Open-Source Intelligence Specialist

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. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

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Who we are supporting 

The NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) is responsible for providing secure and effective communications and information technology (IT) services to NATO's member countries and its partners. The agency was established in 2012 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The NCIA provides a wide range of services, including:

• Cyber Security: The NCIA provides advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect NATO's communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATO's military commanders to plan and execute operations.
• Satellite Communications: The NCIA provides satellite communications services to enable secure and reliable communications between NATO forces.
• Electronic Warfare: The NCIA provides electronic warfare services to support NATO's mission to detect, deny, and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATO's information technology infrastructure, including its databases, applications, and servers.

Overall, the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATO's communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATO’s principal C3 capability deliverer and CIS service provider. It provides, maintains and defends the NATO enterprise-wide information technology infrastructure to enable Allies to consult together under Article IV, and, when required, stand together in the face of attack under Article V.

To provide these critical services, in the modern evolving dynamic environment the NCI Agency needs to build and maintain high performance-engaged workforce. The NCI Agency workforce strategically consists of three major categorise's: NATO International Civilians (NIC)'s, Military (Mil), and Interim Workforce Consultants (IWC)'s. The IWCs are a critical part of the overall NCI Agency workforce and make up approximately 15 percent of the total workforce.

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Role ID – NATOIS-0036

 Role Background

The Intelligence and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) Functional Services (IIFS) programme aims to enhance and accelerate NATO’s situational awareness and decision- making by increasing and diversifying data sources, integrating new tools, and providing access to emerging and disruptive technologies.

NCIA is delivering the materiel solutions for IIFS, which include enhanced capabilities for Imagery Intelligence (IMINT), Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), Data Management, Data Acquisition, and Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (PED) Management.

As part of this effort, ACO is tasked with delivering the Coherence Project, which ensures doctrine and processes are revised to support the implementation of the material projects in a timely manner.

To drive interoperability across the NATO Command Structure and with Nations, technical standards should be established to normalize and harmonize the formats, representations, and mechanisms by which data is shared, enabling analysts to effectively make sense of it. The data can come from existing NATO/National systems/services, Publicly Available Information (PAI), and Commercially Available Information (CAI).

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Review existing NATO STANAGs relevant to the OSINT standardization project and identify capability gaps;
• Collect and analyse existing standardization efforts ongoing within the Alliance (including Nations) and within industry, including international standards;
• Gather standardization requirements from Allies and the NATO Enterprise to enable the structured sharing and exploitation of PAI/CAI and OSINT products;
• Develop the first draft of the OSINT standard and coordinate its review across the NATO Enterprise;
• Coordinate activities with Allies via the Open-Source Intelligence Working Group (OSIWG), a sub-working group of the Joint Capability Group Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissnce (JCGISR);
• Consolidate a mature version of the OSINT standard for National promulgation, either as an addendum to an existing STANAG or as a new standalone agreement;
• Support additional activities as urgent operational requests emerge, depending on the candidate’s qualifications.

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications

• Nationally recognized/certified university qualification in Computer Science and/or Data Science. Or exceptionally, the lack of a university degree may be compensated by the demonstration of a candidate’s particular abilities or experience that is/are of interest to SHAPE J26, that is, at least 3 years extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post (e.g. standardization);
• Valid security clearance as from contract start date at minimum NATO SECRET level;
• Knowledge and experience with cloud service models and data platform services;
• Excellent knowledge of Open-Source International Standards
• Good knowledge of Open-Source Intelligence, formats and metadata;
• Good knowledge of data management in a complex multi-network/multi-user environment;
• Solid experience in working in a Microsoft environment with shared data access;

Language

• Fluent in Business English;

 Desirable Skills, Experience and Certifications

• Ability to independently plan and execute assigned project tasks under guidance, taking into account policies, programme goals, priorities, funding and other planning constraints;
• Ability to work on its own and as part of a team;
• Highly motivated, good communication skills, team player;
• NATO and/or military experience;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Word/Excel, PowerPoint.

 Working Location

• Mons, Belgium

 Working Policy

• Offsite

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance