OPFOR Media Role-player

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU, and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting 

The NATO Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) is a NATO establishment focused on improving the Alliance's operational capabilities through training and exercises. Located in Stavanger, Norway, the JWC plays a critical role in preparing NATO forces for future challenges by:

• Training and Exercises
  • Conducting large-scale, joint operational-level training events, simulations, and exercises to enhance interoperability among NATO member nations.
• Doctrine Development
  • Contributing to the development and refinement of NATO doctrines and concepts by providing feedback and insights from exercises and training activities.
• Operational Support
  • Offering expert support to NATO operations, missions, and exercises, ensuring that lessons learned are integrated into future training and planning.

 The JWC supports NATO's overall strategic objectives by ensuring that its forces are well-prepared and capable of responding to various global threats and challenges.

The program 

To deliver each full exercise cycle the JWC relies heavily on an Exercise Control (EXCON) structure. EXCON staff members are drawn from several backgrounds and units including JWC staff, NATO component commands, Training Audience (TA) Headquarters, Partner Nations and other augmenters’ positions. EXCON has both direction and control functions which allow it to establish the conditions needed by the TA to achieve the exercise aim and objectives. EXCON size and structure is flexible and is shaped to the requirement of each phase of exercise delivery. When it is not possible to fill a position from military sources, the JWC has the option to source a contractor to fill a position. Not all contracted positions are required for each phase of each exercise.

Role Background

The OPFOR Media Role-player directly supports the media simulation and OPFOR StratCom mission by creating strategic news and social media content from the adversarial perspective based on daily D&G from Chief Media and OPFOR StratCom

Role Duties and Responsibilities

MEL/MIL Scripting Conference:

• Review exercise and scenario documentation including Road to Crisis, CSUs, OPFOR Campaign Plan, media outlets/journalists and media landscape.
• Maintain constant coordination with Online Content Manager, OPFOR StratCom, and Chief Media to identify and create OPFOR media content to support storylines across all functional areas for multiple TV, online and social media outlets based on coordination with OPFOR and Media.
• Perform as an OPFOR Media SME advising all scripters on: media implications of incidents; opportunities for information effects; and requirements/procedures for media related injects.
• Develop media injects to supplement storyboards and incidents throughout duration of the EMPLOYEX.
• Ensure injects focus on the appropriate level effects.
• Script OPFOR related online news articles and social media content IAW media SOP and ready for final refinement during execution.
• Synchronize media injects across media life cycle and exercise battle rhythm.

Execution (Block E):

• Prior to STARTEX, review exercise scenario documentation, the latest OPFOR plan and the JEMM database to ensure media framework for assigned storylines is complete and in line with established standards for NewsWeb distribution with appropriate social media support.
• Create both pre-scripted and dynamic OPFOR news and social media content as required by the MEL/MIL, TA activity and EXCON D&G.
• Perform daily as a roleplaying OPFOR journalist in media engagements with TA staff to include one-on-one interviews, press conferences, phone and email interviews.
• Coordinate relevant inject details to OPFOR TV role-player.
• Support JEMM media inject management: monitor/update Battle Log and Inject Status; ensure media content is prepared in due course and posted in a timely manner.
• Review and copy edit all OPFOR media content produced by other media staff to ensure consistency, continuity and relevance to appropriate storylines and desired effects.
• Track dynamic changes to media play and translate guidance into timely OPFOR media content. Exploit TA activity dynamically in online and social media content.
• Ensure assigned media content is accurate and relevant by coordinating as required with other media staff and SMEs from Response Cells, CAX, Intel, HICON, LOCON, and others.
• Dynamically exploit TA actions, decisions and online activity.
• Coordinate/create/post strategic social media hashtags and troll activity based on daily D&G to support upcoming exercise play.
• Provide daily OPFOR inputs to the overall exercise media product matrix in order to capture media statistics for EXCEN brief/analysis and to ensure TA is receiving balanced coverage.
• Provide daily OPFOR input to the Chief Media.
• Attend/chair OPFOR meetings as required to include boards, working groups, cell coordination, and Crisis Action Teams.

Essential Skills and Experience

• At least 5 years (in last 10 years) professional real-world or exercise experience in support of military StratCom (PA/IO/PSYOPS) to include creation of print/broadcast/social media content
• Operational-level military exercise experience within the last 10 years.
• Expert knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• They must provide a link to an online portfolio with at least 5 examples of published media content produced in support of military public affairs or information operations.

Education

• Post-secondary education or equivalent practical experience relevant to current affairs, media and military information domain

Language

• Business English

Working Location

• Stavanger, Norway
• Remote work may be requested on an ADHOC per requirement basis

Working Policy

• Each exercise support requirement is anticipated to be 5 to 15 working days per event
• On-Site, unless otherwise specified with up to 12-hour days
• If out of normal hours work is required, this will be requested on a per requirement basis

Travel

• Any associated travel costs to and from your home location to participate in the activity will be covered by Spektrum

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance