Press Officer – NATO

SUMMARY

NATO’s Public Diplomacy Division (PDD) plays a key role in explaining the Alliance’s strategic and political messages to opinion formers and to the public. As NATO’s main public interface, PDD works to raise the Alliance’s profile with audiences world-wide. PDD also works to promote security cooperation through a variety of programmes in NATO and partner countries and contributes to a continuous process of international security debate and policy creation. The Division also acts as coordinator for most public diplomacy activities undertaken by other Divisions at NATO Headquarters (HQ), as well as by other entities belonging to the NATO structure.

The Press and Media Section is the principal point of contact for all media-related issues at NATO Headquarters, including engagement with the media, media policy and doctrine, and media monitoring and analysis.

The primary function of the incumbent is to draft press conferences, messages, statements, media lines and op-eds for the Secretary General. He/she will handle journalist requests for information thereby supporting the work of the NATO Spokesperson and the Head of Press and Media/Deputy Spokesperson. He/she will also be conducting press tours to NATO events and coordinate communication activities and messages with the military chain of command.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must:

• possess a university degree from an institute of recognised standing or equivalent qualification;
• have at least 4 years’ recent experience or equivalent qualifying background in a news and/or public affairs relations organisation, including Government press services;
• have excellent drafting skills;
• have a proven ability to engage effectively with media;
• demonstrate sound political judgement;
• have a good knowledge of NATO affairs, security issues and international relations;
• have in-depth knowledge of the press and media in at least one NATO member country;
• have experience using new media;
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): VI (“Proficiency”) in one; I (“Beginner”) in the other;
• be able to work as part of a busy multi-national team;
• be willing to travel and work unsocial hours.

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

•  familiarity with the press corps in Brussels;
• knowledge of additional languages;
• familiarity with other international institutions and the military

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Expertise Development

Support the Spokesperson and the Head of Press and Media/Deputy Spokesperson on designated media issues, especially with drafting media messages, press conferences, statements and op-eds for the Secretary General and Deputy Secretary General in a way that is clear, concise and quotable. Draft narratives for Ministerial and Summit meetings. Deal with media queries, corrections and rebuttals in a proactive and accurate way within the news cycle, following guidance from the Spokesperson and the Head of Press and Media/Deputy Spokesperson. Demonstrate an ability to convey complex or technical issues in a clear and accessible way. Keep on top of breaking news stories and provide analyses as required. Advise the Spokesperson and the Head of Press and Media/Deputy Spokesperson and other NATO officials on media handling issues, as appropriate. Help develop innovative social media outreach as part of a coordinated communications approach. Support the Spokesperson and the Head of Press and Media/Deputy Spokesperson in the organisation of press conferences and briefings, providing inputs and up-to-date and substantive information to be delivered to journalists. Produce summarised transcripts of media events by the Secretary General and other NATO officials as required.

Plan, coordinate, conduct and assess media tours and other public events. Demonstrate a team player attitude in a fast moving and stressful multi-national working environment.

Stakeholder Management

Coordinate with relevant internal stakeholders – International Staff (IS) Divisions and the military chain of command – on content in order to reflect accurate information in media messages. Liaise and maintain contact with journalists and opinion makers. Advise the NATO Spokesperson and the Head of Press and Media/Deputy Spokesperson on the management of interview requests. Assist in the preparation of media products for journalists for Ministerials and other high level meetings. Liaise with journalists ahead of interviews and draft messages for those interviews. Maintain contact with NATO Military Commands and NATO Allies on media issues, striving to ensure the necessary level of message coherence.

Knowledge Management

Produce media messages, press conferences, statements and op-eds for the Secretary General and the Spokesperson demonstrating sound political judgement and a mediafriendly writing style. Draft narratives on relevant issues for use in media engagements. Assist in the production of briefings material for the Spokesperson. Prepare and deliver presentations for appropriate NATO bodies, as well as external audiences. Contribute to the regular updates to the NATO newsroom website.

Representation of the Organization

Brief journalists or visitors at NATO headquarters on the Alliance’s policies, responsibilities and initiatives as required. Represent the Press and Media Section in IS meetings, exercises where a press role is required, as well as at NATO committees or other bodies. Represent NATO in relevant workshops, seminars and other public events.

Project Management

Contribute in a systematic and proactive way to the daily and long-term planning within the Press and Media Section, following the guidance of the Spokesperson and the Head of Press and Media/Deputy Spokesperson.

Policy Development

Draft media messages, narratives, strategies and plans, as required. Perform any other related duty as assigned.

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.

DIVISION: PUBLIC DIPLOMACY DIVISION SPOKESPERSON PRESS AND MEDIA

LOCATION: NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Application deadline: 6 January 2016

Read more and apply here.