Test Centre Manager

**This post is subject to Budget Approval**

1. OVERVIEW OF DIANA

The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (“DIANA”) is NATO’s newest body. From across the Alliance, DIANA will bring together innovators and operational end users to foster a transatlantic ecosystem supporting dual-use ground-breaking innovation in deep technologies.

DIANA is an independent NATO body comprised of an Allied Board of Directors and an executive management team - the DIANA Executive (“DX”). Operating out of regional offices in Europe and in North America, the DX will conduct DIANA’s mission: accelerating deep tech, dual-use solutions to critical transatlantic challenges in defence and security. The DX will use Challenge Programmes in line with a published Strategic Direction, as the primary vehicle to accomplish this mission. DIANA is a dynamic, agile and hybrid workplace, which strives for innovation, diversity, and excellence. In order to achieve these aims, DIANA is committed to providing our people with an environment that is positive, inclusive, and collaborative.

2. OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

The Test Centre Manager will manage the day-to-day operations of the DIANA affiliated Test Centre network. This role is central to supporting the development and validation of early-stage innovations, ensuring that innovators have access to testing, evaluation, verification, and validation (TEVV) capabilities. Through the TEVV grant committee, this role is responsible for ensuring resources are allocated toward the advancement of technologies that are robust, reliable, and ready for deployment. Reporting to the Regional Director – North America, the Test Centre Manager will act as a primary point of contact for existing and future test centres. This role is expected to work closely with a variety of stakeholders within the innovation ecosystem and ensure that DIANA is continually evolving the Test Centre network.

Duties of this role include:

· Build an engaged and supportive community between key partners – DIANA, innovators, defense and military stakeholders and the Test Centre network

· Develop and manage innovator application process and facilitation of the TEVV grant committee review process

· Educate and support innovators and Challenge Managers on TEVV processes to ensure high-quality submissions

· Facilitate TEVV grant committee meetings and track decisions and follow-up actions.

· Monitor progress, risks, and performance, and report key insights of test centre activity to relevant stakeholders.

· Maintain accurate records and prepare relevant reports and Board papers.

· Collaborate with Finance, Legal, and test centers to ensure smooth post-approval steps

· Improve processes to enhance efficiency and consistency

· Contribute to digital transformation and support AI-related initiatives where relevant.

· Perform other duties as needed to support the programme.

3. ROLE REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

ESSENTIAL

The incumbent must have:

· Bachelor's degree in operations management, business administration, innovation or a related discipline with at least 3 years of post-related experience OR exceptionally the lack of a degree may be compensated by 10 years of progressive experience in programme management

· A minimum of 3 years’ work experience managing innovation programmes or scientific networks

· Demonstrated ability to coach, lead, and supervise colleagues

· Experience in using operational data to monitor performance, identify gaps and trends, and inform decision making

· Exceptional stakeholder management skills

· Ability to convey complex concepts in a clear and concise manner to senior stakeholders, through creative media

· 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.

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

· Advanced university degree in a relevant discipline

· Work experience in innovation, incubation or accelerator settings

· Experience managing TEVV (Testing, Evaluation, Validation & Verification) programmes

· Experience with advanced data analytics, and data visualisation

· Experience working in a multilateral environment

· Knowledge or exposure to NATO’s rapid adoption frameworks, policies, and initiatives

4. 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 Halifax.

· Opportunities for learning and development.

The incumbent is required to be a resident in the host nation for the duration of their contract. DIANA has a flexible teleworking policy to permit working in office, at home, and across NATO Allied Nations subject to managerial approval. In accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations, the successful candidate will receive a definite duration contract of three years, which may be followed by an extension.

If the successful applicant is seconded from the national administration of one of NATO’s member States, a 3-year definite duration contract will be offered, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years subject to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser.

Applicants who are not successful in this competition may be offered an appointment to another post of a similar nature, albeit at the same or a lower grade, provided they meet the necessary requirements.

NOTE: DIANA will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. DIANA reserves the right to screen applications to identify the use of such tools. All applications prepared, in whole or in part, by means of such generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at DIANA’s sole discretion, and DIANA reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

For more information on DIANA, please visit our website.