Contractor Support for Military Partnerships- Defense Planning Integration and Partnership Framework Implementation

Position Overview:

The Contractor Support for Military Partnerships- Partner Capability Development, Innovation, and Interoperability serves as a key contributor to the Partnerships Branch's activities in support of NATO's partnerships objectives, acting as a central point of contact for coordination across HQ SACT Directorates, ACO/SHAPE, NATO HQ, Partner Nations, and relevant International Organizations. This role supports Partner capability development by fostering NATO-Partner cooperation, integrating NATO capability development approaches, including alignment with the NATO Defense Planning Process, standardization, and interoperability requirements, into Partner capability plans, Individually Tailored Partnership Programs, and Defense Capacity Building packages, with particular focus on resilience, modernization, and interoperability. The incumbent identifies and analyzes Partner capability requirements and gaps using DOTMLPFI-based analysis, experimentation, wargaming, and lessons learned, while promoting interoperability through engagement with mechanisms such as CWIX-type activities and Federated Mission Networking, and supporting Partner inclusion in ACT innovation, experimentation, and Multi-Domain Operations activities. Additionally, this individual contributes to the development of briefings, policies, and decision-support products for senior leaders, supports Key Leader Engagement preparation, provides analysis on emerging capability areas such as space, cyberspace, and digital transformation, and travels up to 30 days per year to meetings, exercises, and engagements; qualifying candidates hold a postgraduate degree in international relations, security studies, or a related field (or equivalent senior military staff college experience), bring demonstrated experience in international security or defense affairs within NATO or a related international or national defense organization, and have a track record of briefing senior decision-makers.

Job Responsibilities:

• Contribute to the activities, outputs, coordination requirements, and battle rhythm of the Partnerships Branch in support of NATO's partnerships objectives.
• Support the Partnerships Branch as the HQ SACT central point of contact for partnerships-related work strands, including coordination with HQ SACT Directorates, Branches, JJJJs, ACO/SHAPE, NATO HQ, Partner Nations, and relevant International Organizations, as required.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of briefings, point papers, speaking notes, reports, decision-support products, and other staff work for senior officers, decision makers, working groups, and external engagements related to partnerships.
• Contribute to the development, review, refinement, and implementation of policies, directives, concepts, processes, and procedures related to NATO military partnerships, including support to Bi-SC and ACT-level taskings.
• Support the identification, coordination, and tracking of ACT activities, Program of Work, exercises, experiments, training, education, and engagement opportunities open to Partners, ensuring coherence of messaging and alignment with NATO and ACT priorities.
• Support the maintenance of corporate memory, information and knowledge management, lessons identified, document traceability, and quality assurance mechanisms for Partnerships Branch activities.
• Ensure that partnership activities, documentation, and information-sharing
• considerations are coordinated in accordance with applicable NATO security, releasability, and information-management requirements.
• Support Key Leader Engagement preparation and execution, including background papers, engagement strategies, read-ahead material, talking points, engagement reports, and follow-up actions.
• Be prepared to travel to meetings, conferences, workshops, exercises, and other engagements both within and outside NATO's boundaries for up to 30 days per year.
• Perform additional tasks as required by the COTR related to the labor category and within the scope of Partnerships Branch responsibilities.
• Act as the lead staff support for military integration of Individually Tailored Partnership Programs and Planning and Review Process-related work within ACT, in coordination with NATO HQ, ACO/SHAPE, Partner Nations, and relevant HQ SACT stakeholders.
• Support the execution of all steps of the ITPP process by providing military input, subject matter expertise, staff coordination, supporting documentation, assessment material, and preparation for bilateral and multilateral engagements.
• Interpret, analyses, report, plan, and advise on ACT warfare development work and
• transformation opportunities that can support or be connected to Partner ITPPs, PARP, Defense Capacity Building, Partnership Goals, and related partnership mechanisms.
• Analyze NATO policy, defense planning guidance, military-strategic work, and NDPP-related developments to inform a coherent, multi-cycle ITPP approach that supports Partner modernization and medium-term transformation.
• Support the identification of Partner capability and interoperability gaps relevant to NATO defense planning, and contribute to ACT input for NATO HQ assessments, progress reviews, and related partnership framework products.
• Facilitate coordination and information-sharing between ACT, NATO HQ, AGO/SHAPE, and other relevant stakeholders on Partner capability development, defense planning, standards harmonization, and implementation progress.
• Maintain awareness of NATO defense planning policies, NDPP developments, partnership framework updates, and relevant political-military guidance to ensure ACT contributions to ITPP, PARP, and related processes remain current, coherent, and strategically aligned.
• Conduct geopolitical, regional, and strategic analysis on Partner Nations and partnership frameworks, within an allocated portfolio of countries, to inform ACT planning, engagement, and senior leader decision-making.

Required Qualifications:

• Active NATO Secret Security Clearance
• University postgraduate degree (master's or higher) in international relations, international security, international development, military studies (including military technology or operations research), foreign policy, public affairs, political science, or related discipline; or have attended a NATO or national military staff college (OF-3 level or higher)
• Experience working in the field of foreign/international security/international cooperation/defense/military affairs
• Experience working within NATO Enterprise (preferred); or other International Organization (in a Defense or Security-related position); or within a national mission, delegation, or embassy to a 10 (in a Defense or Security-related position)
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of: NATO Partnerships; or security sector reform / defense and security capacity building; or defense planning; or military capability development/ military applications of operations Research.
• Demonstrate experience in drafting for and/or briefing senior leaders/decision makers (FOGOs or civilian equivalent

DEFTEC offers a comprehensive whole-life benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, holiday, paid time off, 401K with a match, life insurance, short/long-term disability, and educational reimbursement. The DEFTEC team comprises professionals who make a difference daily in crucial national security missions. Our leadership knows that this happens by employing a diverse team that is well cared for. Our top priority is our employees, making DEFTEC an ideal workplace.

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of the activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.