THIS JOB IS A TEMPORARY POSITION
Vacancy Number: 23/008
Job Title: Operations Subject Matter Expert
Basic Monthly Salary: $10,090.40, not exempt from taxation
Closing Date: Wednesday, 22 February 2023, 2359 EST (UTC-5)
Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFCNF) is seeking to hire an Operations Subject Matter Expert to support the operational dimensions of upcoming exercise planning activity.
GENERAL BACKGROUND:
JFCNF Headquarters is located in Norfolk, Virginia and it is the only operational NATO command in the United States. JFCNF serves as the bridge between Europe and North America and was established to project stability, deter aggression and defend NATO’s allies in the North Atlantic and High North, from seabed to space.
POST DESCRIPTION:
Location: Norfolk, VA, USA
Directorate/Division: Plans Directorate/J7 Division
Security Clearance Required: NATO Secret
Post Context/Post Summary
JFCNF provides a Joint Headquarters to plan, prepare and conduct operations to support NATO’s core tasks at the Joint Operational Level, as directed by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR).
The Plans Directorate is responsible for the planning, direction, monitoring, assessment and coordination of all planning, readiness, partnership and engagement staff functions.
The J7 Division (Training and Exercise) is responsible for directing, monitoring and coordinating exercises, training, readiness and doctrine development functions especially in the areas of regional focus/interest for both standing element and augmentation.
The Exercise and Training Branch is responsible for directing, monitoring and coordinating exercises, training, readiness and doctrine development functions especially in the areas of regional focus/interest.
The incumbent is responsible for managing the operational dimensions of STDE and other HQ exercise planning activity.
Principal Duties
The incumbent's duties are:
a) Supports the planning, development, coordination and implementation of training events including Battle Staff Training (BST).
b) Co-chairs the OPS syndicate during the remainder of the Exercise Planning Process (EPP).
c) Advises on the execution and staffing of exercises contained in JFCNF Exercise Plan.
d) Leads the syndicate that creates the LIVEX storyline for and the sequence of events.
e) Supervises force generation in close coordination with Troop Contributing Nations (TCN).
f) In close cooperation with J1 and J8, develop a plan for JFCNF to be sufficiently staffed and trained to execute duties as Joint Task Force Headquarter (JTFHQ), including Command and Control (C2), structures and SOIs.
g) Supports development of JFCNF’s exercise LIVEX force flow and ORBAT.
h) Takes part in preparatory meetings internally and with other HQs (superior, adjacent, national and subordinate).
i) Develops and maintains exercise documents and reports.
j) Ensures injects are valid for format, relevancy and coherency.
k) Supports direction and control of the exercise at the operational and tactical levels.
l) Advises Officer Directing Exercise (ODE) and Officer Conducting Exercise (OCE) on exercise progress with regard to training objective achievement.
m) Maintain overall exercise situation awareness with a focus on safety, intruders and real world requirements.
n) Make recommendations to the Main Events List/Main Incidents List (MEL/MIL) Steering Group for additional incidents and injects or changes to the MEL/MIL injects.
o) Participate in dynamic scripting teams to create new incidents and injects.
p) Undertakes work as part of a project team or working group as directed or assigned.
Special Requirements and Additional Duties
The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organisation at the same grade without there being any change to the contract.
The work is normally performed in a Normal NATO office-working environment. Normal Working Conditions apply.
The risk of injury is categorised as: No Risk
Essential Qualifications
a. Professional/Experience
1) Operational background from a NATO, Joint or Combined Staff.
2) Knowledge of all means, assets and capabilities utilized in the conduct of military information activities.
3) Experience in planning, developing, conducting and controlling exercises on at least operational level.
b. Education/Training
University Degree and 4 years post related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 5 years post related and 2 years function related experience.
c. Language
English - SLP 3333 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).
NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this Headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.
Desirable Qualifications
a. Professional Experience
1) Experience / knowledge of operational concepts and training at national or international level.
2) Experience in exercise planning or in operations planning.
3) Recent operational or battle staff experience in a NATO or national HQ/formation is highly desirable.
b. Education/Training
1) Recognized military staff training from a NATO member state academy or institution.
Attributes/Competencies
Personal Attributes
The incumbent must display analytical thought and demonstrate independent judgment . Must be able to provide information and briefings to senior level commanders on key issues of the exercise. Must be able to analyze the real-life as well as the exercise situation and identify its likely impact on Command level decision making. Adequate appearance is essential in interacting with the Command level. The incumbent must have strong communication skills, both oral and written. Listening and persuasiveness are crucial to the incumbent’s effective participation in developing, coordinating and implementing training events. May be required to perform duties outside normal working hours in support of mission essential requirements on short notice.
a. Professional Contacts
Internally: Staff members and their supervisors at the ACOS, DACOS and Branch head level, Joint Intelligence Collection Branch and Joint Intelligence Direction and Support Branch.
Externally: Policy/decision markers at JFCNF; NATO agencies; HQ NATO; and with Nations either through their SNRs or as required directly with MODs.
The post holder is required to actively participate in identifying solutions and proposals. The purpose of contacts range from exchange of information to negotiation without committing JFCNF.
b. Contribution to Objectives
J7 has the primary responsibility for the effective and successful conduct of Exercise STDE24-1 and thus for JFCNFs contribution to the overall aim of the Exercise as such.
This post reports to JFN PTTX 0010 – Branch Head (Training & Exercise) – OF-4
REMARKS:
Duration of contract: not to exceed 12 months. Upon budgetary approval, a further contract may be offer.
In view of the nature and of the urgency of the temporary positions we are looking to fill, it is important for candidates to be available for temporary employment on short notice. In practice, this implies either being in possession of valid NATO security clearance at the time of application, or having been in possession of such a clearance with the possibility to reactivate it swiftly. We therefore only encourage applications for temporary positions if you are already, or have previously been, in possession of a valid NATO security clearance.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A TEMPORARY CIVILIAN POST AT JFCNF:
Applications are to be submitted via email to JFCNFSPTJ1Recruitment@jfcnf.nato.int and include a Cover Letter (max 1 page), Curriculum Vitae (max 2 pages), relevant certifications and two professional references.
DO NOT include the following information: Classified or government sensitive information; Social Security Number; Photos of yourself; Personal information, such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.; or encrypted and digitally signed documents.
Current and past civilians working for NATO or any Coordinated Organisation, shall indicate their last grade and step held (next to job title), and specify the name of employing NATO body or Coordinated Organisation.
Remarks:
A) Only nationals from the 30 NATO member states can apply for vacancies at JFCNF.
B) Applications are automatically acknowledged within one working day after submission. In the absence of an acknowledgement please make sure the submission process is completed, or, re-submit the application.
C) Due to limited capacity, we are unable to accommodate Candidates’ individual telephones or e-mail enquiries. All candidates will receive an answer indicating the outcome of their application.
D) Feedback will not be provided to unsuccessful applicants.
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