Senior Advisor

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 JWC Higher Control (HICON) group acts as a response cell (RC) during the preparation and execution of the operational phases of (CRP, MEL/MIL, EMPLOYEX) JWC-directed exercises. HICON represents and mimics the politicalmilitary command and control echelons that sit above the training audience’s (TA’s) military only command and control echelon. These replicated organizations can include political-military entities (e.g. the North Atlantic Council and nations, Military Committee, International / International Military Staff, or other international organizations). For exercises in which SHAPE itself engages as a strategic warfighting HQ Training Audience (TA), an additional requirement for HICON is to contribute in a “teach/coach/mentor role” for SHAPE Staff engaged in exercises

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• As the member of the JWC HICON team, develop Strategic and Operational level dilemmas within the exercise content and play.
• Understand exercise and training objectives (EOs / TOs) and ensure their representation of the scenario supports the training audience’s achievement of those objectives.
• In accordance with JWC guidance and management, and with all necessary coordination, generate appropriate exercise material to provide a challenging and realistic problem set to the TA.
• Coordinate and de-conflict all injects with other EXCON cells (the JWC Media Team, INTEL etc.) to maintain communication and coherence within the exercise.
• Produce agendas, written speaking notes and minutes of meetings in support of scenario development, communication/coordination and knowledge management.
• Be prepared to assist JWC in the development of strategic and operational level scenario documents tailored to the TA and the respective exercise.
• Be prepared to update and amend exercise strategic/operational level and scenario documentation during the course of the exercise in order to ensure training objectives are facilitated.
• Monitor training audience activity and output to provide timely feedback to JWC Exercise Control staff to amend and adapt the exercise as required.
• Attend daily coordination meetings as dictated by the EXCON battle rhythm and Chief HICON, providing SME advice as required.
• Undertake any other duties as directed by the JWC HICON staff as reasonably expected within the exercise.
• Make solicited recommendations to the JWC Exercise Control team.
• Under JWC guidance and management, be prepared to supply updates to JWC exercise documentation to ensure representation of latest doctrine/TTPs in area of subject matter expertise.
• Make recommendations to JWC TDD in support of updates to doctrine and TTPs.
• Provide feedback throughout the exercises process but also formally via the lessons learned process to both JWC permanent staff and other involved exercise players in support of improving NATO exercise processes.
• Advise on / assist HICON in identifying lessons learned and contribute to the lessons learned process.
• Be prepared to perform additional duties as directed by Chief HICON.
• Advise Chief HICON and HICON staff during the planning, preparation and execution of JWC-directed exercise events, including MEL/MIL Scripting Events, CRP and EMPLOYEX.
• Assist in the production and delivery of fictitious political-military documentation (e.g. NAC decision sheets, MC and IMS Messaging) during MEL/MIL development and operational conduct phases of the exercise.
• Advise on / assist in the production and delivery of political-military MEL/MIL injects in support of identified, applicable exercise and training objectives.
• Replicate / role-play identified personal interaction between the political-military, strategic level and respective TA.
• Provide political- military advice to the HICON cell.
• Advise on / assist HICON staff in the “Coach / Mentor” function with regards to the training of NATO staff at the strategic and operational level.

Essential Skills and Experience

• The candidate must be able to fulfil all common HICON tasks and the specific tasks for the function whereby the candidates has knowledge of the systems and processes to update, develop relevant exercises documentation.
• 3 years of working experience within the last 6 years
  • In a National or NATO Command at political-military or strategic level, or in the JWC HICON team.
  • In briefing senior leaders/decision makers at the governance level in a National or Multinational environment.
• Ability to compose, edit, contribute to and comprehend collaborative texts in advanced English language reflecting the terminology and form of the respective subject matter area of expertise at senior staff level (e.g. NATO HQ, SHAPE or national equivalents).
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of NATO’s
  • Combined joint operations, both planning and execution, at political-military, strategic and operational levels.
  • Crisis Response Management System.
  • Strategic and operational planning systems and processes.
  • Capability development process.
• Working knowledge of:
  • Microsoft Office (MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook).
  • TOPFAS and JEMM (not a disqualifying requirement).
• Must have held the rank of OF-6 or above in a NATO military position.

Education

• Higher-level, university and/or equivalent military, Senior Staff, Defence college
• NATO, Staff or national Defence College Graduate (or equivalent)

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