Challenge Programmes Assistant (Halifax) - 241825

NATO UNCLASSIFIED

Vacancy Notice

Challenge Programmes Assistant (Halifax)-241825

Primary Location: CA-Halifax

NATO Body: Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA)

Schedule: Full-time

Application Deadline: 26-Jan-2025, 10:59:00 PM

Salary (Pay Basis): 6,743.54 Canadian Dollar (CAD) Monthly

Grade: NATO Grade G10-G12

Description

The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is NATO’s newest body. From across the Alliance, DIANA will bring together innovators and operational end users to foster a transatlantic ecosystem supporting dual-use solutions to critical transatlantic challenges in defence and security.

DIANA is a dynamic, agile and hybrid workplace, which strives for innovation, diversity, and excellence. In order to achieve these aims, DIANA is committed to providing our people with an environment that is positive, inclusive, and collaborative.

The Challenge Programme Assistant should join as a junior professional from academic labs, government R&D, or the corporate sector and be ready to immediately leverage their skills to support the creation and execution of Challenge Programmes.

Duties of this role include:

1. Assist the Project Managers and Challenge Managers with the planning, implementation, and monitoring of Challenge Programmes and other related projects.
2. Support the Chief Technology Officer and Challenge Team and coordinate resource-related outputs.
3. Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders for all requests for data, information, meetings, and delivery of products.
4. Support strategic communications and stakeholder engagement related to Challenge Programmes.
5. Assist the Challenge Team in establishing the required tools, processes, and best practices to ensure that DIANA can run projects while meeting the key performance indicators of being on time, on budget, within the desired scope, and at a high level of quality.
6. Assist in the establishment of an enterprise risk management capability that aids DIANA leadership in the identification, classification, and management of risks.
7. Maintain data, documents, and databases related to Challenge Programmes and other related projects.
8. Support the development and implementation of policy, doctrine, and supplementary project documents for Challenge Programmes.
9. Provide administrative support to the Challenge Team, including booking conference rooms, organizing IT/VTC support, and organizing events.
10. Provide training and mentoring to other DIANA staff on project management techniques, tools, and best practices.
11. Perform any other related duties as may be required.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

1. Higher vocational training in business administration, project management, STEM fields or related field/discipline with 2 years post-related experience OR a secondary educational qualification with 4 years’ post-related experience.
2. Minimum of 1 year experience in administrative or project support functions.
3. Experience in supporting project planning, cost estimation, and quality management.
4. Experience with digital project management platforms.
5. Experience in drafting standard project documents such as project mandates.
6. Exceptional presentation skills with experience in creating and delivering compelling presentations to a wide variety of stakeholders.
7. Possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; I (“Beginner”) in the other.

NOTE: Most of DIANA’s internal work is conducted in the English language.

DESIRABLE

1. University Degree in STEM-related discipline.
2. PRINCE II Foundation/Practitioner qualification or similar certification.
3. Experience in risk management and analysis and costing risk.
4. Experience in or with innovation accelerators, start-up incubators, or innovative environments.
5. Experience working and negotiating with experts from other fields, including across functions and/or with military operational experts.
6. Experience working in a multilateral environment or an environment with a variety of stakeholders from multi-cultural backgrounds.
7. Proven networking and multi-stakeholder management skills.
8. Knowledge of NATO institutional framework, policies, and procedures.

A thorough knowledge of one of the two NATO languages, both written and spoken, is essential and some knowledge of the other is desirable.

WHAT WE OFFER

1. Genuinely meaningful work as part of the newest unit within the most successful alliance in history.
2. Tax-free salary.
3. Household and children’s allowances and privileges for expatriate staff including expatriation and educational allowances (where applicable) and additional home leave.
4. Excellent private health insurance scheme.
5. Generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays.
6. Flexible working conditions and a smoke-free office in Halifax.
7. Opportunities for learning and development.

The incumbent is required to be a resident in the host nation for the duration of their contract. DIANA has a flexible teleworking policy to permit working in office, at home, and across NATO Allied Nations subject to managerial approval.

In accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations, the successful candidate will receive a definite duration contract of three years, which may be followed by an extension.

If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a 3-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.

NOTE: Irrespective of previous qualifications and experience, candidates for twin graded posts will be appointed at the lower grade. Advancement to the higher grade is not automatic and will not normally take place during the first three years of service in the post.

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser.

Applicants who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment to another post of a similar nature, albeit at the same or a lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.

For more information on DIANA, please visit our website.