Space Programme Coordinator

Socket.dev; Norfolk (VA); On-site; USD 139,000 - 208,000; Full time

Job summary

Spektrum seeks a seasoned Programme Manager to support NATO Space capabilities development and governance. You will coordinate multi‑national stakeholders, refine requirements, and manage artefacts and risk dashboards across CPP initiatives, with travel up to 30 days annually.

On‑site work at Ramstein, Germany, with NATO and allied partners. The role requires five years in NATO capability development or defence acquisition, and three years in space operations, plus strong English and security

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience within NATO capability development, programme management, or defence acquisition.
• Minimum 3 years of operational experience within NATO or national space operations.
• Advanced proficiency in English.
• Security clearance: National or NATO Secret.

Responsibilities

• Support ACT Space Branch PMT in NATO CPP delivery across all tranches.
• Coordinate with SHAPE Space Branch for integration into planning and execution.
• Coordinate requirements among SHAPE, ACT, NCIA, NSPA and space orgs.
• Develop artefacts: proposals, plans, reviews, risk registers, dashboards, roadmaps.
• Assist with governance, PMT meetings, and leadership engagements.
• Travel up to 30 days per year.

Skills

NATO capability development

Programme management

Defence acquisition

Space operations

Space policy

PMT processes

C2 systems

Multinational programmes

Configuration management

Capability architectures

DOORS

Education

University degree in systems engineering or related discipline

Tools

DOORS (IBM Rational)

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

ACT-CDMS-26-02C-LC54

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the ACT Space Branch PMT in the delivery, synchronization, and implementation of the NATO Space Capability Programme (CPP) across all tranches and associated projects.
• Support SHAPE Space Branch in integrating NATO Space capabilities into operational planning, execution, and validation activities.
• Coordinate operational requirements and user feedback between SHAPE, ACT, NCIA, NSPA, STC and national space organizations.
• Support the development, refinement, and implementation of programme artefacts, including project proposals, implementation plans, programme reviews, risk registers, dashboards, and capability roadmaps.
• Support operational validation of CPP capabilities and their integration into NATO command-and-control structures.
• Support the synchronization of Operational Space Support (OSS), Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Domain Coordination (SDC) capabilities and associated dependencies.
• Support the refinement of operational concepts, CONOPS, TTPs and implementation guidance for NATO Space capabilities.
• Contribute to programme governance activities, PMT meetings, Bi-SC coordination mechanisms, and senior leader engagements.
• Assist with the identification and prioritization of operational capability gaps and associated requirements.
• Support the identification, analysis and mitigation of programme risks, interdependencies, and critical paths across all space projects.
• Support NATO exercises, operational experimentation, evaluations, and lessons learned activities involving Space capabilities.
• Support experimentation, wargaming, operational demonstrations and exercises, including Arctic Sentry, Cosmic Sentinel, and/or related activities.
• Contribute to operational acceptance activities, readiness assessments, and transition planning.
• Support training, exercises and experimentation activities involving space capabilities.
• Support engagement with industry and commercial space actors in support of NATO Commercial Space Strategy implementation.
• Prepare briefings, analyses and recommendations for SHAPE Space Branch leadership and support the PMT efforts and briefings.
• Directly supports the Branch Head and will be required to travel to meetings and conferences both within and outside NATO’s boundaries for up to 30 days per year.
• Performs additional tasks as required by the COTR (in HQ SACT) in close coordination with the ACO Space Branch Head related to the LABOR category.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ experience within NATO capability development, programme management, or defence acquisition.
• Minimum 3 years of operational experience within NATO or national space operations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of NATO Space policy, CPP governance and PMT processes.
• Demonstrate a minimum of 3 years operational knowledge of C2 systems within the last 10 years either as a military officer or as a civilian.
• Experience supporting multinational programmes and senior-level governance bodies.
• Programme and Project Management experience in the past 10 years within a complex and dynamic programme environment.
• Working knowledge of Configuration Management methods and practices.
• Working knowledge of Capability Architectures.
• Experience with IBM Rational DOORS or equivalent (provide certificates).

Education

University degree in systems engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, or related discipline (five years of experience accepted in lieu).

Language Proficiency

Advanced Proficiency in English

Working Location

Ramstein, Germany

Working Policy

On-Site

Contract Duration

January 2027 - December 2030

Security Clearance

Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance