General Counsel

NATO; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A distinguished defence organisation in Greater London is looking for a General Counsel to lead its legal office. This role includes providing timely legal advice, overseeing compliance, and managing legal risks within a dynamic environment. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in international law and technology transactions and demonstrate strong leadership and stakeholder engagement skills. The position offers a tax-free salary, generous leave, and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Tax-free salary

Excellent health insurance

30 days annual leave and holidays

Flexible working conditions

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional legal experience in international law.
• 8+ years in cross-border trade and technology transactions.
• 5+ years in team management and development.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel to senior leadership regarding compliance.
• Oversee delivery of legal advice aligned with innovation.
• Develop DIANA’s legal strategy and manage risk.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Negotiation skills

Legal advice

Team management

Compliance knowledge

Education

Master’s degree in law

Job description

1. OVERVIEW OF DIANA

NATO DIANA is the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, a NATO body dedicated to finding and accelerating innovation to provide decisive defence and security effects for the Alliance, while fostering the rapid adoption of new technologies by the Alliance.

NATO DIANA is comprised of a Board of Directors, representing all 32 nations, and an operational team referred to as the DIANA Executive ("DX"). Operating from three offices in Europe and North America, the DX leverages a network of military end users, world‑leading accelerator sites, test centres, professional mentors and experts, and Allied expertise to accelerate the most innovative technologies from across the NATO Alliance. DIANA is a dynamic, agile workplace, which strives for innovative thinking, diversity, and performance excellence across all teams. To achieve our mission, DIANA is committed to providing our people with an environment that is positive, inclusive and collaborative.

2. OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

The General Counsel leads DIANA’s Office of the General Counsel, delivering timely, effective legal advice to enable DIANA’s flexible and agile approach in supporting the Allied innovation ecosystem. The activities of the Office of the General Counsel span international law, privileges and immunities, international agreements, potential litigation, and fast‑paced commercial contracting with innovators and other entities, while ensuring compliance and adherence to NATO rules and regulations, and developing and iterating DIANA’s legal framework. The General Counsel also oversees the security, risk, and compliance function for DIANA.

Reporting to the Managing Director.

Duties of this role include:

• Provide strategic legal counsel to the Managing Director, Board of Directors, and senior leadership regarding matters of compliance, governance, and adherence to the DIANA Charter and related regulations.
• Oversee and coordinate the delivery of expert legal advice and services that integrate innovation, technical, and commercial considerations, ensuring DIANA’s challenge and acceleration programmes succeed while maintaining compliance.
• Oversee the delivery of legal content, legal mentorship, and legal expertise to DIANA’s cohorts of innovators, including through DIANA’s Legal Connect Network.
• Strengthen and maintain relationships with NATO legal offices, member nations, and external partners to ensure alignment and collaboration on legal issues.
• Develop DIANA’s legal strategy with respect to protecting technologies fostered by DIANA innovators and fostering a network of trusted capital entities.
• Oversee and continuously improve DIANA’s processes, ensuring timely, high‑quality advice and efficient handling of agreements, litigation, and compliance matters.
• Oversee the organisation’s safety, security, and resilience function—including cybersecurity—ensuring robust governance, compliance with NATO standards, and integration into DIANA’s operational strategy.
• Represent DIANA in NATO committees, task forces, and external forums, promoting DIANA’s interests and safeguarding its legal position.
• Guide policy development and risk management, anticipating legal implications of strategic decisions and supporting DIANA’s agile innovation mission.
• Manage and mentor legal staff, fostering an inclusive, high‑performing team and ensuring clarity of objectives, professional growth, and accountability.
• Drive operational excellence, including budgeting for DIANA legal services and support and implementing best practices for governance and resource allocation.
• Lead and contribute to projects and initiatives, delivering creative, timely solutions to legal challenges in support of DIANA’s evolving priorities.
• Perform any other related duties as may be required.

3. ROLE REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

• A master’s degree in law from a recognised University complemented by professional legal qualifications and licences as appropriate.
• A minimum of 10 years of post‑related professional legal experience.
• Have at least 8 years’ experience in matters involving cross‑border trade, technology transactions, and/or international law.
• Have at least 8 years’ experience advising clients on regulatory and/or transactional matters involving one or more commercial entities.
• Possess a minimum of 5 years’ experience in leading and managing teams, including performance oversight and staff development.
• Demonstrated experience in advising senior leadership on complex legal and policy matters.
• Strong track record in stakeholder engagement and relationship management across multinational or intergovernmental environments, ideally in the defence sector.
• Expertise in developing and implementing legal processes and governance frameworks.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to represent the organisation in high‑level forums.
• Possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; and I (“Beginner”) in the other.

NOTE: Most of DIANA’s internal work is conducted in the English language.

DESIRABLE

• Experience in innovation‑driven or technology‑focused commercial entities.
• Experience overseeing organisational risk, security, and resilience function.
• Experience working with start‑up and scale‑up companies, particularly in the defence sector.
• Knowledge of NATO institutional framework, policies and procedures.

COMPETENCIES

• Organisational and environmental awareness.
• Ability to take initiative and responsibility.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible.
• Ability to inspire and influence others to take action.
• Ability to manage stakeholders.
• Ability to lead and develop others.
• Self‑awareness and a learning mindset.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, in writing and verbally.

4. WHAT WE OFFER

• Genuinely meaningful work as part of the newest unit within the most successful alliance in history.
• Tax‑free salary.
• Household and children’s allowances and privileges for expatriate staff including expatriation and educational allowances (where applicable) and additional home leave.
• Excellent private health insurance scheme.
• NATO pension scheme.
• Generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays.
• Flexible working conditions and a smoke‑free office in London.
• Opportunities for learning and development.

5. CONTRACT

In accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations, the successful candidate will receive a definite duration contract of three years, which may be followed by an extension.

If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a 3‑year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.

6. 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 the e‑recruitment system. Applications and other documents will not be reviewed if sent through other formats (including email, social network, etc.).

Before you apply to any position, we encourage you to click here and review how to apply. There are helpful videos to watch that describe the recruitment process and provide helpful tips to prepare your application.

Due to the broad interest in NATO DIANA and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or email enquiries cannot be dealt with.

After review of your online application, successful candidates will be invited to a pre‑recorded video interview. Shortlisted candidates from that will then be invited to the final assessments, which include: a language proficiency test, a written test, and a panel interview. These final assessments are expected to be held approximately 8‑10 weeks after the application closing date.

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser.

Applicants who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment to another post of a similar nature, albeit at the same or a lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.

NOTE: DIANA 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. DIANA 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 DIANA’s sole discretion, and DIANA reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

7. 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 is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible working environment, where all candidates living with disabilities can fully participate in the recruitment and selection process. If you require reasonable accommodation, please inform us during your selection process along with documented medical evidence to support your request.

All NATO DIANA personnel are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the current NATO Code of Conduct as agreed by the North Atlantic Council (NAC), and thus display the core values of integrity, impartiality, loyalty, accountability, and professionalism.

The incumbent is required to be a resident in the host nation for the duration of their contract. DIANA has a flexible teleworking policy to permit working in office, at home, and across NATO Allied Nations subject to managerial approval.

For more information on DIANA, please visit our website.