Chief of Staff

Job Posting Organization:
DIANA, the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, is a NATO body established to accelerate innovation in defense and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security for the Alliance. It operates with a Board of Directors representing all 32 NATO nations and an operational team known as the DIANA Executive (DX). The organization aims to foster deep-tech innovation and is committed to creating a dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative workplace. DIANA operates from three offices located in Europe and North America, leveraging a network of military end users, accelerator sites, test centers, and experts to drive technological advancements.

Job Overview:
The Chief of Staff plays a crucial role in supporting the Managing Director of DIANA by providing strategic advice, executive-level decision support, and oversight of key organizational priorities. This position acts as a central coordination point among the senior leadership team and the Board of Directors' secretariat, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality outputs and communications. The Chief of Staff is responsible for determining and prioritizing matters requiring the Managing Director's engagement, overseeing executive correspondence, and ensuring effective stakeholder engagement. This role also involves monitoring the implementation of decisions and organizational priorities, establishing relationships with key stakeholders, and leading strategic initiatives on behalf of the Managing Director.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Chief of Staff will be responsible for a variety of duties including: determining and prioritizing matters for the Managing Director's engagement; overseeing the coordination and execution of executive correspondence and decisions; providing strategic advice and decision support by synthesizing information from across DIANA; directing activities of the Senior Leadership Team; ensuring effective stakeholder engagement and information flow; monitoring the implementation of decisions and identifying delivery risks; establishing relationships with the Board of Directors and other stakeholders; overseeing standards for executive briefings and reports; and leading special initiatives to drive organizational alignment and outcomes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree from a recognized university in business administration, public administration, international relations, political science, law, management, or a related field, along with 5 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree with 8 years of relevant experience. Essential qualifications include a minimum of 5 years of experience providing strategic advice and executive support to senior leaders, demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, experience leading complex projects, and excellent written and verbal communication skills. Candidates must also demonstrate sound judgment and professionalism in high-pressure situations.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in a relevant field is required, with a Bachelor's degree acceptable if accompanied by additional years of experience. The educational background should be from a nationally recognized institution, ensuring that candidates have a solid foundation in business, public administration, or related disciplines.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant work experience in providing strategic advice and executive support to senior leaders, particularly in areas such as strategic planning, governance, and organizational management. Experience in managing complex projects and initiatives with multiple stakeholders is also essential, as is the ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion and professionalism.

Languages:
Candidates must possess advanced proficiency (Level V) in one of NATO's official languages (English or French) and at least beginner proficiency (Level I) in the other. Most internal work at DIANA is conducted in English, making proficiency in this language particularly important.

Additional Notes:
The position offers a definite duration contract of three years, with the possibility of extension. The successful candidate will receive a tax-free salary, allowances for expatriate staff, excellent health insurance, a NATO pension scheme, and generous annual leave. The role is based in London, and candidates must be residents of the host nation for the duration of their contract. NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, ensuring equal access to employment opportunities. The recruitment process includes a pre-recorded video interview, language proficiency test, job-related written test, and panel interview, with appointment subject to security clearance and medical approval.