Curriculum Development Specialist

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 Background

Training is one of the key elements of new NATO capabilities, as articulated in the ‘Doctrine Organisation Training Material Leadership Personnel Facilities and Interoperability’ (DOTMLPFI) approach used by NATO to help ensure that all aspects of capability development are covered. In order for any capability and newly acquired product to be effective, Training needs to be considered in an early stage in the capability development process. This includes (but is not limited to) the following phases: analysis of the target audiences and their specific training needs, costing and planning of the design and development of training materials, planning and management of course delivery as well as maintenance and availability of those courses.

At present, the Training dimension in new NATO capabilities is often not taken into account early enough, or thoroughly enough in order to ensure the right NATO staff is trained at the right moment and to the right level. An important cause of this problem is that the process of capability development in NATO, the Common Funded Capability Delivery Governance Model (CFCDGM) is not aligned with the overarching framework in which NATO Education & Training is developed and deployed (the Global Programming process).

In 2024, the NCI Academy aims to mitigate this problem by conducting a Work Package around ‘Training by Design’. The aim of the Work Package is to align the two models and to create practical guidance for NATO staff concerned with respectively CFCDGM and Global Programming to work together, in order to ensure the Training Dimension is properly considered and anchored in all new NATO capabilities.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

Develop a comprehensive process map to align CFCD Governance Model (CFCDGM) with the NATO Global Programming Framework (GP), with the following characteristics:

• Clearly identify the interactions and triggering events between the Governance Model, CAPDEV Processes/Outputs, and the NATO Global Programming Framework, with a focus on Training.
• Deliver a visually intuitive overview of the entire process, complemented by user-friendly subsets tailored to specific CAPDEV user personas, including:
  • Operational Requirements Authority (ORA)
  • Requirements (ACO)
  • Capability Requirements (ACT)
  • Capability Management Framework Coordinator
  • CAPDEV / Programme Management Office
  • Implementing Authority / Entity / Department Head

Design and deliver targeted performance support tools and job aids to assist in the development of Capability Packages (CPPs), ensuring thorough integration of the training dimension throughout the process:

• Tools should directly support users in navigating the CPP development lifecycle.
• Address specific needs for integrating training-related requirements into CPPs effectively and efficiently.

Conduct a comprehensive review and finalize the existing course design for a NATO learning solution tailored to the CFCD Practitioner role.

• Ensure the course design aligns with CFCD role requirements and NATO standards.
• Incorporate feedback from stakeholders to refine learning objectives, content, and delivery methods.

Provide a finalized course package ready for implementation.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Strong existing network in NATO ACT JFD and NATO ACT CAP DEV
• Demonstrable expert level in NATO Global Programming
• Demonstrable expert level and teaching experience in the NATO systems approach to training (as described in Bi-SC E& IT Directive 75-7, Addendum C)
• Demonstrable experience with conducting Training Needs Analysis and course development for NATO audiences, based on the Bi-SC E&IT directive 75-7.
• Substantial related experience within Quality Management / Instructional Systems Design / Change Management within the NATO Education & Individual Training domain
• Proven ability and results in developing and producing Course Control Documentation for NATO
• Experience with the NATO Common Funded Capability Development Governance Model (CFCDGM)
• Effective and excellent professional English language spoken and writing skills
• Experience in Microsoft Office
• Knowledge of NATO Education and Training Directives
• Ability to work in an International environment comprising both military and civilian elements
• Experience with the development of training materials
• Knowledge and experience with working with the NCI Academy

Language Proficiency

• Business English

Education

• Bachelor of Education/MSc degree in Human / Organizational Performance, or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Electronics Engineering, Computer Science/ Software Engineering/ Mathematics/ Electronics or related discipline at a nationally recognized/certified University, with 5 years post related experience, or a lower academic qualification combined with the demonstration of particular abilities or experience of relevance to this work, with a minimum of 8 years relevant experience.

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