Chief of Plans in Affected Nation’s Air (J5)

Spektrum have a wide range of exciting opportunities in several global locations.

We are always looking to add great new talent to our team and look forward to hearing from you.

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.

Who we are supporting 

The NATO Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) is a NATO establishment focused on improving the Alliance's operational capabilities through training and exercises. Located in Stavanger, Norway, the JWC plays a critical role in preparing NATO forces for future challenges by:

• Training and Exercises
  • Conducting large-scale, joint operational-level training events, simulations, and exercises to enhance interoperability among NATO member nations.
• Doctrine Development
  • Contributing to the development and refinement of NATO doctrines and concepts by providing feedback and insights from exercises and training activities.
• Operational Support
  • Offering expert support to NATO operations, missions, and exercises, ensuring that lessons learned are integrated into future training and planning.

 The JWC supports NATO's overall strategic objectives by ensuring that its forces are well-prepared and capable of responding to various global threats and challenges.

The program 

To deliver each full exercise cycle the JWC relies heavily on an Exercise Control (EXCON) structure. EXCON staff members are drawn from several backgrounds and units including JWC staff, NATO component commands, Training Audience (TA) Headquarters, Partner Nations and other augmenters’ positions. EXCON has both direction and control functions which allow it to establish the conditions needed by the TA to achieve the exercise aim and objectives. EXCON size and structure is flexible and is shaped to the requirement of each phase of exercise delivery. When it is not possible to fill a position from military sources, the JWC has the option to source a contractor to fill a position. Not all contracted positions are required for each phase of each exercise.

Role Background

The fundamental intent of creating a 360 setting/scenario is to mimic all levels of interaction on a global scale. In order to simulate outside actors’ influence on EU/NATO actions, fictitious countries are established, with fictitious forces, that would in the real world have some interest in what the NATO campaign is doing. For example, what happens in SACAURs AOR or in an out of area AOR where NATO forces are involved, can cause ripples effects in other parts of the globe, hereby reflected via the 360 setting. In order to simulate these important interactions and relationships, fictitious forces and actors require separate role players. Those can typically involve a Chief of Defence, local commander or similar command structure representative or equivalent civilian leadership. Since interactions are merely answers or inputs to decision and RFIs, a role player can assume multiple roles to meet the effect of the interactions/exercise play

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide subject matter expertise to realistically represent the Affected Nation (i.e. the nation to which NATO forces have/will deploy) Air strategy to the training audience in accordance with the exercise scenario.
• To provide expert advice and guidance on matters concerning the operational and strategic use of Air Assets of the Affected Nation.
• Ascertain that the TA is exposed to a realistic AN Air Power posture that is coherent across the AN joint campaign and in line with all AN messaging.
• Act as the focal point for the training audience for AN Aeronautical matters (military and civil) during exercise preparation and execution.
• Coordinate Military Air operational matters within the AN and EXCON team.
• Quickly read, digest, analyse and understand the AN Air situation as depicted in the scenario documentation provided by JWC.
• Understand and provide recommendations for improvement of (military and civil) aeronautical considerations within the scenario.
• Understand exercise and training objectives and ensure their representation of the scenario supports the training audience’s achievement of those objectives.
• Develop a basic Concept of Operations for the use of the AN's Military Air assets in the conflict, if required, develop and present plans.
• Be prepared to assist JWC in the development of strategic and operational level scenario documents tailored to the training audience and exercise.
• Assist training audiences with initial planning stages by providing subject matter expertise and scenario representation to incorporate AN Air Component.
• Understand and analyse developing training audience plans and documentation and their impacts on the AN Air component.
• In accordance with JWC guidance and management, and with all necessary co- ordination, generate appropriate exercise material to provide a challenging and realistic problem set to the training audience.
• Act as the AN Air Component advisor in meetings with the training audience during the exercise, whether face to face, by VTC, phone, email or letter.
• Produce agendas, written speaking notes and minutes of meetings in support of scenario building, communication/coordination and knowledge management.
• Be prepared to update and amend exercise and scenario documentation during the course of the exercise in order to ensure training objectives continue to be met.
• Monitor training audience activity and output so as to provide timely feedback to JWC Exercise Control staff to amend and adapt the exercise as required.
• Attend daily coordination meetings as dictated by the EXCON battle rhythm and Chief Grey Cell, providing SME advice as required.
• Undertake any other duties as directed by the Grey Cell JWC permanent staff as reasonably expected within the exercise.
• Make solicited recommendations to the JWC Exercise Control team.
• Under JWC guidance and management, be prepared to supply updates to JWC documentation to ensure representation of latest doctrine/TTPs in area of subject matter expertise.
• Provide feedback to JWC permanent staff on request for the improvement of NATO exercise processes.
• Be familiar with the latest relevant strategic and air NATO publications

Essential Skills and Experience

• Demonstrate 3 years’ experience in the last 10 performing at the rank of OF5 or higher within a national Air Force or Naval Aviation.
• Demonstrate 3 years’ experience in the last 10 of briefing senior leaders/decision makers within a national/international aeronautical environment.
• Demonstrate 3 years’ employment in the last 10 as a Senior Officer in an operational or strategic national or international Air force headquarters.
• Demonstrate experience of leading operational planning activities in an Air Operations headquarters.
• Demonstrate sound operational knowledge of military civil aeronautical interaction within the past 5 years either as a Military Officer or as a civilian.

Education

• A University/Bachelor’s Degree or Staff College

Language

• Business English

Working Location

• Stavanger, Norway
• Remote work may be requested on an ADHOC per requirement basis

Working Policy

• Each exercise support requirement is anticipated to be 5 to 15 working days per event
• On-Site, unless otherwise specified with up to 12-hour days
• If out of normal hours work is required, this will be requested on a per requirement basis

Travel

• Any associated travel costs to and from your home location to participate in the activity will be covered by Spektrum

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance

We never know what new opportunities might be just over the horizon. If this opportunity isn't for you please feel free to send us your resume anyway and be the first to know if something suitable for your skills and experience comes up.