Program Manager - CBRN Capability Development

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise.

About the role

We are supporting Allied Command Transformation (ACT), NATO’s leading agent for change. ACT drives, facilitates, and advocates continuous improvement of Alliance capabilities to maintain and enhance military relevance and effectiveness. Key objectives include:

• Providing support to NATO missions and operations;
• Leading NATO military transformation;
• Improving relationships, interaction, and practical cooperation with partners, nations, and international organisations.

ACT leads Alliance concept development, capability development, training, and lessons-learned initiatives, and provides military support to policy development within NATO.

The Capability Development & Management Support (CDMS) program under DCOS Capability Development (CAPDEV) acts as the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation's Director for guidance, direction, and coordination of the Capability Development Directorate.

The Requirements Division executes tasks supporting requirements management for NATO capabilities. The Capability Requirements (CR) Branch develops the Capability Requirements Brief and recommended courses of action through the life cycle management of requirements using matrixed, cross-functional project-specific teams. The Requirements Forward Branch (Mons) conducts requirements development and management representation in Europe.

The Capability Division coordinates capability development from planning through acceptance and disposal with NATO Headquarters and the NATO Governance Structure. The Capability Forward Branch (Mons) coordinates with ACO, NCIA, NSPA, NATO HQ, territorial Host Nations, and NATO Centres of Excellence (COEs).

Strategic Plans and Policy (SPP) supports ACT in formalizing military advice to shape future military strategy, political guidance, and other policy documents supporting NATO’s strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

• Support the elicitation, capture, development, analysis, evaluation, and traceability of capability requirements;
• Support the elicitation, capture, development, analysis, evaluation, and traceability of higher and lower level requirements (e.g., capability targets, operational requirements, system specifications, interoperability requirements);
• Support the ACT JE Capability Programme Director and the CBRN FS Project Coordinator in programme management efforts, including interaction with CBRN stakeholders at all levels;
• Support the development, analysis, and review of concepts of operation, courses of action, and alternatives;
• Coordinate DOTMLPFI development and implementation synchronization; support development of recommended courses of action to resolve capability development issues;
• Organise and participate in workshops, seminars, conferences, and meetings;
• Collaborate with national and international military and civilian organizations, including centres of excellence and academia;
• Identify lessons and best practices and contribute to their learning within the organization;
• Travel to meetings and conferences within and outside NATO’s boundaries for up to 30 days per year;
• Perform additional tasks as required by the COTR related to the labor category.

Requirements

• 5 years in the last 10 years of demonstrable experience in procurement programs in the defence sector, including participation in programme/project boards, development of decision support briefings, studies of best procurement alternatives, and risk management;
• 5 years in the last 10 years of demonstrable experience in project management principles and success in applying them to deliver capabilities, including initiation and management of programmes and projects, development of exception and routine reports, and management of work breakdown packages;
• Knowledge of project management principles and demonstrated success in applying them to deliver capabilities, with certification in Program and Project Management (e.g., MSP, PRINCE2);
• Demonstrable experience working in a multinational organization or NATO Command Structure (NCS) / NATO Force Structure (NFS) and familiarity with NATO agencies’ role in system development;
• Background in operational military, especially in the CBRN domain, at tactical and/or joint level;
• Master’s degree or similar national academic or Military College qualification in engineering, information systems, operations research, project management, business administration, or related disciplines (can be substituted with a Bachelor’s degree and 5 years of relevant experience);
• Valid National or NATO personal security clearance;
• Professional English proficiency as defined in STANAG 6001 (Standardized Linguistic Profile 3333 - Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing) or equivalent.

Schedule

• Onsite, Monday–Friday;
• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required;
• Contract duration: September 2026 – December 2027.