Staff Officer (Recruitment / Talent Acquisition)

Post Context

Headquarters Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFCNF) provides a resilient, static Joint headquarters to plan, prepare and conduct operations across all domains in peacetime, crisis and conflict, in order to support NATO’s three core tasks, at the Joint Operational level, as directed by SACEUR.

The Support Directorate is responsible for planning, directing, monitoring, assessing and coordinating Support staff functions. It assists and provides advises on policy matters and in the execution of all support activities, including provision of regional focus. Directs and oversees all J1, J4, J6 activities.

The J1 Division is responsible for planning, preparing, executing and developing the human resources plans and programmes. This includes determining workforce requirements, organizational design, and force structure management in support of JFCNF and its supported entities and in support of operations in peacetime, crisis and conflict, and exercises.

The Civilian Personnel Branch develops, plans, executes, and implements policies & procedures pertaining to procurement/recruitment, life-cycle management, training, remuneration, deployment and separation of civilian staff.

The incumbent is responsible for the management and organsation of the civilian recruitment process for all assigned categories and locations of civilian personnel.

Principal Duties:

• Ensures efficient recruitment for all assigned civilian (permanent and temporary) categories of personnel / staff at JFCNF and for supported organisations. Entailing the complete cycle of recruitment including all aspects of management, administration and facilitation.
• Ensures recruitment support to Theatre Personnel Office(s): to include overall recruitment guidance and advices, development of policies and procedures and the training of theatre recruiters. Conducts the recruitment campaigns for specific theatre posts as agreed per Directive/SOP.
• Provides expert recruitment advice and support on civilian workforce matters, including general workforce reviews and studies.
• When tasked serves as Branch OPR for civilian Reorganisations and organisational changes in general. Develops overall and local policy and procedures for implementation. Organises and participates in local Boards, transfers, tests etc.
• Ensures proper management and administration of all matters related to NATO Security Clearances for new and serving civilian staff.
• Provides general training analyses and advises for job enhancement and training awards as requested.
• Keeps up to date with developments and trends relevant to the post's functional area and conducts market surveys. Advices and acts accordingly.
• Proposes changes/updates to civilian job descriptions as result of recruitment actions.
• Initiates and maintains relationship with external search-, test- and/or (temporary) employment-agencies as far as relevant. Advises the Branch Head on all matters pertaining to costs of the utilization of related external agencies.
• Participates in ACO and other Working Groups for HR recruitment issues and operational planning.
• Authorized to make decisions within the assigned sub-functional area. Such decisions should be also coordinated within the functional area of the Q and with the same sub-functional area in lateral, subordinate and superior HQs. Such decisions may affect the commitment of the command within NATO to a course of action.
• Provision of statistics regarding any aspect of the recruitment and selection process (i.e Nationalities, Demographics, Costs, Fill rates, etc.).

Essential Qualifications / Experience:

• University Degree  in human resources management, business administration, law, social sciences, or related field, public administration or related discipline  and 2 years function related experience, or Higher Secondary education and completed advanced vocational training  in that discipline leading to a professional qualification or professional accreditation with 4 years post related experience.  
• Thorough knowledge of personnel management / administration principles and practices acquired through at least 4 years experience in personnel management and personnel administration practices. 
• At least 4 years experience as a professional Recruiter of which minimum one year as a global or international Recruiter.
• Thorough experience in office/general administration practices.Language - English - SLP 3322 - (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing)

Desirable Qualifications / Experience:

• Professional knowledge of common web-based Recruitment system(s). Some experience in on and offline competency assessment methods.
• Good knowledge of the principles of various national education systems. Good knowledge of NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations and National
• Civilian Regulations. Good knowledge of ACO Recruitment and Workforce Directives and relevant NATO publications.
• Professional knowledge of recruitment interview techniques.
• Experience in Project Management.
• Specific Experience in a military headquarters/international organization, preferably NATO.
• Experience in administration and management of security clearances.    

Personal Attributes: The incumbent of this post is expected to be the JFCNF's expert on civilian personnel Recruitment, and the Branch's expert on civilian PE, CE and Workforce matters, therefore works independently, within the constraints of applicable policies and directives. Deals routinely with sensitive personal information and has access to personal-in-confidence information and documents. Must possess discretion, compliance and the highest sense of integrity. Must be able to display sound and independent judgement. Excellent inter-personal and communication skills, poise and tact are required in order to successfully interact with candidates, Selection Board members national Security Authorities and extensive other contacts. Requires the right set of personal competencies to make a professional assessment of qualifications and suitability of candidates.

Uses own initiative to analyse and propose solutions to unexpected problems and determine which issues to refer to a higher level. Must be able to develop and implement innovative administrative policies and procedures directed at ensuring the highest level of organizational efficiency and productivity. Must be able to provide creative solutions and advises in non-routine staffing issues. Uses own initiative to remain informed about new developments and trends within his/her professional area. Analyses, develops and advices on ways to meet changing requirements in the area of recruitment and selection. In order to match and meet the targets from the various Organisations served, the incumbent requires the ability to plan and prioritize tasks and be flexible to efficiently adapt to changing requirements. Participation in Selection Boards as the SO Recruitment and CPB Representative, requires good leadership skills and good professional judgment in order to lead and guide personnel, very often of higher grades then his/her own, through the Board proceedings. Attention to detail is essential. Time pressure and regular long working hours associated with selection boards and reporting require energy and commitment on the part of the staff member.

Contribution To Objectives: Through his/her key role in the deliverance of high quality civilian resources, the incumbent makes a direct and significant contribution to the JFC and supported Organisations' fulfilling of the operational goals. Develops procedures and policy in own area of professional competence.

Managerial Responsibilities: Authority to task and intervene to adjust day to day work priorities of the project assigned functional area staff.

Professional Contacts: As member of the Selection Boards the SO Recruitment is required to provide guidance/leadership and convince personnel, mostly graded higher than him/herself. The incumbent must have the necessary skills to manage and supervise a small team. Incumbent represents the HQ in ACO level established Working Groups in own functional areas. Liaises with management officials at all levels within the Organisation. Contacts regularly involve the consultation, negotiation and agreement of personnel matters. Outside the Organisation the incumbent maintains regular professional relationship with, Theatre HR, Security authorities from all member countries, Local Labour Offices and employment agencies and educational institutions. Has regular contacts with HR officials from other HQs. Incumbent has daily contacts with applicants and candidates throughout the world. Represents the JFC in WG's and Committees in own functional area. The quality of the many worldwide contacts, especially with applicants and authorities, are contributing to the public’s image of NATO as an Organisation.

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 JFC Norfolk Career 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 G15 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 02 November 2025@ 17:59hrs (EDT)/11:59hrs (CEST).