Challenge Manager (London and Halifax)

NATO UNCLASSIFIED

Vacancy Notice

Challenge Manager (Halifax and London) - 241809

Primary Location: United Kingdom-London

Other Locations: CA-Halifax

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

Schedule: Full-time

Application Deadline: 19-Jan-2025, 10:59:00 PM

Salary (Pay Basis): 8,495.61 Pound Sterling (GBP) Monthly

Grade: NATO Grade G20

Description:

This recruitment is for 2 Challenge Manager posts: one in London, UK and one in Halifax, Canada. The reserve positions may be used to fill future Challenge Manager G20/1 in Halifax, CA: $13,668.02 CAD monthly salary; G20/1 in London, UK: £8,495.61 GBP monthly salary.

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 dynamic, agile, and hybrid workplace, which strives for innovation, diversity, and excellence.

The Challenge Manager should join as an experienced professional from academic labs, government R&D, or the corporate sector and be ready to immediately leverage their deep technical knowledge and professional networks to drive the creation of new programs. Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer in London, they will work with R&D communities and stakeholders to establish rigorous and ambitious program goals.

Duties of the role include:

1. Conduct and implement DIANA‘s Challenge Programs in collaboration with DIANA affiliated Acceleration Sites and Test Centers.
2. Coordinate with stakeholders across the NATO enterprise and member nations to develop the biannual Strategic Direction document.
3. Engage technically with DIANA-affiliated start-up companies and provide technical guidance during the Accelerator Program.
4. Develop, refine, and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for DIANA’s Challenge Program(s).
5. Lead the selection and coordination of Evaluation Panels for each year’s Challenge program solicitations.
6. Provide cross-functional support to other strands of work of DIANA.
7. Perform any other related duty as assigned.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

1. Possess an advanced university degree in a science or engineering field;
2. Have at least 8 years’ experience in technology development, innovation, and other STEM-related fields;
3. Have at least 4 years' experience engaging with private sector entrepreneurs and/or innovators;
4. Be familiar with government, industry, and/or academic laboratories;
5. Have technical experience working and negotiating with experts from other fields;
6. Be experienced in a leadership position;
7. Be experienced in project management;
8. Possess minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; and I (“Beginner”) in the other.

DESIRABLE

1. PhD degree in STEM relative fields;
2. Experience in designing and executing a challenge or technology competition;
3. Experience working in a multilateral environment;

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.
4. Excellent private health insurance scheme.
5. Generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays.
6. Flexible working conditions.

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.

For more information on DIANA, please visit our website: https://www.diana.nato.int