• Job Description

  Req#: 260112

  Post Context

  ACT contributes to preserving the peace, security and territorial integrity of Alliance member states by leading, at Strategic Command level, Warfare Development required to enhance NATO’s posture, military structures, forces, capabilities and doctrines.

  The Command Group provides general support, coordination, management, administrative service and specialist advice to SACT, DSACT and COS.
  Chief of Staff (COS) is responsible to SACT and DSACT for the staff activity necessary to execute ACT’s mission. It is the focal point for the implementation of the Commander’s direction and guidance as well as the initiation and co-ordination of all ACT staff efforts.

  The Staff Advisory Group (SAG) is comprised of different competencies grouped into several offices (Political Advisor, Legal Advisor, Gender Advisor, Financial Controller, Command Auditor, Communication Branch and Pentagon Liaison). It works under the direction and guidance of COS and provides general staff support, coordination, management, administrative service, and specialists’ advice to SACT.

  As part of the Staff Advisory Group, the Legal Affairs Office at HQ SACT has two main functions:

  • To organize, oversee, and provide for the delivery of legal services throughout Allied Command Transformation, including HQ SACT and subordinate activities at the Joint Warfare Centre (Norway), the Joint Force Training Centre (Poland), the Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre (Portugal) as well as the ACT Staff Element (Mons, BE) and SACTREPEUR (Brussels).
  • To provide advice, analyses and implementing documents to the Supreme Allied Commander and his headquarters staff and subordinate activities regarding the applicability of NATO policy and regulations and also international and national laws and regulations that affect the responsibilities, functions, and activities across ACT.

  Principal Duties:

  • As directed, provide legal advice in support of HQ SACT’s mission. Such support may include legal analysis and advice on data protection, data exploitation and literacy; cyber and space as operational domains; and building integrity initiatives.
  • Serve as ACT’s point of contact for legal education, training and exercises. This includes providing legal guidance and support to NATO Education and Training Facilities to include NATO School Oberammergau.
  • Serve as the primary legal point of contact for HQ SACT procurement and contracting.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for legal advice to the Commander, Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Centre and staff in Monsanto, Portugal.
  • Coordinate with NCIA on legal matters pertaining to policy, doctrine, research and development to include serving as the primary ACT legal point of contact for the HQ SACT – NCIA Partnership Agreement and related Service Level Agreement(s).
  • On behalf of ACT Legal Advisor and as directed, serve as ACT legal interface with the United Nations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), and other International Organizations (IO) whose activities impact ACT’s mission.
  • Provide legal guidance on environmental, administrative and personnel issues raised by the activation and deactivation of commands and other NATO entities.
  • As directed, represent SACT in his capacity as Head of NATO Body before the NATO Administrative Tribunal.
  • Draft legal memoranda and papers to summarize issues presented and recommending proposed action to the ACT Legal Advisor and draft original correspondence for review by ACT Legal Advisor or his/her designee.
  • Conduct appropriate liaison with international, national and regional authorities to accomplish the responsibilities listed in this section.

  Essential Qualifications / Experience:

  • University Degree in law or related discipline and 4 years post related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 5 years post related and 2 years function related experience.
  • Four-six years of professional experience commensurate with the duties of the position, including government/international legal staff and supervisory experience. Legal experience must include a background in public international law.
  • Two – four years of experience with national or NATO procurement and contracting.
  • Experience drafting, negotiating and concluding international agreements with national military and/or government representatives.
  • Polished, persuasive communicator, orally and in writing in English, with strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated capacity to work independently, exercise initiative, and make appropriate decisions under conditions of uncertainty and stress.
  • Must be able to travel extensively and work independently on sensitive political and personnel issues.
  • Graduate of a recognized university/college located in a NATO nation with a university degree in law.

  Language:

  • English – SLP 3333 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

  Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

  • Previous experience in a NATO legal office dealing with international law issues, including treaties and status of forces agreements with foreign military organizations and government officials.
  • Familiarity with the legal, fiscal and operational dimensions of multinational agreements and NATO documents at a strategic level.
  • Former military training or experience and knowledge of the NATO military command structure, organization and mission.
  • Training with computers and advanced information systems, including MS Word, MS PowerPoint and Outlook.
  • French SLP 2222 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing).

  Attributes/Competencies:

  Personal Attributes:

  • Ability to work harmoniously in a multi-national environment, while representing and projecting HQ SACT positions in a firm but tactful manner.
  • Problem-solving creativity and judgment under stressful conditions and in the numerous instances when precedents are unavailable or inappropriate.
  • Energy, initiative, and intellectual force to provide a broad range of legal services to multiple and diverse ACT organizations dispersed throughout central and southern Europe.
  • Ability to produce documents and correspondence of exceptional quality and persuasiveness in the English language.

  Security Clearance

  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.

  Contract

  Serving NATO International Civilian staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations. Newly recruited staff will be offered a three year definite duration contract.

  Notes for Candidates

  The HQ SACT web site gives full details on the eligibility criteria and application processes to be adopted by all candidates. However, candidates should particularly note:

  Please answer each of the pre-screening questions completely in English. Expressions such as: “please see attached CV, please see annex, please see enclosed document, etc” are not acceptable; this is a cause of immediate rejection of the application.

  Particular attention should be given to Education and Experience section of your application form, which should be populated with details of your career to date and educational achievements and certifications as they relate to your application.

  The candidature of NATO redundant staff at grade G17 will be considered with priority.

  NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO’s sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

  NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.

  This vacancy will close on 23 February 2026 @ 17:59hrs (EST)/11:59hrs (CET).

• About the company

  The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 European and North American countries.

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