Staff Officer (Experimentation Design)

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is NATO, which stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Established on April 4, 1949, NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance comprising 31 member countries from North America and Europe. The organization's mission is to ensure the collective defense and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security of its member states, promoting peace and stability in the region. NATO operates through various commands and agencies, with its headquarters located in Brussels, Belgium. The organization employs thousands of personnel across its various branches and commands, focusing on military cooperation, crisis management, and collective defense. NATO's Strategic Command, where this position is based, plays a crucial role in warfare development and military transformation, ensuring that member states are prepared to address contemporary security challenges.

Job Overview:
The Staff Officer (Experimentation Design) position is integral to the technical design and execution of operational experimentation within NATO. This role involves contributing to the seamless integration of experiments into the Alliance's concept and capability development programs. The officer will identify opportunities for synergy with other NATO or national programs, aiming to maximize the return on investments in military capabilities. The position requires a deep understanding of NATO's Concept Development and Experimentation (CD&E) processes and policies, as the officer will be responsible for designing experiments that align with the annual NATO CD&E Programme of Work. The role also involves collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure that experimentation efforts are efficient, effective, and yield valuable insights for military transformation. The officer will serve as an expert in operational experimentation, participating in all phases from planning to execution, analysis, and reporting. Additionally, the officer will prepare and deliver briefings to high-ranking officials within NATO, emphasizing the contributions of operational experimentation to NATO's transformation and adaptation strategies.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Staff Officer (Experimentation Design) will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including but not limited to:

• Designing experiments within the NATO CD&E Programme of Work to ensure optimal development of new military concepts and capabilities.
• Contributing to draft experiment designs based on validated proposals from Nations’ CD&E experts, facilitating efficient execution of experiments.
• Managing experimentation design processes to ensure that each planned experiment is configured to deliver results that effectively address required concepts or capabilities.
• Serving as an expert in operational experimentation, participating as a senior team member in planning, execution, analysis, and reporting of experiments.
• Preparing and delivering briefings to audiences up to OF-8 level on the contributions of operational experimentation to NATO’s strategic objectives.
• Providing instruction on operational experimentation techniques to the NATO CD&E Course.
• Identifying lessons learned and best practices in experimentation techniques.
• Managing experimentation funds as a Deputy Fund Manager, ensuring budgetary compliance and effective resource allocation.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a University Degree and have at least 4 years of related experience, or have completed higher secondary education with advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification or accreditation, along with 5 years of related experience and 2 years of function-related experience. Additionally, candidates should have four to six years of experience in the design of experiments, depending on their educational background. Proven experience in applying experimentation to national or multinational military transformation activities is essential, along with a track record of successful experiment designs. Candidates must demonstrate effective communication skills, both orally and in writing, particularly in distilling complex technical subjects into clear briefings for non-technical audiences. Management experience in a government, international, or industrial setting is also required, along with experience in instructional roles and delivering training lessons.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a University Degree in a relevant field, or higher secondary education with advanced vocational training leading to a professional qualification. Candidates should have completed their education in disciplines related to military studies, engineering, or other relevant fields that support the design and execution of military experiments. Post-graduate qualifications in experimentation-related activities are desirable, as they enhance the candidate's expertise in the field.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of four to six years of experience in the design of experiments, with a strong emphasis on military or defense-related contexts. Experience in applying experimentation to national or multinational military transformation activities is crucial. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of delivering successful experiment designs and will have experience in an instructional capacity, preparing and delivering training lessons. Additionally, experience in delivering briefings and presentations to a diverse audience, ranging from junior to senior ranks, is essential for this role.

Languages:
The mandatory language requirement for this position is English, with a proficiency level of SLP 3333, which includes listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively in English, particularly in technical contexts. Desirable qualifications include joint military staff experience, preferably in a multinational environment, and familiarity with additional languages may be beneficial but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The successful applicant will be required to apply for and receive a NATO SECRET Security Clearance prior to final confirmation of contract and commencement of employment. The contract offered will be in accordance with NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations, with newly recruited staff receiving a three-year definite duration contract. Candidates should note that NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all member nations and particularly welcoming women to apply. The application process requires candidates to answer all pre-screening questions completely in English, and applications prepared using generative AI tools will be rejected. The vacancy will close on 20 July 2026 at 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).