Land Subject Matter Expert (SME)

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

Opposition Force (OPFOR) SMEs simulate, coordinate and arrange all opposing actors during exercise execution. OPFOR SMEs ensure that OPFOR force composition, Joint Plan and Scheme of Manoeuvre are realistic and additionally mimic anticipated actions of an opposing force. OPFOR SMEs directly coordinate OPFOR concepts of operations to challenge allied-partner nation actions (BLUFOR) and associated major maritime, air and land formations, campaigns and decision making. OPFOR cells sit side-by-side with other functional areas in the scripting of content, to include JEMM and as required during execution, coordinate with EXCON RCs, to edit and adjust content to help guarantee maximum training value and pathway to achieve exercise-training objectives (TOs). OPFOR needs to ensure they understand BLUFOR plans and act accordingly and be prepared to dynamically scrip.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

Incident Development Workshop:

• Support Incident Development to develop storylines with appropriate level of OPFOR LAND effects.
• May be appointed as Chief OPFOR LAND cell by Chief OPFOR dependent upon specific exercise requirements and circumstances.
• Oversee OPFOR LAND incident development in the Joint Exercise Management Module (JEMM) and ensure OPFOR LAND effects in accordance with the overall OPFOR Joint Plan (OJP) and Scheme of Manoeuvre (SoM).
• Script OPFOR LAND content, to include in JEMM and, as required, edit and adjust OPFOR LAND content to ensure it is synchronized and delivered in accordance with the OJP and SoM.
• Provide guidance to OPFOR LAND scripters as required.
• Actively support assigned workshop syndicate(s) by contributing OPFOR LAND expertise.
• Specifically ensure wider understanding of OPFOR LAND implications within events, incidents, storylines and themes and identify opportunities for OPFOR LAND effects being later developed during Scripting workshop.
• Perform other OPFOR LAND tasks as directed by OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35.
• Attend Incident Development boards, working groups and other meetings as directed by OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35.
• Be prepared to attend OPFOR Crisis Action Team (CAT) activation at short notice or no notice in order support resolution of a critical exercise related issues.
• Coordinate and deconflict incidents with other OPFOR cells and other EXCON cells as required.
• Contribute to the OPFOR Operational Design from a LAND domain perspective.
• Coordinate CAX (Computer Assisted Exercise) and Joint Theatre Level Simulation (JTLS) requirements for OPFOR LAND forces and manoeuvres.

Scripting Workshop:

• Support MEL/MIL Scripting, including JEMM, translating guidance from OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35 into a deliverable plan and overseeing OPFOR LAND operations across all Events, Incidents and Injects.
• May be appointed Chief OPFOR LAND cell by Chief OPFOR dependent upon specific exercise requirements and circumstances.
• Oversee OPFOR LAND scripting development, including JEMM and ensure OPFOR LAND effects are designed in accordance with the overall OPFOR Joint Plan and SoM in accordance with OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35 Direction and Guidance (D&G).
• Coordinate with the OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35 in order to identify and create required OPFOR LAND content, including in JEMM, to support storylines across all functional areas.
• Advice scripting syndicates on OPFOR LAND implications related to incidents and injects and develop opportunities for OPFOR LAND effects.
• Develop associated OPFOR LAND inject placeholders in JEMM to supplement storyboards, incidents and injects as required.
• Ensure that all OPFOR LAND incidents and injects in JEMM are focussed on strategic and operational level effects (not tactical).
• Synchronize OPFOR LAND injects in JEMM across the overall exercise battle rhythm.
• Perform other OPFOR LAND tasks as directed by OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35.
• Attend Scripting Workshop boards, working groups and other meetings as directed by OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35.
• Be prepared to attend OPFOR Crisis Action Team (CAT) activation at short notice or no notice in order support resolution of a critical exercise related issue.
• Specifically coordinate with EXCON LAND Response Cell (RC) as required.
• Coordinate, as required, with other EXCON RCs.
• Contribute to the OPFOR Operational Design and to the OPFOR Target List from a LAND domain perspective.
• Coordinate CAX (Computer Assisted Exercise) and Joint Theatre Level Simulation (JTLS) requirements for OPFOR LAND forces and manoeuvres

Execution (Block E):

• Prior to STARTEX, review JEMM database to ensure that OPFOR LAND effects and impact on each storyline is taken into account and aligned with the OPFOR Joint Plan and OPFOR SoM.
• Take regular direction and guidance (D&G) from OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35 on dynamic changes and translate this D&G into timely OPFOR LAND effects.
• May be appointed Chief OPFOR LAND cell by Chief OPFOR dependent upon specific exercise requirements and circumstances.
• If appointed as Chief OPFOR LAND cell provide D&G to OPFOR LAND cell Battle Captains (BCs) and other staff within the cell.
• In role as Chief OPFOR LAND cell, Be Prepared To (BPT) roster OPFOR LAND BCs (mil pers only) and other cell staff (mil pers only) into a 2-shift (until midnight) or 3 shift (24/7 ops) system in order to achieve OPFOR LAND operations and effects aligned with the OPFOR Joint Plan and SoM.
• Meet daily to coordinate and deconflict critical events with other EXCON staff from OPFOR, CAX, Intel, LOCON RCs, TGTS, SOF and others as necessary to ensure that the OPFOR LAND operations and effects are accurate and aligned with the OPFOR Joint Plan and SoM. In addition, that OPFOR effects do not exceed exercise thresholds that risk derailing exercise TOs.
• Collaborate daily with OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35 to ensure timely alignment with the latest OPFOR developments as directed by the OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35.
• Provide daily OPFOR LAND feedback and updates to the OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35 as required.
• Be prepared to dynamically script, in JEMM, OPFOR LAND content as required by the MEL/MIL, TA activity, OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35 D&G.
• Perform other OPFOR LAND tasks as directed by the OPFOR command cell OPFOR J35.
• Attend Block E EXCON boards, working groups, VTCs, TELECONS and other meetings as directed by the OPFOR command cell and OPFOR J35.
• Be prepared to attend OPFOR Crisis Action Team (CAT) activation at short notice or no notice in order support resolution of a critical exercise related issue.
• Specifically coordinate with EXCON LAND Response Cell (RC) daily.
• Coordinate daily with other EXCON RCs.
• BPT brief specific OPFOR LAND issues at the daily OPFOR Huddle.
• Provide support to EXCON Targeting (TGTs) cell for Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) reporting.
• Assist with the preparation of OPFOR FRAGOs

Essential Skills and Experience

• Minimum 8 years previous military experience within the last 12 years in the operational LAND domain reaching the rank of OF3/OF4.
• Previous Company, Squadron or equivalent Branch/Department commander position at OF3 level or higher.
• Previous Staff Officer qualified and worked at 2-star (Division Level) or higher in one of the following:
  • LAND, JOINT or NATO Command Structure -or-
  • NATO Force Structure HQ in either the J2, J3, or J5 domain.
• Previous national or NATO deployment to an international operation in the LAND domain (J2/J3/J5/).
• Minimum 2-3 years’ experience in operational planning processes in respect of LAND operations.
• Competent in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Education

• Higher-level Civilian, Military or Staff College Education/Degree

Language

• Business English

Working Location

• Stavanger, Norway

Working Policy

• On-Site

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance