DCIS Programme Manager

Spektrum; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Spektrum seeks an experienced Project Manager to support NATO and allied missions, coordinating capability development and requirement management across multinational teams in a high-stakes defense program.

The role focuses on maintaining programme risk logs, ensuring quality reviews, and communicating updates to stakeholders. On-site in Norfolk, VA with potential travel up to 30 days annually.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in project/ programme management (communications or information systems).
• Minimum 3 years managing risk and issues in complex programs.
• Minimum 3 years applying change management in capability programs.
• Minimum 3 years using qualitative/quantitative techniques for quality reviews.
• Security clearance or ability to obtain National/NATO Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Efficiently resolve issues using established processes and guidance.
• Capture, assess and provide situational awareness on changes to the programme and projects.
• Log programme issues and track risks in the risk register.
• Coordinate activities, milestones and quality reviews across teams.
• Support identification of operational lessons and risk mitigation actions.
• Travel up to 30 days per year to meetings/conferences as required.
• Collaborate with Contractors DCIS C1-C4 as needed and perform additional duties.

Skills

PM Methodologies

Risk Management

Quality Assurance

Multinational Environment

Stakeholder Communication

Education

University degree in project management or related field

Job description

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting

Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is NATO’s leading agent for change: driving, facilitating, and advocating the continuous improvement of Alliance capabilities to maintain and enhance the military relevance and effectiveness of the Alliance. The main objectives of ACT are: providing appropriate support to NATO missions and operations; leading NATO military transformation; and improving relationships, interaction and practical cooperation with partners, nations and international organisations. ACT therefore leads Alliance concept development, capability development, training and lessons-learned initiatives and provides unfettered military support to policy development within NATO.

The program

Capability Development & Management Support (CDMS)

DCOS Capability Development (CAPDEV) acts as the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation’s Director for guidance, direction and coordination of the activities and resources of the Capability Development Directorate.

The Requirements Division will execute all tasks and activities needed to support requirements management for NATO capabilities

The Capability Requirements (CR) Branch will develop the Capability Requirements Brief and recommended courses of action to resolve issues through the life cycle management of requirements using matrixed, cross-functional project-specific Requirements Management teams.

The Requirements Forward Branch (Mons) is responsible for conducting requirements development and management representation and engagement-related functions in Europe.

The Capability Division coordinates the development of capabilities from capability planning through acceptance and then disposal with management entities, NATO Headquarters staff and the NATO Governance Structure

The Capability Forward Branch (Mons) coordinates with ACO, NCIA, NSPA, NATO HQ, territorial Host Nations, and NATO Centres of Excellence (COEs) to support the development of capabilities.

Strategic Plans and Policy (SPP) supports Allied Command Transformation in formalizing military advice to shape future military strategy, political guidance, and other policy documents supporting NATO’s strategic objectives.

Role ID: 27-01-A-LC03

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Efficiently deal with issues/changes that arise by using established processes, direction and guidance;
• Accurately and comprehensively capture, assess, and provide situational awareness over any changes to the programme and its projects;
• Capture and log all programme issues affecting DCIS;
• Facilitate identification and sequencing of activities and milestones;
• Contribute to a continuous process of quality improvement;
• Thoroughly review Joint Staff Reports, Management Products, and project specifications for clarity and content;
• Utilize qualitative and quantitative techniques to perform programme and project quality reviews and audits.
• Support the Bi-Strategic Commands (Bi-SCs) in capturing and interpreting Operational Lessons Identified (LI) that are derived from current Operations and Exercises, identifying potential gaps in DCIS capability, and where applicable, ensuring that revisions to CPPs remain coherent with the broader delivery of NATO CIS Capability.
• Pro-actively identify risks, assess impacts, and develop responses to decrease the probability of negative events and increase the probability of positive outcomes;
• Establish and maintain the programme risk log based on the Risk Register product;
• Establish a continuous process to identify, estimate, evaluate, and prepare responses to programme risks;
• Perform periodic programme risk assessments and reviews;
• Reconcile relevant reporting database to ensure project expenditure is accurately represented to the stakeholder group;
• Understand, record and exploit the sources and value of information pertaining to DCIS capability development;
• Assist and engage in the communication of timely, analysed and well-presented information to affected stakeholders;
• Implement best practices, enhancing both institutional and C3 Enterprise ability to manage DCIS (and related) knowledge and information;
• Directly supports the DCIS Programme Director and may be required to travel to meetings and conferences for up to 30 days per year;
• Collaborate and support Contractors DCIS C1, C3 and C4 as demand requires; and
• Performs additional tasks as required by the COTR related to the LABOR CATEGORY.

** Essential Skills and Experience**

• Minimum 5 years in project management of communications or information systems integration, implementation or operation, using MSP, PRINCE2 or PMI methodology.
• Minimum 3 years in managing risk and issues in a complex and interdependent programme environment.
• Minimum 3 years applying change management in a capability programme environment.
• Minimum 3 years utilizing qualitative and quantitative techniques to perform programme and project quality reviews and audits.
• Minimum 2 years capturing and interpreting Operational Lessons Identified (LI), identifying potential gaps in capability.
• Minimum 3 years in deployable CIS or Signals capacity (or closely related) in a subject matter expert role.
• Minimum 3 years in working in NATO or multi-national military environment.

** Education**

• University degree in project or programme management, electronics engineering, computer science, telecommunications, systems engineering, information systems and technology or an equivalent or closely-related discipline. Substantial experience will be considered in lieu of the equivalent degree with MSP, PRINCE2 or PMI certification.

** Language Proficiency**

• Advanced Proficiency in English

** Working Location**

• Norfolk, VA, USA

** Working Policy**

• On-Site

** Contract Duration**

• January 2027 – December 2031

** Security Clearance**

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance