context/Post Summary

The NATO Communications and Information Systems (CIS) Group plans, deliver and supports NATO’s Deployable Communication and Information Systems (DCIS) in order to enable command and control (C2) for NATO’s deployed HQs.

The J5 Division is responsible for the analysis, evaluation, development and improvement of NCISG overall internal Directives and Concepts and leads NCISG activities regarding the development and improvement of in service DCIS capabilities.

The Plans and Policy Development Branch leads the analysis, evaluation, development and improvement of NCISG overarching concepts and policies.

The incumbent is responsible for analysing the ACO wide concepts, plans implementation, and identify eligible DCIS requirements to enable SACEUR’s modern C2 in line with New Force Model and Digital Transformation roadmap. Additionally, is providing NCISG with the comprehensive business impact analysis of ACO Concepts and Plans on Deployable CIS policies and requirements outline.

Principal Duties

The incumbent's duties are:

1.    Analyse and execute the tasks as directed by the Branch Head and the Division.

2.    Analyse, validates, consolidates and manages, actionable, measurable and testable Deployable Communication information systems (DCIS) requirements emerged from the ACO operational and strategic concepts and plans to extant of NATO Level of Ambition.

3.    Lead NCISG’s cross-divisional analysis of ACO wide concepts and policies to identify the impact of changes to DCIS policies and requirements.

4.    Documents and configures the requirements in various forms and ensure compliance with applicable NATO and/or civilian standards including NATO Defence Planning Capabilities Codes and Statements.

5.    Liaise with ACO, ACT, NATO C&I Agency, NCISG HQ and subordinate commands regarding the definition of new DCIS capabilities performance requirements deployed operations and exercises.

6.    Oversee exercise/operation lessons learned analysis in the context of the evaluation of the DCIS deliveries for any DCIS capability shortfalls or any discrepancies between the operational requirements and the delivered DCIS and initiate appropriate actions to address them.

7.    Collaborate with ACO and ACT stakeholders to prioritize DCIS capabilities delivery in alignment with the operational requirements and fielded DCIS capabilities lifecycle.

8.    Lead the DOTMLPFI assessments against new DCIS capabilities requirements and co-ordinate and raise initial requirements for new DCIS development, amendments to existing requirements and projects.

9.    Responsible for the co-ordination, collation and validation of operational requirements for Deployable CIS (DCIS).

10. Identifies the stakeholders and defines operational requirements for DCIS Analyse and consolidates the operational requirements for DCIS with the operational users and act as DCIS Operational Requirement Team.

11. Leader when delegated by SHAPE J6 Cyberspace Co-ordinate and raise initial DCIS requirements for Urgent Requirements Requests (URR) and Project Submission Requests (PSR).

12. Determines whether the stated DCIS requirements are clear, complete, compatible and/or unambiguous and then resolving any unclear, incomplete, incompatible and/or conflicting issues, Co-ordinate and provide inputs concerning DCIS to ACO operational concepts and plans.

13. Support and advice SHAPE J6 Cyberspace on DCIS capability development process and outline DCIS program scope, objectives and deliverables associated to the programs of work.

14. Contributes to DCIS system development and associated programmers of work Contributes to the design and implementation of DCIS architectures in support of operations and exercises. 

15. Provide focal point for representing the Commander NATO CIS Group concerning all ACO DCIS requirements (urgent to long-term) at NATO and other international and national headquarters, commands, agencies, Conferences, working groups, and boards inside and outside SHAPE.

16. Ensure compliance of ACO DCIS requirements with applicable NATO and/or civilian standards and architectures including security requirements.

17. Provides assessment of DCIS Migration impact on operational level.

18. Advise on analysis of new requirements (e.g. Information Exchange Requirements (IER), Business Processes) for DCIS interoperability compatibility reasons and their enhancement.

19. Surveys external emerging developments, and evaluates new technologies, standards and methodologies that will have a positive impact on the quality of service.

20. Act as a DCIS polices and requirements Subject Metter Expert and provide coordinated guidance and advise within his/her domain of expertise.

21. Consolidate and advise inputs from NATO CIS Group HQ, NATO CIS Group Subordinate Elements, and from other elements of the J5 Division to contribute to the development of DCIS requirements policy, plans directives and guidance issues.

22. Maintaining close and coordinated operating ties with the Branch Head (Capability Development and Implementation and Improvement Branch) and with NCISG J3 Future Operation Branch (FOB) to ensure a harmonized effort and synchronized effect between J5 and J5 activities.

23. Lead the development of NATO CIS Group Concept of Operations (CONOPS) and Operating Instructions/procedures and their interoperability with other service providers, etc.

24. Lead policy documents development by NCISG J5in order to ensure coherence and alignment with Cyberspace strategies and Digital transformation roadmap.

25. Provide CIS related briefings as directed supporting cross-divisional and Command Group (CG) situational awareness, training and preparation.

26. Provide DCIS technical support/advice to the Group's formal Agreements and/or Arrangements negotiation process.

Special Requirements and Additional Duties

The incumbent may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organisation at the same grade without there being any change to the contract. This a mandatory deployment post. The incumbent may be required to undertake deployments in support of military operations and exercises, and/or TDY assignments, both within and outside NATO’s boundaries. For NATO International Civilian Staff, acceptance of an employment contract linked to this post constitutes agreement to deploy in excess of 30 days if required.

Essential Qualifications

A.        Professional/Experience

1.    Background in in operations and/or engineering support of CIS including at least 5 years pertinent and practical experience in working on the technical aspects of IT service delivery within a multinational alliance situation/environment.

2.    Minimum 4 years’ experience in developing and managing requirements for Deployable CIS taxonomies for data interoperability and information sharing.

3.    Demonstrable understanding of technology associated with mobile/deployable communications and 'IT' services and systems and be able to conduct technology watch activities with regard to their applicability to the deployable scenarios and interoperability with other service providers.

4.    Demonstrable evidence of technical experience in the field of CIS Service Management and Control in a federated system, particularly in the area of information sharing and service interoperability.

B.        Education/Training

University Degree in information technology, information systems engineering, business administration, quality engineering, engineering, economics, public administration, operations research, business process engineering or related discipline and 2 years function related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.

C.        Language

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

Desirable Qualifications

A.           Professional Experience

1.    5 years CIS Plans and requirements Staff experience.

2.    Previous experience with mobile/deployable communications and 'IT' systems and reach-back capabilities to static organizational unit/HQ.

3.    Experienced Communications Officer with practical knowledge of deployable command post operations, mobile communications and 'IT' systems, and their related support and sustainment maintenance procedures.

4.    Knowledge of European military and civilian telecommunications and CIS/IT systems.

5.    Experience in NATO working environment or other international organisations.

6.    Knowledge of 'IT' and communications industry defined framework (ITIL, CoBIT).

7.    Knowledge of PRINCE 2 project management methodology.

B.           Education/Training

1.    NATO C4ISR Orientation for Officers (CCC-SM-22206) provided by NATO Communications and Information Academy (NCI Academy)

2.    NATO CIS Operational Planning (CCC-SM-32208) provided by NATO Communications and Information Academy (NCI Academy)

3.    Resource Management Education Programme (RMEP) Course (ETE-FI-2708) provided by NATO - School Oberammergau (NSO)

4.    NATO Orientation Course (ETE-MW-3834) provided by NATO - School Oberammergau (NSO)

Attributes/Competencies

1.    Personal Attributes: The incumbent will need to display a high degree of professionalism and technical expertise in performance of their duties. The rapidly changing NATO environment, the delineation of responsibilities between different NATO HQs and Agencies, and the growth of the number and the complexity of user requirements creates a requirement to solve numerous complex problems and challenges, which shall require the incumbent to draw upon a comprehensive ability to reason, analyze, act with persuasion and diplomacy. Many of the arising problems will require the ability to analyze complex problems considering varied timelines of the evolution of user requirements and availability of DCIS capabilities. The incumbent’s analyze of these problems, and his resulting actions, will impact the delivery of DCIS capability to meet SACEUR’s operational tasking on a principal and long-term timeline.

2.    Professional Contacts: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Frequent contacts with ACO J6, NSB’s, C&I Agency, Support Agency and other NATO HQ’s and Commands. Works with host nation, as required, for defining the engineering standards for networking, integration and interfacing of new automation and/or CIS equipment to the existing NATO CIS and associated national networks.

3.    Contribution to Objectives: The incumbent will be personally responsible for the development of requirements engineering content to the high-level long-term operational picture, including NATO CIS group capabilities, high-level user requirements and C&I agency service provision and the incumbent will also be responsible for the modeling of a high-level communications and information systems architecture (NATO CIS Overarching Architecture). to include the definition, coordination, collation and validation of operational requirements for information systems as well as associated interoperability and security requirements, and managing configuration of the requirements baseline.

REMARKS:

During crisis of MLE the incumbent is reassigned to the NCISG HQ Crisis Establishment (CE) or the DCIS Support Group, as detailed in the respective CE.

Duration of contract: Serving staff members will be offered a contract according to the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations (NCPR).  Newly recruited staff will be offered a definite duration contract of three years normally followed by an indefinite duration contract.

The salary will be the basic entry-level monthly salary defined by the NATO Grade of the post, which may be augmented by allowances based on the selected staff member’s eligibility, and which is subject to the withholding of approximately 20% for pension and medical insurance contributions. 

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. 

Building integrity is a key element of NATO’s core tasks. As an employer, NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency, and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.

We believe that all people are capable of great things.  Because of this, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the criteria listed within this job description.

Applicants who prove to be competent for the post but who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment in another post of a similar nature, which might become vacant in the near future, albeit at the same or lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements. 

HOW TO APPLY FOR A NATO CIVILIAN POST AT SHAPE:

Applications are to be submitted using NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) (https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobsearch.ftl?lang-en).  Applications submitted by other means (e.g. mail, e-mail, fax, etc) are not accepted.

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Application Process 

Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide original documentary evidence and a set of copies supporting statements in their applications. Appointment is subject to obtaining a NS security clearance and a medical certificate.

A copy of the qualification/certificate covering the highest level of education required by the job description must be provided as an attachment. Essential information must be included in the application form. Particular attention should be given to Education and Experience section of the application form. The application should be in English. Shortlisted candidates will be requested to provide original documentary evidence and a set of copies supporting statements in their applications. After submitting your application, you will receive an acknowledgement of receipt of your application.

Remarks: 

A) Only nationals from the 32 NATO member states can apply for vacancies at SHAPE. 

B) Applications are automatically acknowledged within one working day after submission. In the absence of an acknowledgement please make sure the submission process is completed, or, re-submit the application. 

C) Candidates’ individual telephone, e-mail or telefax enquiries cannot be dealt with. All candidates will receive an answer indicating the outcome of their application