A03(2013)(MON) - NCI Agency - Nato

NATO UNCLASSIFIED 

Duty Location: Mons, Belgium 

VACANCY NOTICE 

System Manager UHF SATCOM 

Grade: A3 

Reference Number: A03(2013)(MON) 

This is a position within the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA), an organization of the North 

Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); 

The NCIA has been established with a view to meeting to the best advantage the collective requirements of some 

or all NATO nations in the fields of capability delivery and service provision related to Consultation, Command & 

Control as well as Communications, Information and Cyber Defence functions, thereby also facilitating the 

integration of Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Target Acquisition functions and their associated 

information exchange. 

System Management Division (SMD) is responsible to Director of Operations for managing, planning and providing 

system support and integrated engineering support for all NCIA CIS systems. 

COMMUNICATION AND NETWORK BRANCH (CNB) is responsible to Head System Management Division for 

managing systems support and integrated engineering support for the Communication and Information Systems 

(CIS) and networks and other stand-alone systems assigned to NCIA. SATCOM and Transmission Media Section 

is responsible to Head Communications and Network Branch for performing all transmission related services, which 

includes VLF MSK, SATCOM, Radio and Digital line of site systems (DLOS). 

NATO’s UHF network is a set of complex systems put together to enable NATO in their bid to provide a secure 

tactical radio satcom network to all of its Areas of Responsibilities (AOR’s). The UHF SATCOM capability is used to 

support NATO Land, Sea and Air operations (on-the-move, on-the pause and static) using both DAMA and SCPC 

channels as required, providing secure voice and data capabilities. 

A critical component of the UHF DAMA services is the UHF DAMA Control Capability (UDCC). It consists of two 

DAMA Control Stations, two DAMA Control Centres and a deployable Controller. DAMA Control Stations provide 

fully redundant channel control, including radio frequency (RF) and antenna functions, of up to eight satellite 

communication (SATCOM) channels simultaneously on UHF satellites. 

The other major part of the UHF network is the deployable asset that utilizes the services that are generated from 

the UDCC. NATO currently has a high number of deployable UHF Satcom assets available to supports its on-going 

commitments. These UHF user assets are seen as mission critical in NATO bid to support the war fighter. 

The incumbent is responsible for management of the overall NATO UHF DAMA Tactical Satellite units and control 

capabilities. 

Duties: 

Under the direction of Section Head (SATCOM & Transmission Media Section), the incumbent will perform duties 

such as the following: 

- Manages UHF Satcom systems including UDCC systems and related network management & interconnection 

facilities and the TACSAT terminals supporting current operations (ISAF, KFOR, OOS, EUFOR,etc) and 

standing missions (maritime, air, NRF, Training, etc) 

- Directs the engineering necessary for sustaining UHF Satcom systems and their network management 

facilities throughout their in-service life. 

- Is responsible for system management by advising, directing and overseeing maintenance, performance, 

technical training, configuration management and security aspects in support of the UHF Satcom systems, 

their controllers, interconnections and interfaces. 

- Assesses the feasibility of establishing new UHF DAMA net requests in terms of terminal type, throughput, RF 

link analysis, frame format, codec type, etc and design such nets, if feasible. 

- Directs the engineering for the DAMA network channel controller by defining the controller’s configuration 

establishing Network/channel & MODEM Data-bases for the new nets. 


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- Manages configuration management for creating new operational UHF DAMA networks. Interfaces / liaises 

with end users to implement all such Network Configuration changes. 

- Provides Technical Evaluation for all UHF Satellite Access requests, recommends satellite access 

authorizations or denials as appropriate. 

- Develops and maintain documentation for the operational support of the system. 

- Supports development of MOU/MOA/MWA with other nations and or international agency’s for interconnection 

and utilization of UHF DAMA SATCOM 

- Contributes to studies on depot support rationalization and rationalization of resources in support of the UHF 

Satcom systems and associated management systems and TACSAT terminals 

- Identifies and assess all UHF Satcom related training requirements and coordinates their implementation 

- Manages and allocates all UHF Satcom budget requirements (O&M and operational support) in conjunction 

with O&M engineer 

- Provides assistance to staff at Primary and Alternate Network Control Centers, Capability Development and 

Procurement Agencies in connection with engineering change proposals relevant to operations and 

maintenance, and new upgrade/replacement projects during prototyping, trial, site surveying, installation and 

commissioning phases as agreed by the Network Domain System Configuration Control Board (NDSCCB). 

- Provides technical expertise for the CPs related to UHF Satcom 

- Participates in the technical portion of inspections and JFAI as new systems arrive and conducts follow-up 

actions on the clearance of deficiencies. 

- Attends meeting representing NCIA on UHF DAMA meetings & working groups both with internal NATO 

Agencies and Commands and Service providers/contractors. 

- Writes technical standards as directed and maintains the interface and configuration control documentation 

and procedures. Maintains a record of all sites where non-NCIA equipment has been approved for interface to 

NATO systems and ensures compliance with the associated MOU/MOA/MWA and procedures. 

- Provides or arranges for emergency intervention on-site. Monitors the status of hazardous condition 

(HAZCON) and coordinates emergency support as required. 

- The employee may be required to perform a similar range of duties elsewhere within the organisation at the 

same grade without there being any change to the contract. 

- Performs other duties as may be required. 

Experience and Education: 

- A university degree in a relevant discipline, preferably equivalent to a Master’s, and supplemented by relevant 

postgraduate qualifications. Exceptionally, the lack of a university degree may be compensated by the 

demonstration of particular abilities or experience of interest to the Agency. 

- At least 5 years’ relevant experience, including experience in: 

On-line performance, accounting, fault, security and configuration management of digital and analog 

networks and associated transmission systems to include switching systems in support of voice, 

telegraph, data transfer. 

Operation or maintenance of UHF Satcom systems. 

Design, development, implementation, testing and maintenance of UHF Satcom DAMA and SCPC 

systems as well as related spectrum monitoring and network management systems. 

- Sound practical experience in the design, development, implementation, testing and maintenance of modern 

communications, or information systems in a LAN/WAN environment. 

- Sound knowledge and practical experience with radio communication systems and techniques. 

- Sound knowledge in UHF TACSAT Communication systems and requirements. 

- Sound knowledge and practical experience in frequency planning and coordination for satcom systems. 

- Sound knowledge and practical experience related with operation of radio systems. 

- Working knowledge of MS Office suite. 


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Desirable Experience and Education: 

- PRINCE and ITIL certification; 

- Demonstrable evidence in maintaining knowledge of advances in Information Technology. 

- Member of a recognized professional body or institution. 

- Familiarity with military telecommunications and information systems. 

- Practical experience at least of one year as a team leader. 

- Knowledge of communications protocols and practical experience of using communications diagnostic test. 

- Knowledge of CIS, and its concepts, policies, and architectures. 

- Practical experience in the maintenance of secure computer systems. 

- Prior experience of working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements; 

- Knowledge of NATO responsibilities and organization, including ACO and ACT; 

Language Proficiency: 

- A thorough knowledge of one of the two NATO languages, both written and spoken, is essential and some 

knowledge of the other is desirable. 

- NOTE: Most of the work of the NCI Agency is conducted in the English language. 

Competencies or Personal Attributes: 

- Drive for Result - Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the 

top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results. 

- Priority Setting - Spends his/her time and the time of others on what's important; quickly zeros in on the critical 

few and puts the trivial many aside; can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; 

eliminates roadblocks; creates focus. 

- Planning - Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks and projects; sets objectives and goals; breaks 

down work into the process steps; develops schedules and task/people assignments; anticipates and adjusts 

for problems and roadblocks; measures performance against goals; evaluates results. 

- Customer Focus - Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external 

customers; gets first-hand customer information and uses it for improvements in products and services; acts 

with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust 

and respect. 

- Problem Solving - Uses rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions; probes 

all fruitful sources for answers; can see hidden problems; is excellent at honest analysis; looks beyond the 

obvious and doesn't stop at the first answers. 

- Interpersonal Savvy - Relates well to all kinds of people—up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the 

organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and 

tact; can diffuse even hightension situations comfortably. 

- Peer Relationships – Can quickly find common ground and solve problems for the good of all; can represent 

his/her own interested and yet be fair to other groups; can solve problems with peers with a minimum noise; is 

seen as a team player and is cooperative; easily gains trust and support of peers; encourages collaboration; 

can be candid with peers; 

Travel: 

- The incumbent may be required to undertake deployments in support of military operations and exercises, 

and/or TDY assignments, both within and without NATO boundaries. Such operational deployment may 

exceed 30 days duration up to 183 days in any period of 547 days, and may be on short notice. For NATO 

International Civilian Staff, acceptance of an employment contract linked to this post constitutes agreement to 

deploy in excess of 30 days if required. 

- Business travel to NATO and national (NATO and non-NATO) facilities as well as frequent travel between the 

NCIA offices; 


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Professional Contacts: 

- Works daily with the Network and/or CIS Control Centres and NCIA-SP Divisions and Sectors for sustaining 

operations and support of the assigned CIS and associated networks for end-to-end user services. 

- Works with host nation, as required, for defining the engineering standards for networking, and integration and 

interfacing of new automation and/or CIS equipment to the existing NATO CIS and associated networks. 

- Works with the other System Managers for timely provisioning of the required system support, training, 

maintenance, logistic and supply, funding manpower, procedures, security measures and configuration 

documentation. 

Supervisory/Guidance Duties: 

- Gives guidance to the Technicians and field Engineers at all levels throughout NATO, in performing on-line 

network management to include fault, performance accounting, and configuration and security management 

aspects of the assigned CIS. 

- Directs and oversees the technical services necessary to sustain operations and maintenance of the assigned 

CIS network with their management and control systems. 

- Where required produces technical instructions in support of system management and technical specifications 

in support of project management. 

- Represents the Section Chief at meetings, boards, and exercise and crisis management operations, in support 

of the assigned systems and associated networks. 

- Manages contractor support resources and accepts contractor services where applicable. 

Working Environment: Normal office environment. 

- Slightly Undesirable Conditions apply. The risk of injury is categorized as: Light Risk of Injury. 

Security Clearance Level: NATO Secret 

Starting Salary and Contract Offer: 

- Starting basic monthly salary is 5,997.17 Euro and is exempt from income tax. Additional allowances may 

apply depending on the personal circumstances of the successful candidate. 

- This post is offered for an initial period of 3 years, which may be renewed for subsequent periods, subject to 

satisfactory performance and the need to rotate skills and talent within the Agency. Serving civilian members 

of NATO will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations. 

How to apply: 

To apply for this position, you must complete an application form (quoting reference “A03(2013)(MON)”) and 

send it to recruitment@ncia.nato.int by close of business: 

Monday, 25 February 2013 

It is intended that the interviews will take place in the week of 8 April 2013. 

- Candidates who are serving civilian members of NATO are requested to mention their telephone extension in 

their applications. Applications from serving civilian members of NATO should be made through the 

candidate’s Head of Service, or through the Human Resources/Personnel Section of the NATO Body, 

whichever is appropriate. 

- Applications from candidates who do not meet the required qualifications will not be taken into consideration. 

- Please note that curriculum vitae will not be accepted, unless accompanied by a completed application form 

and post requirements form. Applications not submitted on the NATO application form will not be taken into 

consideration. NATO CI Agency application forms can be downloaded from the internet at 

http://www.ncia.nato.int/Opportunities/Pages/Vacancies.aspx 


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A03(2013)(MON) - NCI Agency - Nato

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