Deputy Director and Chief of Staff

Global Roles; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The NATO Collaboration Support Office in Paris seeks a Deputy Director and Chief of Staff to advise the Director on strategic issues and coordinate with key partners across international S&T initiatives. The role oversees operations, security, and information management, representing the Director when needed.

It requires extensive experience in international relations, capability development, and program budgeting, with senior-level contacts and a Master’s or engineering background.

Qualifications

• Experience with high-level military/political liaison and international relations.
• Strong understanding of capability development processes and S&T organizations.
• Proven ability to plan, program, and budget in complex international settings.
• Master-level degree or engineering background with cross-functional management experience.

Responsibilities

• Represent the Director as required in formal and informal settings.
• Coordinate with OCS to support STO, Chief Scientist staff, and strategic priorities.
• Organize and supervise stakeholder coordination for major STO events and activities.
• Manage CSO budget, procurement, and travel plans for effective operations.
• Oversee security and information management, ensuring protection and compliance.
• Lead internal administrative management and ensure coherence across Offices.

Skills

High-level contacts

Political leadership liaison

Capability Development

Science & Technology knowledge

NATO programs knowledge

Planning & budgeting

International relations

Security management

Information management

Military technology knowledge

Cross-functional management

Knowledge management

Operational military experience

Science & technology administration

Research technology development

Security clearance management

Bilingual communication

Defense & security training

Education

Master's degree

Engineering diploma

Job description

The Deputy Director and Chief of Staff at NATO's Collaboration Support Office (CSO) plays a pivotal leadership role, advising the Director on strategic managerial issues, coordinating with key partners, and overseeing the CSO's operations including security and information management. The position involves representing the Director, managing resources, and ensuring the effective execution of the CSO's mission in support of NATO's Science & Technology Organization.

Responsibilities

• Represents the Director when and where needed.
• Organizes, contributes to, and supervises coordination with the OCS to provide assistance and support to the STB, the Chief Scientist, his/her staff, and address strategic direction, policy and planning issues.
• Orients and supervises coordination with primary stakeholders to prepare and execute main STO events.
• Organizes, contributes to, and supervises coordination with partners for strategic direction, policy, and planning of activities of common interest.
• Represents the STO, the CSO or the Director in seminars, meetings, conferences, or other S&T events within the STO Outreach framework.
• Attends Scientific and Technical Committees Plenary Meetings on behalf of the CSO Director.
• Liaises with CSO Host Nation civil and military authorities to obtain appropriate support including security coordination.
• Facilitates cooperation with French S&T, industry and military organizations to strengthen their involvement in STO activities.
• Responsible for security of personnel and premises as Security Officer in relation with host nation authorities and NATO Office of Security.
• Oversees and coordinates work of all branches and office including workload management, training, facility management, risk management, business continuity, and health and safety.
• Supervises internal administrative management of the CSO ensuring coherence of actions by different Offices and Branches.
• Provides Operations & Coordination Office with policy guidance and prioritization to manage support dedicated to CPoW activities and other S&T activities supported by CSO.
• Signs contracts related to the Collaborative Program of Work with delegated authority.
• Oversees preparation and execution of CSO budget and procurement processes.
• Oversees preparation and execution of CSO Travel Plan.
• Contributes to and favors development of social life and activities at the CSO.
• Performs other functions as required by the Director.

Requirements

• Experience of high-level contacts with senior military and/or political leadership, exercised during the last professional assignment (min. 2 years).
• Knowledge of capability development processes.
• Knowledge of science and technology organizations.
• Knowledge of programs and activities within NATO and NATO Nations S&T communities.
• Minimum 7 years of management experience in planning, programming and budgeting at various responsibility levels.
• Practical experience in the conduct of international relations and demonstrated ability to work effectively in an international environment with scientific and/or military personnel at all levels.
• Practical experience in security matters.
• Knowledge of information management.
• A university degree (Master level) or engineering diploma.
• Broad knowledge of military technology.
• Advanced training in management, or an equivalent cross-functional management experience.
• Very good knowledge of both NATO official languages (SLP 4343).
• Prior experience in knowledge and information management, possibly in the fields of security and/or defence (desirable).
• Extensive operational military experience, gained over the years (desirable).
• Knowledge of administration and management of Science or Technology enabling functions, possibly in the fields of security and/or defence, with an international dimension (desirable).
• Broad operational and general knowledge of military technology (desirable).
• Experience in scientific and military Research, Technology, and Development (R&T/D) (desirable).
• Experience in working with the French civilian and military organizations and authorities (desirable).
• Attendance at high level defense and security oriented training course (National, NATO, EU,...) (desirable).
• Excellent knowledge of both NATO official languages (desirable).
• Knowledge of other European language(s) (desirable).
• The applicant must be eligible for a NATO Cosmic Top Secret security clearance.

Skills

• High-level military contacts
• Political leadership liaison
• Capability Development Processes
• Science and Technology Organizations Knowledge
• NATO programs knowledge
• Planning and budgeting management
• International Relations
• Security Management
• Information Management
• Military Technology Knowledge
• Cross-functional Management
• Knowledge Management
• Operational military experience
• Science and technology administration
• Research technology development
• Security Clearance Management
• Bilingual Communication
• Defense and security training

Languages

English, French