Deputy Spokesperson

Primary Location
Belgium-Brussels

NATO Body
NATO International Staff (NATO IS)

Schedule
Full-time

Application Deadline
04-Nov-2025, 12:59:00 AM

Salary (Pay Basis)
10,742.69

Grade
NATO Grade G22

• SUMMARY NATO's Strategic Communications builds trust in and support for the Alliance by strengthening public awareness and understanding of NATO's priorities and activities. Led by the NATO Spokesperson/Director of Strategic Communications, the Office of Strategic Communications (OSC) provides communications direction and guidance to stakeholders across the NATO enterprise and coordinates strategic communications activities across all NATO civilian and military bodies. The Office carries out full-spectrum communications, analysing the information environment, designing and creating content, managing communications technology and platforms, overseeing media relations, and engaging audiences through a wide range of channels.

The incumbent serves as a key advisor on messaging and content and Deputy to NATO Spokesperson. The incumbent assists the Spokesperson in the development and coordination of messaging within the OSC as well as with interlocutors across the NATO enterprise. The Deputy Spokesperson works closely with Allies and partners as well as with civilian and military personnel to shape effective, engaging, responsive communications and to enhance coherence of efforts across the Alliance.

The incumbent replaces the Spokesperson, as required, providing advice to NATO leadership on messaging and media issues and travelling with them as needed. The Deputy Spokesperson oversees a small team of speechwriters and works closely with staff across the Office in the coordination of content.

Key challenges facing the successful candidate for this post during the next 2-3 years will include:

• Proactively identifying opportunities to convey NATO's priorities to a range of audiences while remaining responsive to varying demands of local, regional, and international stakeholders;
• Supporting innovation, adaptation, and cohesion within a newly-configured team operating in a challenging, fast-paced setting;
• Advising senior leadership on how to adapt to changes in the information environment – in terms of information threats as well as the evolving ways in which audiences consume and engage with information.

In addition to completing the application form and the pre-screening questions, candidates will be asked to address these key challenges in an essay of no more than 800 words, which will be evaluated as part of the long listing assessment. Please see full instructions on how to apply at the end of the vacancy notice.

• QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential
The incumbent must:

• hold a University degree in communications, public relations, international relations, political science or a related field from an institute of recognised standing;
• have 10 years of relevant experience in progressively responsible positions, in dealing with press, public affairs or public relations, on an international level, out of which at least 5 years as a senior-level advisor;
• possess excellent writing skills and the ability to convey key political messages in a clear, concise and quotable way;
• have proven public speaking skills and a record of engagement with international media;
• have proven political judgement and the ability to brief and advise senior leaders in a timely and effective manner;
• have good knowledge of security issues and international relations;
• have experience working under considerable pressure and to tight deadlines, and the ability to stay calm in a crisis;
• have experience working in a multilateral environment or an environment with a variety of stakeholders from multicultural backgrounds;
• demonstrate keen attention to detail;
• have the following minimum levels of NATO's official languages (English/French): V ("Advanced") in one; II (Elementary") in the other;
• be flexible to travel and work outside normal office hours.

DESIRABLE
The following would be considered an advantage:

• knowledge of additional languages;
• experience working in an international organization;
• proven awareness of the international media environment in which NATO operates.
• MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Vision and Direction
Assist the Spokesperson/Director, along with the Deputy Director, in setting priorities and objectives for the OSC, in alignment with the strategic direction of the Alliance. Under the overall direction of the Spokesperson/Director, provide guidance on strategic communications in support of the Secretary General, the Deputy Secretary General and other NATO officials and bodies. Provide direct advice to the Spokesperson on messaging and content.

People Management
Assist the Spokesperson/Director and Deputy Director in managing the workloads and resilience across the OSC. Act as a role model of inclusive leadership and promote collaboration, flexibility, and innovation in close cooperation with the Deputy Director. Provide regular and fair feedback on performance, informally as appropriate and through the HQ Performance Review and Development (PRD) system. Identify possible development and mobility opportunities for team members.

Knowledge Management
Provide guidance, supervise and draft strategic messaging, press statements, press lines, press conferences, speeches, op-eds and other content. Together with the Spokesperson/Director, supervise the daily production and distribution of relevant communications products to the NATO International Staff and national delegations. Under the overall direction of the Spokesperson/Director, provide guidance and support the coordination of strategic communications initiatives.

Stakeholder Management
Develop and maintain contact with international media. Be a trusted voice in a crisis. Liaise with officials from NATO Allies and partners and other international organisations, as appropriate. Coordinate with a wide range of NATO civilian and military stakeholders.

Expertise Development
Keep abreast of developments and trends in communications and help to develop expertise across the OSC.

Planning and Execution
Under the direction of the Spokesperson/Director, oversee and approve content created for all NATO channels. Oversee media operations for NATO Summits, ministerial meetings, and other events. Advise the Spokesperson/Director and others, including NATO leadership, military commands, and NATO offices, on strategic communications issues including public engagements. Brief NATO bodies on communications policies, the information environment, and other topics of relevance.

Representation of the Organization
Brief international media. Represent NATO in public events, as required.

Policy Development
Review and contribute to policy papers and reports related to strategic communications.

Project Management
Guide the development and management of projects from a content perspective. Identify risks and support contingency planning.

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

• INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The incumbent reports to the Spokesperson/Director of Strategic Communications and works closely with the Deputy Director OSC, forming together and integrated management team. The incumbent will maintain communication and coordination with in-house stakeholders, including the Office of the Secretary General, senior interlocutors in IS Divisions and independent offices, as well as NATO Military Authorities. The incumbent will be the line manager for the team of speechwriters and will work closely with colleagues throughout the OSC.

Direct reports: 3.

Indirect reports: N/A.

• COMPETENCIES The incumbent must demonstrate:
• Achievement: Sets and works to meet challenging goals;
• Change Leadership: Personally leads change;
• Conceptual Thinking: Clarifies complex data or situations;
• Developing Others: Provides in-depth mentoring, coaching and training;
• Impact and Influence: Uses indirect influence;
• Initiative: Plans and acts for the long-term;
• Leadership: Positions self as the leader;
• Organisational Awareness: Understands organisational politics;
• Self-Control: Stays composed and positive even under extreme pressure.
• CONTRACT

Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of three years; possibility of renewal for up to three years, during which the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite duration contract.
Contract clause applicable:

In accordance with the contract policy, this is a post in which turnover is desirable for political reasons in order to be able to accommodate the Organisation's need to carry out its tasks as mandated by the Nations in a changing environment, for example by maintaining the flexibility necessary to shape the Organisation's skills profile, and to ensure appropriate international diversity.

The maximum period of service foreseen in this post is 6 years. The successful applicant will be offered a 3-year definite duration contract, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years. However, according to the procedure described in the contract policy the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite contract during the period of renewal and no later than one year before the end of contract.

If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO's member States, a 3-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.

Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Régulations.

• USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries. Applications must be submitted using e-recruitment system, as applicable:

• For NATO civilian staff members only: please apply via the internal recruitment portal ( link );
• For all other applications:

Before you apply to any position, we encourage you to click here and watch our video providing 6 tips to prepare you for your application and recruitment process.

Do you have questions on the application process in the system and not sure how to proceed? Click here for a video containing the information you need to successfully submit your application on time.

• Please note that the competition for this post is provisionally scheduled as follows: Pre-selection testing mid-November 2025; Final selection end January 2026, in Brussels, Belgium.

More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website )

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a
security clearance
(provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate), approval of the candidate's
medical file
by the NATO Medical Adviser, verification of your study(ies) and work experience, and the successful completion of the
accreditation
and notification process by the relevant authorities.

NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. NATO reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at NATO's sole discretion, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.

NATO is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible working environment, where all candidates living with disabilities can fully participate in the recruitment and selection process. If you require reasonable accommodation, please inform us during your selection process.

Candidates will be required to provide documented medical evidence to support their request for accommodation.

Building Integrity is a key element of NATO's core tasks. As an employer, NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.

Due to the broad interest in NATO and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or e-mail enquiries cannot be dealt with.

Applicants who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment to another post of a similar nature, albeit at the same or a lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.

The nature of this position may require the staff member at times to be called upon to travel for work and/or to work outside normal office hours.

The organization offers several work-life policies including Teleworking and Flexible Working arrangements (Flexitime) subject to business requirements.

Please note that the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium is a non-smoking environment.

For information about the NATO Single Salary Scale (Grading, Allowances, etc.) please visit our website . Detailed data is available under the Salary and Benefits tab.

NATO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. For more info please click here .