Personal Data Protection Programme Support Services to the NATO Office of the CIO

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

The NATO Office of the CIO (OCIO) is leading the implementation of a NATO-wide personal data protection programme (PDPP), and requires support of a motivated individual.

NATO is in an interesting position concerning personal data protection. While most of its member states must follow the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), NATO does not. It therefore has the flexibility of choosing the best elements of GDPR and other personal data protection frameworks while avoiding spending effort on tasks that do not add much data protection value.

They will have a key role in further implementing the PDPP strategy to ensure this, as well as assist with the policy’s implementation at the various NATO Bodies in Europe and North America.

We are looking for a well-rounded professional with excellent project management and communication skills as well as experience in personal data protection/privacy.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor the implementation of the PDPP Strategy
  • Measurement: Monitor the implementation of the PDP Strategy. Survey the type of personal data processed by NATO and prioritize in to categories so that NATO Bodies only spend effort on those categories where it adds substantial value.
  • When: continuously throughout 2025.
• Conduct a comprehensive gap analysis of existing data protection practices across NATO bodies to identify areas of non-compliance and prioritize remediation efforts.
  • Measurement: Develop a risk-based prioritization framework for PDPP implementation, considering data sensitivity, volume, and potential impact of breaches.
• Maintain and review the PDPP Implementation Supporting Document. The PDPP Policy tells NATO bodies what to do. The Supporting Document tells them how to do it. Create a modular framework for the Supporting Document, allowing for updates and revisions as regulations evolve or new data processing activities emerge. Conduct regular reviews of the Supporting Document to ensure its alignment with the latest legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Measurement: Supporting document is maintained and revised as appropriate.
  • When: by the end of 2025.
• Develop PDPP forms and templates that will form Annexes for the PDPP Implementation Supporting Document.
  • Measurement: PDPP Forms and Templates ready to be used by NATO bodies.
  • When: by the end of 1st Quarter 2025.
• Develop user-friendly guidance and training materials to accompany the forms and templates, facilitating their adoption and correct usage. Incorporate regular training sessions and awareness campaigns for NATO personnel on data protection principles and best practices.
  • Measurement: Collect feedback from users on the forms and templates, and develop and implement iterative improvements of the guidance and training materials.
  • When: Development by the end of 2nd Quarter 2025. Updates and maintenance: continuous.
• Provide Implementation Assistance. Assist the development of local directives and customized implementation plans for each NATO body across the NATO Enterprise, considering their unique data processing activities and organizational structure.
  • Measurement: Establish a support mechanism for NATO bodies during the implementation phase, including regular check-ins, training sessions, and troubleshooting assistance.
  • When: throughout the implementation phase (2025 and potentially beyond).
• Write a lessons’ identified report with analysis and recommendations. Conduct a post-implementation review to assess the effectiveness of the PDPP implementation and identify areas for continuous improvement. Develop recommendations for future PDPP enhancements based on lessons learned and emerging trends in data protection.
  • Measurement: Written report with analysis, conclusions and recommendations.
  • When: by the end of 4th Quarter 2025.
• Continuously monitoring for both PDPP incidents and new or emerging data protection regulatory changes. Develop and maintain a data breach response plan to ensure a swift and coordinated response in the event of a data breach. Establish a continuous monitoring and auditing program to assess compliance with the PDPP and identify potential risks.
  • Measurement: Track the frequency and complexity of unforeseen requirements, and adjust resource allocation accordingly.
• Provide support to unforeseen requirements as necessary.
  • Measurement: Provide OCIO support as necessary.
  • When: throughout 2025.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Must have project management experience
• Must have excellent English writing skills and the ability to brief their work in English
• If they have experience and certification in GDPR or another privacy law/regulation, it is essential they are able to think outside of that paradigm, as NATO is not implementing GDPR.
• Should have a deep knowledge of the NATO Enterprise and its bodies, along with the relationship between them.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• A university degree requiring excellent writing skills (humanities or journalism) is desirable.
• Project management certifications (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP) are desirable.
• The ability to write and brief well in French is desirable.
• Experience in Personal Data protection or privacy.
• A certification in personal data protection management (e.g. CIPP/M) is desirable.

Education

• Must have a university degree

Working Location

• Brussels, Belgium

Working Policy

• On-Site

Travel

• Substantial travel would be required in 2025, as they will be travelling to various NATO locations to help NATO Bodies implement the PDPP. The amount of travel will be around 25% most months, though some months may be as high as 50% and other months there will not be any travel.

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance