Chief of Staff

Job Description:

Primary Location United Kingdom-London  

Schedule Full-time  

Application Deadline 07-Sep-2026, 10:59:00 PM  

Salary (Pay Basis) 8,877.91 Pound Sterling (GBP) Monthly  

Grade NATO Grade G20  

Clearance NATO SECRET  

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The post is budgeted from 1 January 2027, and the successful candidate is expected to start employment as soon as possible thereafter.

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1. OVERVIEW OF DIANA  

NATO DIANA is the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, a NATO body dedicated to finding and accelerating innovation to provide decisive defence and security effects for the Alliance, while fostering deep-tech innovation.  

NATO DIANA is comprised of a Board of Directors, representing all 32 nations, and an operational team referred to as the DIANA Executive (“DX”). Operating from three offices in Europe and North America, the DX leverages a network of military end users, world-leading accelerator sites, test centres, professional mentors and experts, and Allied expertise to accelerate the most innovative technologies from across the NATO Alliance. DIANA is a dynamic, agile workplace, which strives for innovative thinking, diversity, and performance excellence across all teams. To achieve our mission, DIANA is committed to providing our people with an environment that is positive, inclusive and collaborative.

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1. OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE  

The Chief of Staff supports the Managing Director in the effective leadership and coordination of DIANA by providing strategic advice, executive-level decision support, and oversight of key organisational priorities. Acting as a central point of coordination across the senior leadership team and the secretariat of the Board of Directors, the role ensures the timely delivery of high-quality outputs, communications, and special initiatives.  

Reporting to the Managing Director.  

Duties of this role include:  

• Determine and prioritise matters requiring Managing Director engagement, overseeing the coordination, tracking, execution, and follow-up of executive correspondence, decisions, priorities, and taskings.  
• Provide strategic advice and decision support to the Managing Director by synthesising information from across DIANA, assessing key issues, risks, dependencies, opportunities, and priorities requiring executive attention and action.  
• Direct the activities of the Senior Leadership Team and key governance processes, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement, information flow, decision-making, and timely follow-up of meetings, actions, and leadership priorities.  
• Monitor and assess the implementation of Managing Director decisions and organisational priorities, identifying delivery risks, determining corrective actions, and escalating matters requiring executive intervention.  
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with the Board of Directors, NATO governance and assurance bodies, Regional Hubs, and other key stakeholders, ensuring timely coordination, strategic alignment, and the effective representation of DIANA's priorities and interests.  
• Establish and oversee standards for executive briefings, correspondence, reports, presentations, Board papers, and other strategic submissions, ensuring quality, consistency, and alignment with organisational priorities and governance requirements.  
• Lead strategic, cross-functional, and special initiatives on behalf of the Managing Director, driving organisational alignment and outcomes across multiple functional areas and stakeholder groups.  
• Perform any other related duties as may be required.

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1. ROLE REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE  

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ESSENTIAL  

The incumbent must have:  

• a Master’s degree at a nationally recognised University in business administration, public administration, international relations, political science, law, management, or a related discipline and 5 years post-related experience OR a Bachelor’s degree with 8 years post related experience.  
• a minimum of 5 years work experience in providing strategic advice, executive support, or decision support to senior leaders on strategic planning, executive support, governance, organisational management, or other complex issues.  
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple competing priorities, urgent taskings, and sensitive issues while maintaining high standards of accuracy and responsiveness.  
• Experience leading or coordinating complex projects, programmes, or cross-functional initiatives involving multiple stakeholders.  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing, reviewing, and editing briefings, reports, correspondence, and presentations for Board, executive, ministerial, or other senior audiences.  
• Demonstrated ability to apply organisational policies and procedures with sound judgement, discretion, tact, and professionalism, including in challenging or high-pressure situations.  
• Possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; and I (“Beginner”) in the other.  

NOTE: Most of DIANA’s internal work is conducted in the English language.

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DESIRABLE  

The following would be considered an advantage:  

• Work experience in politically and institutionally complex environments, such as international organisations, national governments or agencies.  
• Work experience in innovative, rapidly-evolving or start-up environments.  
• Knowledge of NATO institutional framework, policies and procedures.

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COMPETENCIES  

The incumbent must demonstrate:  

• Organizational and Environmental Awareness: Understands the wider mission and considers the impact of their actions on others.  
• Initiative & Responsibility: Takes ownership and accountability.  
• Adaptability & Flexibility: Embraces change, adjusts priorities as needed, and continues to deliver results in evolving environments.  
• Impact & Influence: Builds trust and buy in through confident and persuasive communication.  
• Stakeholder Management: Builds strategic relationships and drives collaborative outcomes.  
• Leading & Developing Other: Leads and develops others through coaching, empowerment, and feedback.  
• Self-awareness and a Learning Mindset: Seeks opportunities to learn, reflects on experience, and applies learning to improve outcomes.

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1. WHAT WE OFFER  

• Genuinely meaningful work as part of the newest unit within the most successful alliance in history.  
• Tax-free salary.  
• Household and children’s allowances and privileges for expatriate staff including expatriation and educational allowances (where applicable) and additional home leave.  
• Excellent private health insurance scheme.  
• NATO pension scheme.  
• Generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays.  
• Flexible working conditions and a smoke-free office in London.  
• Opportunities for learning and development.

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For further information please see the full job description on our recruitment portal.