NOTE: Applications for this fellowship are due January 12, 2024, at 11:59 PM, to account for a lengthy security clearance process. There are two positions available for this fellowship.
Summer 2023 Fellow: N/A
Office Description
Position 1: Public Diplomacy
NATO is a military alliance established by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949. Our essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.
We offer employment opportunities for a variety of skillsets. A career at NATO is an inspiring and rewarding experience!
NATO is adapting to a changing world in order to keep its one billion people safe. To do this, we are looking for skilled and motivated people for a broad range of employment areas, including communications, innovation, international relations, engineering, IT, finance, and human resources and administration. Our staff is comprised of both civilian and military personnel. We also offer opportunities for university students and recent graduates, young professionals, temporary staff and freelance interpreters.
For further information please visit our website: https://www.nato.int/careers
Position 2: Office of the Secretary General
NATO is a military alliance established by the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949. Our essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. We offer employment opportunities for a variety of skillsets. A career at NATO is an inspiring and rewarding experience! NATO is adapting to a changing world in order to keep its one billion people safe. To do this, we are looking for skilled and motivated people for a broad range of employment areas, including communications, innovation, international relations, engineering, IT, finance, and human resources and administration. Our staff is comprised of both civilian and military personnel. We also offer opportunities for university students and recent graduates, young professionals, temporary staff and freelance interpreters. For further information please visit our website: https://www.nato.int/careers
Description of the Work
Position 1: Public Diplomacy
Campaigns/Brand
• Work closely with nations and across the NATO family to build campaigns that help to build awareness and support for the Alliance in innovative ways with new and diverse audiences.
• Work with all of the major NATO entities to implement and evolve the brand strategy, brand identity manual and branded items.
Position 2: Office of the Secretary General
The Human Security Unit (HSU) leads NATO’s work on both Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Human Security (HS). Its mission is to provide guidance and oversight on the implementation of NATO’s WPS agenda, as well as facilitating coordination and integration of gender perspectives into NATO’s policies and activities. The HSU also progresses NATO’s work on human security to mitigate risks and threats to civilian populations where NATO operates.
Desired Skills
Position 1: Public Diplomacy
NATO’s Public Diplomacy efforts serve a vital function within the Alliance by communicating its purpose and priorities to audiences worldwide. In fulfilling this role, the Public Diplomacy Division (PDD) actively strengthens NATO’s public image, thereby fostering trust in and support for the Alliance. The Division also acts as coordinator for strategic communication activities across all NATO civilian and military bodies and commands. PDD has three key roles;
1. Communicating and engaging with the public. First and foremost, the Division plays a pivotal role in engaging with multiple audiences in explaining NATO’s policies and activities to publics worldwide. The Division works to raise NATO’s profile and to bring NATO’s achievements into public knowledge and debate. We do this through:
- a. People-to-people engagement, especially in Allied and partner countries
- b. Mass communication, image-building and branding
- c. 24h media operations
2. Promoting security cooperation. The second key role of the Division is to promote security cooperation, dialogue and partnerships with all Public Diplomacy means and tools. That way, the Division also contributes to a continuous process of international security debate and policy creation.
3. Coordinating NATO’s strategic communications activities. Last but not least, the Division also acts as lead coordinator for all strategic communication activities across all NATO civilian and military bodies and harmonizes all of public diplomacy activities undertaken by other entities belonging to the NATO structure. This is an excellent opportunity for fellows to learn and contribute to NATO’s practices of engaging with external audiences – a wide range of organizations, both from civil society and governments, in NATO nations and beyond. The fellow will be expected to learn about the key principles governing the Division, NATO policies, and the digital engagement tools the Division uses. An essential part of this fellowship will include the improvement/development of good writing skills and analytical thinking.
The selected fellow must demonstrate strong knowledge on the relevant area of expertise and should have the following competencies:
- Achievement: Works to meet standards.
- Analytical thinking: Breaks down problems and see basic relationships.
- Clarity and accuracy: Shows general concern for order and clarity, and checks own work.
- Customer service orientation: Responds appropriately, maintains clear communication.
- Empathy: Listens actively.
- Flexibility: Acts with flexibility.
- Teamwork: Cooperates, shares information and knowledge freely, offering support and cooperation.
Position 2: Office of the Secretary General
The Office of the Secretary General comprises: the Secretary General himself, who heads the International Staff, as well as the Deputy Secretary General; the Private Office that includes a director and staff; a Human Security Unit, headed by the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security; the Policy Planning Unit and the Council Secretariat.
The selected fellow must demonstrate excellent organizational, writing and research skills, a team-oriented work approach, flexibility, excellent communication and inter-personal skills, a determination to achieve results and a cooperative attitude in a multicultural environment. The selected fellow should be a good team player, willing to work dynamically in a team setting. They will be required to support the office with activities ranging from organization, research and administrative tasks.
The fellow will have the opportunity to assist the work of the Office of the Secretary General in its function of researching and developing inputs to policy, supporting foresight and analysis, supporting strategic projects, stimulating debate in NATO and beyond, and engaging with outside actors on relevant security policy issues.
They could do independent research of articles, opinions, reports, and other open source as well as internal material on related issues; assist in editing and read proofing statements, interviews and articles; assist in the preparation and compilation of policy papers for senior staff; take minutes during meetings and conferences and write reports; prepare speaking points; help with the administrative and substantive preparation of meetings, seminars, events, workshops; monitor policy deliberations in Allied committees.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for a NATO internship, you must fulfill the below criteria on the date of your application:
• Age: 21+
• Nationality: a citizen of a NATO member country
• Educational status: at least two years of university completed and enrolled in a third year OR having obtained your highest degree less than a year prior
• Languages: proficiency in one of the two official NATO languages: English or French. A working knowledge of the second is considered an asset. Knowledge of other languages may also be considered an asset for certain positions.
