Space Operations Manager

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

Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is NATO’s leading agent for change: driving, facilitating, and advocating the continuous improvement of Alliance capabilities to maintain and enhance the military relevance and effectiveness of the Alliance. The main objectives of ACT are: providing appropriate support to NATO missions and operations; leading NATO military transformation; and improving relationships, interaction and practical cooperation with partners, nations and international organisations. ACT therefore leads Alliance concept development, capability development, training and lessons-learned initiatives and provides unfettered military support to policy development within NATO.

The program 

Capability Development & Management Support (CDMS)

 DCOS Capability Development (CAPDEV) acts as the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation's Director for guidance, direction and coordination of the activities and resources of the Capability Development Directorate.

The Requirements Division will execute all tasks and activities needed to support requirements management for NATO capabilities

The Capability Requirements (CR) Branch will develop the Capability Requirements Brief and recommended courses of action to resolve issues through the life cycle management of requirements using matrixed, cross-functional project-specific Requirements Management teams.

The Requirements Forward Branch (Mons) is responsible for conducting requirements development and management representation and engagement-related functions in Europe.

The Capability Division coordinates the development of capabilities from capability planning through acceptance and then disposal with management entities, NATO Headquarters staff and the NATO Governance Structure

The Capability Forward Branch (Mons) coordinates with ACO, NCIA, NSPA, NATO HQ, territorial Host Nations, and NATO Centres of Excellence (COEs) to support the development of capabilities.

Strategic Plans and Policy (SPP) supports Allied Command Transformation in formalizing military advice to shape future military strategy, political guidance, and other policy documents supporting NATO’s strategic objectives.

Role ID: ACT-CDMS-26-02C-LC53 

 Role Duties and Responsibilities  

• Support the ACT Space Branch PMT in the delivery, synchronization, and implementation of the NATO Space Capability Programme (CPP) across all tranches and associated projects. 

• Support Space Theatre Component (STC) in integrating NATO Space capabilities into Space operational planning and execution activities. 

• Coordinate operational requirements and user feedback between STC, SHAPE, ACT, NCIA, NSPA, and national space organizations. 

• Support the development, refinement, and implementation of programme artefacts, including project proposals, implementation plans, programme reviews, risk registers, dashboards, and capability roadmaps. 

• Support operational validation of CPP capabilities and their integration into NATO command-and-control structures. 

• Support the synchronization of Operational Space Support (OSS), Space Domain Awareness (SDA) and Space Domain Coordination (SDC) capabilities and associated dependencies. 

• Assist in the development of operational procedures, playbooks and coordination mechanisms for space-enabled operations including Space capabilities considerations. 

• Support training, exercises and experimentation activities involving space capabilities. 

• Contribute to programme governance activities, PMT meetings, Bi-SC coordination mechanisms, and senior leader engagements. 

• Assist with the identification and prioritization of operational capability gaps and associated requirements. 

• Contribute to the assessment of operational impacts and lessons learned related to the employment of space capabilities. 

• Support the identification, analysis and mitigation of programme risks, interdependencies, and critical paths across all space projects. 

• Support NATO exercises, operational experimentation, evaluations, and lessons learned activities involving Space capabilities. 

• Support experimentation, wargaming, operational demonstrations and exercises, including Arctic Sentry, Cosmic Sentinel, and/or related activities. 

• Contribute to operational acceptance activities, readiness assessments, and transition planning. 

• Support engagement with industry and commercial space actors in support of NATO Commercial Space Strategy implementation. 

• Prepare briefings, analyses, and recommendations for the STC leadership and support the PMT efforts and briefings. 

• Directly supports the STC and will be required to travel to meetings and conferences both within and outside NATO’s boundaries for up to 30 days per year. 

• Performs additional tasks as required by the COTR (in HQ SACT) in close coordination with the STC leadership related to the LABOR category. 

 Essential Skills and Experience 

• Minimum 5 years’ experience within NATO capability development, programme management, or defence acquisition. 

• Minimum 3 years of operational experience within NATO or national space operations. 

• Demonstrated experience in space operations integration within NATO or national commands. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of NATO Space policy, CPP governance and PMT processes. 

• Demonstrate a minimum of 3 years operational knowledge of C2 systems within the last 10 years either as a military officer or as a civilian. 

• Experience supporting multinational programmes and senior-level governance bodies. 

• Programme and Project Management experience in the past 10 years within a complex and dynamic programme environment. 

• Working knowledge of Configuration Management methods and practices. 

• Working knowledge of Capability Architectures. 

• Experience with IBM Rational DOORS or equivalent (provide certificates). 

 Education 

• University degree in systems engineering, computer science, aerospace engineering, or related discipline (five years of experience accepted in lieu). 

 Language Proficiency 

• Advanced Proficiency in English 

 Working Location 

• Ramstein, Germany 

 Working Policy 

• On-Site 

 Contract Duration 

• January 2027 – December 2030 

 Security Clearance 

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance