Job Description
The Young Professionals Programme
Through times of crisis and peace, NATO has safeguarded our freedom and security for 75 years and counting. Threats evolve every day and NATO is continuing to adapt to keep us safe. Together we will make sure our Alliance remains ready today to face the challenges of tomorrow.
We are launching an accelerator for your international career – the third cycle of our Young Professionals Programme (YPP). Through this global three-year programme, you will experience the frontline of a political and military alliance and start a journey of personal and professional development in a diverse and inclusive work environment. Together, we will enable NATO to:
- Address existing and emerging global challenges with security implications;
- Facilitate political consultation and dialogue between nations;
- Leverage innovation, science and technology to support peace and security;
- Stay ahead in cutting-edge domains such as cyber defence and defence innovation;
- Support multiple operations in land, at sea, and in the air, cyber and space domains;
- Contribute to the global effort to combat terrorism, piracy and human trafficking;
- Run crisis-management exercises that mobilize thousands of people and items of equipment;
- Research and develop innovative strategies and policies for NATO’s future agenda; and,
- Engage directly with NATO leaders, Allies and partners, think tanks and experts in support of current and developing projects, policies and programmes.
Do you want to make a difference and help protect close to one billion people across 32 NATO member states, including your own? If you are ready to take on this challenge, and are a national of a NATO member state, hold a Master’s degree and have at least one year of work experience, then apply for the YPP.
With you, we are stronger.
#WeAreNATO
Your role
Please note that we are recruiting three Young Professionals through this call for applications. Each of them will be assigned to a three-year rotation path as described below. Please read the path narrative carefully, as well as the instructions during the application process.
Path 1 – International Political Affairs:
During the three years of the path, you will be assigned to three different NATO bodies:
Year 1 - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) - (Norfolk, United States of America)
Year 2 - NATO International Military Staff (IMS) – NATO HQ - (Brussels, Belgium)
Year 3 - NATO International Staff (IS), Office of the Secretary General – NATO HQ - (Brussels, Belgium)
For more information, please see the path narrative here. You can also find more information about the NATO bodies here & the NATO Young Professionals Programme here.
Path 2 – Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis:
During the three years of the path, you will be assigned to three different NATO bodies:
Year 1 - NATO International Military Staff (IMS) – NATO HQ - (Brussels, Belgium)
Year 2 - NATO International Staff (IS), NATO Office of Resources (NOR) – NATO HQ - (Brussels, Belgium)
Year 3 - Allied Command Transformation (ACT) - (Norfolk, United States of America)
NATO body
For more information, please see the path narrative here. You can also find more information about the NATO bodies here & the NATO Young Professionals Programme here.
Path 12 – Cooperative Security & Partnerships development:
During the three years of the path, you will be assigned to three different NATO bodies:
Year 1 - Allied Command Operations (ACO) – JFC Naples - (Naples, Italy)
Year 2 - NATO International Staff (IS), Office of the Secretary General – NATO HQ - (Brussels, Belgium)
Year 3 - NATO International Military Staff (IMS) – NATO HQ - (Brussels, Belgium)
NATO body
For more information, please see the path narrative here. You can also find more information about the NATO bodies here & the NATO Young Professionals Programme here.
These three paths are great opportunities for you to apply your knowledge and skills in the broader area of International Political Affairs. As you gain experience, you will be given increasing responsibilities, such as:
- Formulating strategies and recommendations by suggesting policy directives and plans of action for immediate and longer-term solutions to strategic issues;
- Collaborating with colleagues to ensure NATO is able to integrate, and make best use of, national, multinational, and collective capabilities;
- Collaborating with colleagues to ensure NATO is able to conduct comprehensive analysis and assessments of crises and conflicts, strategic planning for campaigns and missions and strategic assessments of the progress of these campaigns and operations;
- Contributing to the development and implementation of NATO’s partnership programmes, policies, concepts and frameworks;
- Contributing to the development and implementation of the defence policy and planning dimension of Alliance activities in order to ensure coherence of the Alliance's overall deterrence and defence posture at the strategic political-military level;
- Contributing to facilitating political consultations among Allies in NATO;
- Preparing briefing notes, memoranda, checklists, answers to the press, speaking notes and other necessary background material in support of the Secretary General, committees, and ministerial and other high-level meetings;
- Contributing to the organization and provision of the necessary protocol and liaison services as applicable;
- Developing a network of contacts across and outside NATO, with capitals and subject-matter experts in academic institutions to allow proper monitoring of political affairs and creating inputs for policy development;
- Supporting the development and coordination of military common-funding resource policies and procedures and for the provision of advice on resource-related issues to the NATO Resource Committees;
- Coordinating and participating in projects and activities that need policy, procedural and resource-planning contributions and analysis;
- Conducting research on how common-funding policy has been applied;
- Mapping of Allied decisions on common-funded capabilities;
- Communications to promote common funding;
- Drafting advice and guidance on common-funding procedures;
- Supporting design, organization and delivery of strategic-level influence and promotion campaigns in support of strategic-level political-military leadership;
- Developing, researching and drafting policy analyses;
- Building a case for innovative new NATO policies at the strategic level;
- Assisting the Secretary General in shaping a case for policy innovation and adaptation;
- Helping implement NATO change-management initiatives;
- Researching and conceiving potential future scenarios that might shape policies;
- Leading and implementing projects to shape new policy thinking; and,
- Researching new trends and innovation in the field of International Political Affairs
Who we are looking for
The changing pace of the world demands that NATO and its people remain flexible, eager to learn and able to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. For a YPP position, we are looking for candidates with at least 1 year of professional experience.
For the three YPP paths above (International Political Affairs, Strategic Planning & Policy Analysis, and Cooperative Security & Partnerships development), we are generally interested in the following educational backgrounds:
- A Master’s degree in the field of political science, international relations, security studies, or another relevant discipline with a strong background in quantitative and qualitative analysis methods in social sciences;
- Any other degree that you believe can be useful to the area of International Political Affairs – let us know how your knowledge and skills can be applied!
Any of the following experience or skills would be considered as an asset:
- Demonstrate a strong interest & professional experience in international political affairs & policy developments;
- Demonstrate a strong interest & professional experience in defence policy, defence or strategic planning;
- Demonstrate a clear understanding of major current international political and political-military issues & global political developments;
- Have experience in conducting political research and policy analysis, and in preparing reports and briefing packages for high-level meetings;
- Have experience in multidisciplinary qualitative and quantitative analysis of crises and conflicts;
- Demonstrate a strong interest & professional experience in event preparation, planning and execution, and project management;
- Have excellent analytical & drafting skills;
- Be fluent in one of the two NATO official languages (French & English);
- Be proactive, have a can-do attitude and a willingness to learn and share information;
- Be able to build relationships across the Alliance. Teamwork, excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills.
What we offer
NATO will offer the Young Professionals:
- An experience of a lifetime at the forefront of an international organization where you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills and expand your professional network;
- A diverse and stimulating work and personal experience where you will be assigned to three different NATO bodies around the globe, one each year; and,
- A competitive salary and other benefits, including excellent health insurance and a generous annual leave package of 30 days.
Are you interested in being part of NATO and the YPP? Apply by 27 October 2024 [23:59 – CET Brussels]