Special Advisor

SHAPE is looking for a Special Advisor (International Affairs) to support the Command Group in developing and promulgating organisational design, workforce and military-civilian personnel policy, guidance and procedures.

**GENERAL BACKGROUND**:
SHAPE, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, is the Headquarters of Allied Command Operations (ACO), one of the two major military commands of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). ACO safeguards an area extending from the northern tip of Norway to the eastern border of Turkey. This equates to nearly two million square kilometres of land, more than three million square kilometres of sea, and a population of about 320 million people.

**POST DESCRIPTION**:
**Location**:Casteau/Mons, 60 Km south of Brussels (Belgium)

**Division**:Command Group

**POST CONTEXT/POST SUMMARY**

SHAPE is the strategic level command responsible for the planning, preparation, conduct and execution of NATO operations, missions, activities and tasks as directed by Council in order to achieve the strategic objectives of the Alliance.

The Command Group (CG) provides and sustains strategic level command and control capabilities to support SACEUR in exercising his command functions.

The SPECIAL ADVISOR (International Affairs) is a principal advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) on the strategic-political-military issues facing Allied Command Operations in Southern Europe, the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas of interest.

**PRINCIPAL DUTIES**

The incumbent’s duties are:

- Provides advice on a wide range of strategic-political-military issues involving NATO, ACO operations, Transformation and Partnerships.
- Serves as the SACEUR’s principal advisor and command expert support SHAPE Command Group, ACO and subordinate NATO HQ on all matters related to East and Southern Mediterranean policy, security, and NATO/ACO operations and activities in that region. Principal advisor and command expert on the Black Sea region.
- Participates in major policy and policy and planning initiatives, providing advice on a wide range of pol-mil issues in direct support of Command policy formulation and decision-making.
- Advises Command Group on pol-mil issues in the southern region and functions as one of SACEUR’s principal means to inform and influence senior military officials in the southern region.
- Provides pol-mil advice as it relates to NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense.
- Provides pol-mil advice on maritime related policy and initiatives.
- Analyzes the European and global pol-mil environment and identifies the potential impact on issues of importance to SACEUR, the Command and its ongoing operations.
- Serves as SACEUR's principal advisor for NATO's relationship with nations of the Mediterranean Dialog (MD), Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), and other partners across the globe. Provides pol-mil advice on NATO’s support to the African Union (AU).
- Analyzes pol-mil environment in North Africa and the Middle East, identifying the potential impact on issues of importance to SACEUR, the command and its operations.
- As SACEUR’s representative, coordinates directly with southern region General Staffs to harmonize NATO and national views.
- Responsible for assisting SACEUR in the coordination and harmonization of SACEUR’s strategic military advice and SHAPE/ACO views with NATO HQ plans and policies, including the Office of the Secretary General, International Secretariat, as well as NATO and non-NATO national missions, military delegations, and national governments, and subordinate ACO HQs and staff as required.
- Responsible for matters pertaining to NATO Operations, the incumbent is responsible for (1) supporting SACEUR’s political and military engagement, plans, and activities at the Head of State and Government level and below, (2) leading negotiations on behalf of SACEUR, (3) assisting the Command Group in the execution of its crisis management responsibilities, (4) developing strategic assessments and forecasts of critical strategic-political-military issues at the strategic level, (5) recommending policy courses of action, establishing diplomatic and professional links with academic institutes, think tanks, relevant governments and International Organizations to advance SACEUR’s (ACO) strategic military advice and implement NAC direction to ACO and NATO-led operations.
- Contributes to the development of concepts, operational plans and initiatives for NATO contingency operations.
- Contributes to the coordination and execution of high-level visits to SHAPE by senior NATO and non-NATO officials and visits to NATO and non-NATO nations by SACEUR and the SHAPE Command Group.
- Drafts high-level memoranda and briefing materials in English on short notice.
- Liaises with and provides interface with members of the International Staff and Private Office in NATO HQ, POLADs at subordinate military headquarters, officials of member nations and interna