Head, Defence Advisory Section - NRU

Head, Defence Advisory Section - NRU-251028 

Primary Location

 Ukraine-Kyiv

NATO Body

 NATO International Staff (NATO IS)

Schedule

 Full-time

Application Deadline

 13-Jul-2025, 9:59:00 PM

Salary (Pay Basis)

 : 10,742.69Euro (EUR) MonthlyGrade NATO Grade G22 

Description

:  

Important Note: this post is stationed in Kyiv, Ukraine, rated as an extreme risk location by the NATO Office of Security (NOS). Special security measures will apply for those assigned or travelling. For the time being Kyiv will remain an unaccompanied post and family members will not be relocated with the incumbent.

1.  SUMMARY

The NATO Representation to Ukraine (NRU) facilitates political and military dialogue and cooperation between the Alliance and Ukraine, as well as coordinating NATO’s practical support to Ukraine.  

The Defence Advisory Section of the NRU provides advice and support to Ukraine’s defence and security institutions, encompassing the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Security Service Ukraine (SSU), in pursuit of interoperability with NATO and longer-term defence and deterrence goals.  The Defence Advisory Section, in conjunction with other branches of the NRU, works closely with allies and partners in Kyiv, other NATO entities and NATO HQ in support of Ukraine. 

As the Section Head, the incumbent leads and manages the Defence Advisory Section within NRU, overseeing a multidisciplinary team that advises on national defence strategy development, force planning, capability development, and institutional transformation. They ensure close coordination with national and bilateral partners and NATO stakeholders, fostering a coherent approach to Ukraine’s defence transformation and NATO interoperability goals.

This role will be located within the NRU in Kyiv, Ukraine. The incumbent reports to the Deputy Head/Chief of Staff (CoS) of the NRU working to priorities set by the NATO Senior Representative, NRU.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the country is rated by the NATO Office of Security as an extreme risk location. This means that special security measures apply for people assigned or traveling there, which includes restrictions on movement and on accommodation. Moreover, it is essential that NATO International Civilians receive Civilian Pre-deployment Training (CPDT) or similar training, such as Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT), before taking up the assignment or prior to travel.

Key challenges facing the successful candidate over will include:

1.    Diversity: Strengthen the diversity of the Defence Advisory Section in NRU covering a wide scope of activities leveraging on a diverse workforce composed of NATO IS, Local Staff, Military and Contractors and interacting with multiple Ukrainian stakeholders with sometimes diverging priorities. 

2.    Task Leadership:  As the lead for defence and security advice on interoperability to Ukrainian institutions in Kyiv, ensure that NRU and within that the Defence Advisory Section achieve coherence with actors over whom it has no directive control or coordinating mandate These stakeholders provide advice and support to the Ukrainian defence and security sector in areas encompassing near term operational challenges to longer term institutional transformation.  These stakeholders have a variety of objectives and range from individual Allies, to groups of Allies, partner international organisations and NATO entities at the operational and military strategic level. 

3.    Individual Leadership and Management: As the Head of Section who is also the principal adviser to Ukrainian Defence and Security Institutions on interoperability and institutional transformation which requires the building of relationships and maintenance of trust; build, lead and sustain the NRU Defence Advisory Section Team. Represent the NRU to the international Defence Attaché community. 

In addition to the application form, candidates are expected to submit a Word or pdf document, maximum of two A4 pages, summarising their views on the key (and possible other) challenges facing the Defence Advisory Section, and how they would address them if selected for the position. 

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must:

·       Hold a university degree from a recognised institution in international relations, defence and security studies, or a related field.

·       Have at least 10 years of experience in national defence planning, out of which 5 years in team management and coordination.

·       Demonstrate knowledge of the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) and national defence planning.

·       Have experience in defence strategy formulation and force development

·       Possess a track record of leading transformation and change management at the higher levels of defence from appointments at the military-strategic level.  

·       Show in-depth knowledge of international affairs and defence policy.

·       Possess a track record of leading and managing diverse teams under demanding conditions inspiring trust and confidence.

·       Exhibit strong stakeholder engagement skills, with experience working alongside national, bilateral, and multilateral defence partners.

·       Communicate clearly, logically, and persuasively in both written and verbal formats.

·       Demonstrate cultural awareness and adaptability in a multinational environment.

·       Be proficient in MS Office, Teams, and SharePoint for information management and reporting.

·       Possess minimum language proficiency: English V ("Advanced"), French I ("Beginner"). 

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

·       Completion of a higher-level defence staff training or strategic education course.

·       Experience in defence transformation, NATO standardisation, or accession processes in a post-Soviet context.

·       An understanding of budgeting and procurement.

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES           

Vision and Direction
Provide strategic leadership and direction to the Defence Advisory Section. Ensuring the delivery of strategic defence advice to senior Ukrainian counterparts on national defence strategy development, force planning, and interoperability with NATO. Shape the priorities of the section and translate NATO’s strategic guidance into actionable goals for Ukraine’s defence and security institutions. Set high standards for NATO’s advisory efforts and foster a culture of excellence and innovation within the team.

People Management
Lead, motivate, and manage a team of. Establish clear performance objectives, promote professional development, and foster team cohesion in a high-demand, high-stakes environment. Ensure optimal resource allocation across advisory portfolios, provide mentoring and coaching support, and maintain high morale in an unaccompanied and high-risk posting. Encourage a collaborative, respectful working culture that values expertise, accountability, and responsiveness to Ukraine’s reform needs. Promote collaboration among section members and with colleagues in other parts of the NRU and NATO structures.

Financial Management
Exercise oversight of the Section’s financial planning with responsible and efficient use of resources. Collaborate with NRU Finance and Coordination (FINCON) to oversee budget expenditures for NATO’s Interoperability Road Map (IORM)-related projects. Validate financial requirements for strategic projects and ensure alignment with NATO’s financial regulations and assistance mechanisms. Advocate for resource prioritisation that maximises impact and sustainability of NATO’s advisory contribution to Ukraine’s defence transformation.

Expertise Development
Oversee the development and refinement of Ukraine's Long Term Capability Development Plans (LTCDPs), ensuring alignment with NATO standards and interoperability goals. Provide strategic advice on institutional development with a focus on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) while also supporting relevant bodies within the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Security Service Ukraine (SSU).

Policy Development
Provide expert advice on the transformation of Ukraine’s defence sector, emphasizing institutional development, resource planning, and the integration of NATO standards. Support defence reform initiatives by helping Ukraine refine national defence plans, military-strategic concepts, and force development strategies. Identify projects eligible for NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) funding, ensuring they align with Ukrainian defence needs and NATO goals. Contribute to the adapted Annual National Programme (aANP) yearly assessments, working closely with NATO HQ UCT. Drive transparency and modernisation in Ukraine’s defence planning, advising on defence policy to ensure alignment with NATO objectives.

Representation of the Organization
Represent NATO and the NRU in high-level meetings with Ukrainian authorities, allied representatives, and bilateral partners, ensuring strong communication of NATO's advisory role. Act as the primary liaison between the NRU and NATO’s HQ Ukraine Cooperation and Transformation (UCT) Section, advancing interoperability goals and coordinating efforts to support Ukraine's defence transformation. Participate in international conferences and working groups, strengthening NATO-Ukraine partnerships and supporting Ukraine’s defence reform and NATO integration efforts.

Knowledge Management
Draft strategic reports, assessments, and briefing materials on Ukraine's defence transformation and interoperability progress. Track and assess the implementation of Ukraine's defence reforms, providing updates to NATO leadership and stakeholders, and NATO HQ. Compile progress assessments, identifying gaps and ensuring lessons learned are incorporated into ongoing initiatives. Ensure the efficient management and dissemination of relevant defence knowledge within the NRU and with NATO stakeholders.

Stakeholder Management
Build and maintain strong relationships with senior Ukrainian officials in the MoD, MoI, and SSU, providing high-level guidance and fostering cooperation on defence reform and transformation. Coordinate the work of NRU domain advisers and allied stakeholders, ensuring alignment with Ukraine’s defence priorities and NATO's strategic objectives. Collaborate closely with NATO’s Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) in Wiesbaden, Germany, other NATO entities and other partners to enhance the coherence of NATO’s advisory efforts to Ukraine. Act as a strategic liaison to foster collaboration between national and bilateral partners, and Ukrainian authorities.

Project Management
Lead the management and execution of projects aimed at advancing Ukraine’s defence interoperability and transformation goals, ensuring these projects are delivered on time and within budget. Oversee the implementation of IORM-related projects and provide guidance to ensure all activities align with Ukraine's long-term defence goals and NATO requirements. Identify and address issues related to project execution, ensuring timely corrective action and the resolution of challenges.

Perform any other related duty as assigned. 

4.  INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The incumbent reports to the Deputy Head (CoS), NRU working to priorities set by the Senior Representative NRU and collaborates with stakeholders involved in the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) in Wiesbaden, Germany and at NATO HQ in the Defence Security Cooperation Directorate (DSCD) in the Operations (OPS) division.  

Direct reports: 5 (expected to grow to 18)

Indirect reports: N/a

5.  COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

·       Achievement: Sets and works to meet challenging goals.

·       Change Leadership: Personally leads change.

·       Conceptual Thinking: Clarifies complex data or situations.

·       Developing Others: Provides in-depth mentoring, coaching and training.

·       Impact and Influence: Uses indirect influence.

·       Initiative: Plans and acts for the long-term.

·       Leadership: Positions self as the leader.

·       Organizational Awareness: Understands organisational politics.

·       Self-Control: Stays composed and positive even under extreme pressure.

6. CONTRACT Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of one year; possibility of renewal for up to 1 year. Contract clause applicable: This post is required for a limited period to support the project.  As employment in this post is of limited duration, the successful applicant will be offered a definite duration contract of 1 year duration, which may be renewed for a period of up to 1 year if required to support this project. If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a 1-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a period of up to 1 year if required to support this project, and subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned. Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

7. USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries. Applications must be submitted using e-recruitment system, as applicable:

• For NATO civilian staff members only: please apply via the internal recruitment portal (link);
• For all other applications: www.nato.int/recruitment

Candidates are requested to attach their essay to their application on Taleo. The title of the attachment must include the vacancy reference 251028 and the words “Key challenges”.

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate), approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser, verification of your study(ies) and work experience, and the successful completion of the accreditation and notification process by the relevant authorities.

NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO’s sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.

For information about the NATO Single Salary Scale (Grading, Allowances, etc.) please visit our website. Detailed data is available under the Salary and Benefits tab.

NATO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. For more info please click here.