Operational Research and Analysis Expert

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 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.

Background Information

Following the NATO Madrid Summit in June 2022, the NATO Heads of State have agreed on a substantial increase in the level of funding available to deliver NATO Alliance-level capability change programmes. This funding increase ramps up from 2023-2030 and necessitates changes to NATO’s capability delivery model to achieve the ambition set out by the Nations.

NATO capability delivery programmes cover a variety of areas, such as Communications and Information Systems (CIS, e.g. operational Command and Control (C2) information systems), infrastructure investment to support military readiness and alliance-funded platform acquisition.

ACT and ACO are working with NATO Headquarters and delivery Agencies to improve the efficiency of NATO’s capability delivery model, and are preparing to increase the speed and volume of capability delivery. ACT will increase the number and variety of supporting analysis studies (including Course of Action (COA) analysis and Analysis of Alternatives (AoA)) carried out to match the increased scope of capability delivery.

The Operational Analysis Branch provides analysts to programme teams to drive and support evidence-based decision-making in requirements derivation and programmatic planning. In this SOW, “Operational Analysis” (predominantly military term) is used interchangeably with “Operations Research” (US term) and “Operational Research” (UK term).

COA analysis supports capability development programme teams to determine appropriate DOTMLPFI methods and capability architectures for meeting the military user’s operational requirements and defining programmatic structures. AoA supports programme teams in determining appropriate acquisition strategies and demonstrates to NATO’s governance bodies that programme plans are structured to deliver value for money.

COA analysis typically involves engaging with the programme team to understand programmatic areas of uncertainty, designing and facilitating workshops to gather stakeholder views (including within the military NATO Command Structure, delivery Agencies and Centres of Excellence, and/or the NATO Force Structure), gathering or generating (if appropriate) cost, risk, schedule, and effectiveness evidence, and comparative options assessment. This may include the develo…