Political 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 (e.g. MDSOC1, J3, J5)

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Produce and deliver fictitious political-military documentation (e.g. NAC decision sheets, MC and IMS Messaging) during MEL/MIL development and operational conduct phases of the exercise.
• Produce and deliver political-military MEL/MIL story lines, incidents and injects in support of identified, applicable exercise and training objectives.
• Replicate / role-play identified personal interaction between the political-military and strategic level and respective TA.
• Provide political advice to the HICON cell.
• Assist the HICON staff in the “Coach / Mentor”-function with regards to the training of POLAD staffs at the strategic and operational level

Essential Skills and Experience

• 3 years of working experience within the last 6 years
  • In a National or NATO Command at political-military level (e.g. NATO HQ, national MoD), or strategic level (e.g. SHAPE), or in the JWC HICON team.
  • Including regular interaction with senior executives at the national or NATO politicalmilitary and/or strategic level.
• Ability to compose, edit, contribute to and comprehend collaborative texts (IMSM, NAC read-outs) 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).
• Familiarity with NATO’s
  • Doctrine, policy, processes, arrangements and procedures within the described task portfolio and level.
  • Crisis Response Management System.
  • Strategic and Operational planning Systems and processes.
  • Training & exercise doctrine and execution
• Working knowledge of
  • Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Outlook).
  • TOPFAS and JEMM (not a disqualifying requirement)
• Must have held rank above OF-3, preferably OF-5 (in a National or NATO military JOINT position) or equivalent NATO or civilian governmental position.

Education

• Higher-level University degree and/or equivalent Military/Senior Staff/Defence School graduate

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