Strategic Planning Executive Officer

Post Context ACT contributes to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of Alliance member states by leading, at Strategic Command level, Warfare Development required to enhance NATO’s posture, military structures, forces, capabilities and doctrines. The Capability Development Directorate (CAPDEV) comprises two Divisions—Requirements and Capabilities. The Directorate supports SACT in his Capabilities Requirement Authority (CRA) role. It is responsible for a holistic through lifecycle Capability Development approach that infuses innovation and transformative efforts that are an integral part of the Warfare Development. This includes responsibilities for elicitation, development, capture and collection, quality review, traceability and visibility of capability requirements. The Requirements Division executes requirements management for NATO capabilities. It develops capability requirements, provides traceability and quality assurance of capability requirements, performs gap analysis and supports interoperability and implementation options across the DOTMLPFI spectrum. The Requirements Traceability and Quality Assurance Branch supports Requirements Management Teams and Capabilities Programme Directors to maintain the quality of the capabilities requirements and traceability throughout the lifecycle of the capability. The Branch produces and ensures bi-directional traceability among all requirements, from the Operational Requirements, Capability Requirements, and other high-level requirements down through the technical requirements and specifications. Branch members may be assigned to lead Requirements Management Teams. The Execution Officer is a key member of the Budget Management Section, reporting to the Section Head, Budget Management. The post contributes directly to CAPDEV’s financial stewardship by supporting the planning, monitoring, and reporting of programme funds, and by providing actionable analyses and briefings to leadership. Principal Duties: • Support the Section Head in planning, monitoring, and executing CAPDEV programme budgets. • Maintain oversight of programme-level funds, including expenditure tracking, financial reporting, and variance analysis. • Review key financial documentation (e.g., Project Requirements, Project Management Plans, Statements of Work) and provide financial guidance to staff and programme managers. • Prepare briefings, analyses, and recommendations for the Section Head and CAPDEV leadership. • Support budget prioritization and allocation decisions, ensuring compliance with NATO financial regulations and PRMO guidance. • Collaborate with Resource Planning, programme managers, HR, procurement, and finance teams to ensure alignment between budget execution and programme requirements. • Perform ad hoc financial analyses, special projects, and contribute to working groups as directed. • Provide functional guidance and mentorship to junior budget and support staff (G12). • Ensure consistent application of financial management procedures and best practices within the Section. • Deputize for the Section Head in delegated tasks as required. Essential Qualifications / Experience: • University Degree in finance, accounting, business administration, economics, public administration or related discipline and 2 years function related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience. • Minimum 3–5 years of experience in budget planning, execution, or monitoring in a multinational, NATO, or government context. • Experience preparing financial analyses, reporting, and briefings for senior leadership. • Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including programmes, HR, procurement, and finance. Language: English – SLP 3333 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing) Desirable Qualifications / Experience: • Experience working within NATO committees, boards, or multinational programme oversight. • Familiarity with programme-level fund management, cost estimation, and strategic budget cycles. • Experience in continuous improvement of financial management processes and reporting. • Exposure to Medium-Term Resource Planning (MTRP) processes. • Knowledge of NATO financial regulations, procedures, and financial systems. • English SLP 4343 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing) Attributes/Competencies: Personal Attributes: Required to brief and staff complex issues up to 3 Star General Officer level on a routine basis. Integrity, confidentiality and diplomatic skills need to be of the highest order. Inherent Cooperative and directional leadership skills required and must be able to demonstrate excellent team building abilities to direct/guide/influence standing and ad hoc strategic level working groups at the A4-OF4 level. Often used as sounding board by principals incumbent must be decisive, professionally knowledgeable on all ACOS C2DS and strategic resource management issues and possess good and intra-personal skills. Professional Contacts: Lead working groups to produce a coherent and complete product suitable for senior officer decision making. Interacts and recommends, when required, on a daily basis with 2, and when required at the 3 star level Flag Officers. Will represent H-PRMO at internal boards. The post holder will interact with direct personal interaction at the 2 star and below level. Extensive communication with all levels throughout the organization will be required, especially close cooperation with senior strategic manager and BUDFIN staff on a day- to-day basis. Has contact with all levels of ACT concerning the screening of CIS/ICT requirements submissions to NATO HQ. Contribution To Objectives: The work of the incumbent impacts both directly and indirectly to the work and objectives of ACT. The work will directly impact the strategic objectives of the organization and will refine the efficiency and effectives of the management process to deliver capabilities. The technical and programme contributions will guide and direct other areas both within and outside the Command. Security Clearance The successful applicant will be required to apply for and receive a NATO SECRET Security Clearance prior to final confirmation of contract and commencement of employment. Contract This position is linked to a specific NATO project and is for a limited duration of 3 (three) years only. Serving NATO International Civilian staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations. Newly recruited staff will be offered a three year definite duration contract. Notes for Candidates The HQ SACT web site gives full details on the eligibility criteria and application processes to be adopted by all candidates. However, candidates should particularly note: Please answer each of the pre-screening questions completely in English. Expressions such as: “please see attached CV, please see annex, please see enclosed document, etc” are not acceptable; this is a cause of immediate rejection of the application. Particular attention should be given to Education and Experience section of your application form, which should be populated with details of your career to date and educational achievements and certifications as they relate to your application. The candidature of NATO redundant staff at grade G15 will be considered with priority. 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. 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. This vacancy will close on 27 July 2026 @ 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).