Head, Strategic Communications (NRU)

Primary Location

Ukraine-Kyiv

Other Locations

Belgium-Brussels

NATO Body

NATO International Staff (NATO IS)

Schedule

Full-time

Application Deadline

29-Apr-2026, 11:59:00 PM

Salary (Pay Basis)

9,604.83

Grade

NATO Grade G20

Important Note: this post is stationed in Kyiv, Ukraine, rated as an extreme risk location by the NATO Office of Security (NOS). Special security measures will apply for those assigned or travelling, which will impact on individuals’ movement, social life and privacy. Family members will not be relocated with the incumbent.

• SUMMARY
  
  
  

The NATO Representation to Ukraine (NRU) helps implement and direct cooperation between NATO and Ukraine.

The Head, Strategic Communications leads a team of communications, whose primary role is to support NATO’s role in Ukraine. The incumbent will promote the NATO Representation Office in Ukraine, its activities and broader NATO programmes to a range of internal and external audiences. The post holder will collaborate closely with the Office of Strategic Communications (OSC) at NATO HQ and a wide range of Ukrainian government counterparts to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence; demonstrate NATO’s support to Ukraine and tangibly support strategic communications capability development with Ukraine.

• Qualifications And Experience
  
  
  

The incumbent must:

• possess a university degree in a relevant discipline (social sciences, international relations, strategic communications);
• have at least seven years of relevant professional experience in planning, implementing, monitoring and assessing a broad range of strategic communications activities with managerial experience;
• have experience in media and digital outreach, communications campaigns, developing and using information environment assessment;
• have an excellent knowledge of international affairs, and security and defence policies;
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English and French): V (“Advanced”) in one; I (“Beginner”) in the other;
  
  
  

The following would be considered an advantage:

• previous work in/on Ukraine and/or Central Eastern Europe; and/or an advanced language level in Ukrainian;
• experience working with senior level officials;
• a strong background in public outreach work on a range of channels, including media appearances.
• Main Accountabilities
  
  
  

Expertise Development. Develop expertise within the NRU communications team to meet the requirements of an ambitious strategic communications posture. Support the development and implementation of advisory and capacity building support to the Ukrainian authorities in the area of Strategic Communications, in line with NATO agreed policies, specifically on training and joint communications campaigns. Continue analysing possible needs on the Ukrainian side and design programmes to meet them. Contribute to advancing NATO efforts to counter information threats.

Project Management. Oversee all strategic communications programmes both those implemented by the NRU communications team and those led by external agencies. Manage the day-to-day operations of the NRU’s Communication team. Oversee finances related to NRU communications activities. Implement the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan and OSC activities and work plans in countries.

Stakeholder Management. In close partnership with the Head, Political and the Comprehensive Assistance Package (CAP) Coordinator, develop and maintain contacts with key relevant stakeholders to expand the effectiveness of NRU’s strategic communications outreach. Leverage data and insights from NATO OSC and relevant Allies to better target and move audience segments in line with NRU communications objectives. Oversee media visits, activities and participate in NATO sponsored seminars/events. Represent NATO on various communications boards/mechanisms. Oversee developing and maintaining NATO’s communications networks and stakeholders in Ukraine.

Knowledge Management. Oversee the dissemination of NATO publications, audio-visual productions and information in Ukraine and advise NATO HQ in the elaboration of these products for the Ukrainian market. Advice on and expand NATO information and communications outreach via online, digital and social media as appropriate. Provide regular analysis of the full information environment, including local media landscape and political developments in Ukraine by closely collaborating with OSC.

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS

Reporting Line: The incumbent reports to the Head of the NRU through the Deputy Head of the NRU with a strategic communications reporting relationship to the OSC.

Interactions: The incumbent works closely with all OSC Sections and the NATO Spokesperson/Director of Strategic Communications and is subject to the oversight of the NATO Spokesperson with respect to media engagements. The incumbent leads a Communications team of locally engaged staff (LES).

Direct reports: 6 LES.

Indirect reports: N/a.

5. COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

• Achievement: Creates own measures of excellence and improves performance;
• Analytical Thinking: Sees multiple relationships;
• Change Leadership: Expresses vision for change;
• Impact and Influence: Uses indirect influence;
• Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation;
• Organisational Awareness: Understands organisational politics;
• Teamwork: Solicits inputs and encourages others.
• CONTRACT
  
  
  

Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of one year; possibility of renewal for up to three years (1 year + 1 year + 1 year).

Contract clause applicable:

This post is required for a limited period to support the NRU. As employment in this post is of limited duration, the successful applicant will be offered a definite duration contract of one-year duration, which may be renewed for two periods of up to 1 year (1 year + 1 year + 1 year) if required to support this project.

If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a one-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for two periods of up to 1 year (1 year + 1 year + 1 year) if required to support this project, and subject also to the agreement of the national authority concerned.

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

• 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: www.nato.int/recruitment
  
  
  

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More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/recruit-hq-e.htm)

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 .