SA (2030 OPFOR Cyberspace Expert)

NATO; Norway; On-site; NOK 766,392 - 917,986; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International environment in Norway

Job summary

NATO is seeking a Staff Assistant (2030 OPFOR Cyberspace Expert) to join the OPFOR team at the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway. The role supports the development of realistic adversarial cyber campaigns and contributes to joint training exercises aimed at strengthening NATO’s readiness.

The position is NATO-2030 project-linked and limited to a three-year duration. A NATO security clearance or eligibility will be preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience in cyber operations
• Understanding of defense planning and adversary campaigns
• Ability to draft detailed cyberspace maneuver schemes
• Experience working in multinational environments

Responsibilities

• Provide subject-matter advice on cyberspace warfare for exercises and training
• Advise Chief OPFOR for exercises and trainings
• Draft detailed maneuvers for cyberspace actors and threat networks
• Lead a team of cyberspace experts during exercises
• Provide internal training to OPFOR and JWC
• Attend workshops to stay current on cyberspace warfare
• Establish liaison network with NATO subject-matter experts

Skills

Cyberspace operations

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Wargaming

Education

Higher secondary education

Advanced vocational training

Job description

Job Title: Staff Assistant (2030 OPFOR Cyberspace Expert)

Description

We have a position open for a OPFOR Cyberspace Expert!

We are seeking a staff member with strong analytical and interpersonal skills to join the OPFOR team within the RIVAL Division - JWC's focal point for developing realistic adversarial effects that challenge and prepare NATO forces for modern warfare.

In this role, you will play an important part in shaping how NATO defends the cyber domain by working collaboratively with NATO cyber experts to design realistic adversarial cyber campaigns which challenge standing NATO responses during JWC's collective training and exercises. Your contribution will support JWC's mission to plan, prepare and deliver joint operational-level training, strengthening NATO's warfighting readiness and operational effectiveness against increasingly sophisticated threats.

What we offer:

• Shape how the Alliance responds to adversarial cyber effects through NATO exercises
• Lead the integration of new NATO cyber initiatives and adversary capabilities into future exercises
• International work environment in Norway

If you bring experience in cyber operations, an understanding of Comprehensive Operation Planning, the ability to draft detailed schemes of maneuvers for cyberspace actors and threat-networks based on doctrine of adversaries and thrive in a dynamic, multinational environment, we encourage you to apply!

This vacancy notice is for a NATO-2030 agenda project-linked NATO International Civilian (PLN) post. This post is limited to a three-year definite duration project. It will be filled as soon as possible. In view of the urgency of this project, qualified candidates who hold or have recently held a valid NATO or National security clearance will be given priority consideration.

Please note that the JWC is currently trialling a new organizational structure. Consequently, reporting lines, job titles, functional alignments and some duties may differ slightly from those outlined in the vacancy notice.

NATO Body: Joint Warfare Centre (JWC)

Primary Location: Stavanger, Norway

Schedule: Full-Time

Salary (Pay Basis): 75,465.00 NOK Monthly

Grade: G12

Clearance Level: NATO Secret (NS)

Application Deadline: 30 August 2026

Duties

• Providing subject-matter advice in all aspects of cyberspace warfare during the creation of setting or scenario products for specific JWC-directed exercises, wargames, or other collective trainings.
• Providing subject-matter advice in all aspects of cyberspace warfare to the respective Chief OPFOR for an exercise, wargame, or other collective training event.
• Drafting detailed schemes of maneuvers for cyberspace actors and threat-networks based on doctrine of adversaries (in particular Russia) and on DDA assumptions.
• Leading a team of cyberspace experts during JWC-directed exercise events according to the guidance of the respective Chief OPFOR.
• Providing internal training to the OPFOR Branch and JWC in general.
• Attending internal and external workshops or other individual training events related to cyberspace warfare in order to keep the knowledge up to date.
• Establishing a liaison network with other relevant subject-matter experts (in particular in NATO Command Structure).

Qualifications

Education/Training

• Higher Secondary education and completed higher vocational training in criminology, police, public or business administration, administration of justice, accounting, business or criminal law, comparative government, area studies, general management, political theory, behavioural or social psychology or related discipline and 3 years function related experience,

• Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 5 years post related experience.

Professional Experience

• At least 3 years of experience operating in a joint environment either on operations or as staff at a training centre or equivalent.
• At least 3 years of experience in conducting cyber operations in a NATO Command Structure or NATO Force Structure HQ, a national joint HQ, or equivalent military or civilian post.
• Demonstrated basic knowledge of the adversaries' (in particular Russian) capabilities to operate in the cognitive, virtual and physical dimension of the cyber domain and to conduct information confrontation campaigns

Language

English - Upper Intermediate

Desirable Qualifications

Professional Experience

• Knowledge of and 3 years functional experience in exercise planning or exercise production.
• Basic understanding of NATO Functional Area Systems such as TOPFAS, Intel-FS, and NCOP.
• Valid security clearance

Personal Attributes/Competencies

Possess excellent communication skills and the ability to engage and manage stakeholders effectively. This should include stakeholder analysis, engagement planning and conflict resolution. Considerable maturity and professional judgement is required to make decisions on to ensure seamless provision of high-quality support to the JWC and supported Training Audiences. High level of organisational and coordination skills. Excellent managerial, interpersonal, and communication skills with a visionary view to evolving requirements to meet future challenges. Able to cope with stress and possessing good health. Must be able to work as a member of a team in a multi-national environment. An analytical, systematic and pro-active approach is important. The duties will require a capacity for original thought, including the incorporation of emerging concepts. The incumbent should be self-motivated and capable of working under pressure.

Work Environment

The work is normally performed in an office environment.

NOTE: The work both oral and written in this post and in this headquarters as a whole is conducted mainly in English.

T ravel on temporary duty may be required for several conferences.

Irregular working hours may be required, especially during exercises/events.

How To Apply For a Project Linked NATO Civilian Post at JWC:

JWC, as an equal opportunities employer, values diverse backgrounds and perspectives and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and talented workforce. We welcome applications from nationals of all NATO Member States and strongly encourage women to apply.

Applications are to be submitted, in English, using the NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) ( https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobsearch.ftl?lang-en ). Applications submitted by other means will not be accepted.

NTAP allows for the adding of attachments. Candidates are to attach a copy of the qualification(s)/certificate(s) covering the highest level of education and vocational qualifications held to support their application as well as a copy of a diploma/certificate which confirms any relevant professional status.

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.

Remarks:

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.

Notes for candidates

The candidature of NATO redundant staff at grade G12 / B-5 will be considered before any other candidates.

Notes for NATO Civilian Human Resources Managers

if you have qualified redundant staff at grade G12 / B-5, who wish to be considered for this post, please advise JWC Civilian HR no later than the closing date.

Contract:

This project post is limited to a definite duration of three years. There is no guarantee that the post will continue beyond that period. The successful applicant will be offered a three-year definite duration employment contract. Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

Salary:

Starting basic salary is NOK 75,465.00 per month (tax-free). Additional allowances may apply depending on the personal circumstances of the successful candidate. For further details see NATO Terms & Conditions.

For any queries, please contact the Joint Warfare Centre Recruitment Team at [e-mail] .