Strategic Analyst

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 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.

Role ID – 2025-0171

Role Background

NCIA Operational Analysis Centre (OAC) supports SHAPE J5 in their production of strategic assessments of the operating environment for the NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) which inform SHAPE’s Periodic Mission Review (PMR). As part of the NMI Strategic Assessment Capability (NMI SAC) project, NCIA delivers to SHAPE an independent civilian experts’ strategic assessments and supports the delivery of a nationwide survey of Iraqi public opinion (INPOR). NCIA OAC requires operational analyst services to support the production of NMI SAC deliverables bi-annually – initially deliverables for the autumn 2025 (Quarter 3/Quarter 4) strategic assessment cycle, and optionally for spring (Q1) and autumn (Q3) in 2026-2028. The requirement includes support to the production of draft strategic assessment reports, support to NMI SAC workshop conduct, and support to INPOR survey analysis and reporting. The nature of the work requires it be delivered by a candidate with recent relevant experience producing strategic assessments to support NATO Mission Iraq.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Produce draft NMISAC strategic assessment report, based on research and analysis of open source and NATO data sources in preparation for the NMI SAC Workshop at SHAPE in Mons, BE.
• Provide on-site analytical and logistical support to the execution of the NMI SAC
• Workshop, including support to the delivery of workshop outbrief and executive summary, and the finalization of the post-workshop NMI SAC strategic assessment report.
• Provide operational analyst support to the review of INPOR public opinion polling data, and its integration into NMI SAC products.
• Conduct research and analysis from open source data and information to inform assessments of strategic change in the operating environment for NATO Mission Iraq during the period March through August 2025.
• Coordinate with the project team on producing a draft pre-workshop strategic assessment report, including drafting the report body for the sections related to political dynamics, security sector dynamics, and supporting the drafting of sections related to regional dynamics, social dynamics, and the Iraqi economy.
• Provide analytical and logistical support the execution of the NMI SAC workshop. Analytical support includes the compilation of workshop notes, and contributions to workshop discussion and moderation. Logistical support includes supporting logistical movements, facilities, Information Technology enablers, and coordination with local staff in the delivery of the workshop.
• Contribute to the production of the final post-workshop strategic assessment report, focusing on integration of inputs from SME reports commissioned for the project as well as points from the NMI SAC workshop discussions and findings.
• Review INPOR polling data, and analysis reports, and extract and integrate relevant information into the strategic assessment report. This may involve analysis of INPOR raw data, data tables, or other INPOR products.
• Conduct editorial and formatting reviews of the strategic assessment report drafts, as well as SME reports commissioned for the project to ensure a production-ready final report.

Deliverables:

• Delivery of a draft pre-workshop strategic assessment report (approx. 80-100 pages), which summaries changes in political, security sector, regional, social, and economic factors within NMI’s operating environment, and which integrates inputs from subject matter expert (SME) reports commissioned by the project.
• On-site support to the NMI SAC Workshop held at SHAPE in Mons, Belgium. Support to include analytical support to workshop discussion mediation, as well as logistical support to workshop execution. In 2025, the workshop is to be held 2-4 September.
• Deliver of a final post-workshop strategic assessment report draft, integrating workshop comments and interpretation from SME’s.
• A summary of key results from INPOR survey data, and their integration into the final strategic assessment report.

Essential Skills and Experience

• At least three years of experience producing strategic assessments reports for NATO related to NATO Mission Iraq;
• At least three years of experience supporting strategic assessment workshops for SHAPE
• At least three years of experience working with Iraqi public opinion data and integrating results into strategic assessment reports;
• Extensive understanding of the existing range of reporting sources related to Iraqi political, security sector, regional, social, and economic information;
• Strong understanding of the current political, security sector, regional, social, and economic aspects of the current environment in Iraq;
• Strong report writing skills related to production of strategic assessments (examples may be requested)
• Strong research skills
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Demonstrated experience working with NATO ACO and ACT

Working Location

• Remote

Working Policy

• Off-Site

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance