Head, Social Media

Primary Location

Belgium-Brussels

NATO Body

NATO International Staff (NATO IS)

Schedule

Full-time

Application Deadline

07-Jun-2026, 11:59:00 PM

Salary (Pay Basis)

6,467.30

Grade

NATO Grade G15-G17

• SUMMARY

NATO’s Strategic Communications build trust in and support for the Alliance by strengthening public awareness and understanding of NATO’s priorities and activities. Led by the NATO Spokesperson/Director of Strategic Communications, the Office of Strategic Communications (OSC) provides communications direction and guidance to stakeholders across the NATO enterprise and coordinates strategic communications activities across all NATO civilian and military bodies. The Office carries out full-spectrum communications, analysing the information environment, designing and creating content, managing communications technology and platforms, overseeing media relations, and engaging with audiences through a wide range of channels

The Digital Communities and Content Section is the team responsible for landscape digital communication, including: campaign conception, marketing and distribution of content to engage the Alliance’s audiences in NATO missions, events, operations and activities. The Section comprises teams that manage: web, multimedia content creation, campaigns, social media, brand and corporate communications.

The role of the Head of Social Media is to develop and oversee the implementation of the social media strategy as part of OSC’s multi-channel approach to audience engagement, a critical vector for achieving the Alliance’s communications objectives.

• QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential

The incumbent must:

• possess a university degree in journalism, communications, international relations or related curriculum;
• have experience managing a small team;
• have a minimum of 5 years of experience in the strategic coordination of multiple social media channels and platforms;
• have a proven ability to communicate creatively with and engage diverse audiences;
• have extensive hands-on experience with editorial production on major enterprise social platforms (e.g. X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook);
• demonstrate sound political judgment and excellent analytical and conceptual skills to translate strategy into creative, digital-first, multiplatform communication;
• have expertise in evolving social media platforms and a strong understanding of their respective evolving technical requirements and use;
• have experience of paid advertising and influencer marketing;
• possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in one; I (“Beginner”) in the other.

DESIRABLE

The following would be considered an advantage:

• international professional experience;
• experience working in an agency environment;
• an interest and/or studies in international security issues;
• knowledge of NATO’s organisational structure and affiliated organisations;
• experience in localisation for segmented international audiences;
• experience managing a budget;
• knowledge of social media monitoring tools;
• experience creating such microcontent as factographs, infographs and animated gifs;
• experience drawing and reviewing metrics and analytics and applying lessons learned.
• MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Project Management

Commission, create and post content that is novel and engaging, and in line with the campaign strategy, content strategy, channel strategy and NATO messaging. Oversee the production, posting and monitoring of social products on NATO’s flagship social media channels and platforms. Collaborate with NATO’s multimedia content creators to shape professional quality content for NATO’s owned platforms and channels Carry out and feed into assessments to continue to improve the way the Office of Strategic Communications reaches different target audiences. Administer the social media budget.

Information Management

Coordinate the social media tools used by the team for NATO’s flagship channels and platforms and commission social listening activities. Keep abreast of political developments to ensure accuracy and currency of NATO’s social media communication messages.

Stakeholder Management

Participate in a network of contacts, including internal and external information providers and key actors in the field of communications, in order to ensure the correct messaging on NATO’s flagship social media outlets. Align efforts with the different key leader social media platforms. Maintain contact with private sector partners, in particular social media platforms, to ensure coherence with best practices;

People Management

Manage social media staff to include planning workloads and staffing resources for the implementation of the social media strategy. Carry out recruitments, as necessary; manage performance and objectives setting; co-develop training plans; and actively promote team cohesion. Empower staff to carry out their roles confidently in incumbent’s absence. Promote integrity, professionalism and accountability through a sound and inclusive leadership culture.

Expertise Development

Explore and research new methods and the evolution of media tools and social networks, including in cooperation with the social media platforms. Evaluate the use and application of these methods in the framework of OSC's strategic objectives. Oversee NATO’s social media policy and the creation of guidance. Inform and advise such stakeholders as senior management, social media coordinators and content creators on the use of new methods and propose improvements to existing methods. Contribute and plan for social media activities for the enterprise platforms and channels in a coordinated way. Pilot and roll out novel ways of engaging users in NATO’s story through social media.

Knowledge Management

Continuously monitor, analyse and strive to improve the work methods, processes and related tools of the team, the section and the OSC. Assist in coordination efforts within and outside the Section and across the OSC to ensure that appropriate knowledge management systems and mechanisms are in place.

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

• INTERRELATIONSHIPS

The incumbent reports to the Head of the Digital Communities and Content Section. The incumbent is also required to maintain close working relationships with other teams in the Office Strategic Communications producing social media content, as well as with other internal and external content providers and the user community.

Direct reports: 4

Indirect reports: N/a.

• COMPETENCIES

The incumbent must demonstrate:

• Achievement: Works to meet standards;
• Analytical Thinking: Sees multiple relationships;
• Clarity and Accuracy: Checks own work;
• Conceptual Thinking: Applies learned concepts;
• Customer Service Orientation: Takes personal responsibility for correcting problems;
• Empathy: Is open to others' perspectives;
• Impact and Influence: Takes multiple actions to persuade;
• Initiative: Is decisive in a time-sensitive situation;
• Teamwork: Solicits inputs and encourages others.
• CONTRACT

Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of three years; possibility of renewal for up to three years, during which the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite duration contract.

Contract clause applicable:

In accordance with the contract policy, this is a post in which turnover is desirable for political reasons in order to be able to accommodate the Organisation's need to carry out its tasks as mandated by the Nations in a changing environment, for example by maintaining the flexibility necessary to shape the Organisation's skills profile, and to ensure appropriate international diversity.

The maximum period of service foreseen in this post is 6 years. The successful applicant will be offered a 3-year definite duration contract, which may be renewed for a further period of up to 3 years. However, according to the procedure described in the contract policy the incumbent may apply for conversion to an indefinite contract during the period of renewal and no later than one year before the end of contract.

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 also to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.

Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Régulations.

NOTE: Irrespective of previous qualifications and experience, candidates for twin-graded posts will be appointed at the lower grade. Advancement to the higher grade is not automatic, and will not normally take place during the first three years of service in the post.

Under specific circumstances, serving staff members may be appointed directly to the higher grade, and a period of three years might be reduced by up to twenty four months for external candidates. These circumstances are described in the IS directive on twin-graded posts.

• USEFUL INFORMATION REGARDING APPLICATION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries. Applications must be submitted using e-recruitment system, as applicable:

• For NATO civilian staff members only: please apply via the internal recruitment portal ( link );
• For all other applications: www.nato.int/recruitment

Before you apply to any position, we encourage you to click here and watch our video providing 6 tips to prepare you for your application and recruitment process.

Do you have questions on the application process in the system and not sure how to proceed? Click here for a video containing the information you need to successfully submit your application on time.

When submitting your application, please ensure that your Taleo Candidate Profile is updated and that your CV is correctly uploaded in the Taleo attachments section.

More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/recruit-hq-e.htm)

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate), approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser, verification of your study(ies) and work experience, and the successful completion of the accreditation and notification process by the relevant authorities.

NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of reference documents without proper quotes (plagiarism), or any tools available on internet, including but not limited to translation facilities, or generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools. NATO 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 tools will be rejected without further consideration, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

NATO is committed to diversity and inclusion, and strives to provide equal access to employment, advancement and retention, independent of gender, age, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, cultural background, sexual orientation, and disability. NATO welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.

NATO is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible working environment, where all candidates living with disabilities can fully participate in the recruitment and selection process. If you require reasonable accommodation, please inform us during your selection process.

Candidates will be required to provide documented medical evidence to support their request for accommodation.

Building Integrity is a key element of NATO’s core tasks. As an employer, NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.

Due to the broad interest in NATO and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or e-mail enquiries cannot be dealt with.

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.

The nature of this position may require the staff member at times to be called upon to travel for work and/or to work outside normal office hours.

The organization offers several work-life policies including Teleworking and Flexible Working arrangements (Flexitime) subject to business requirements.

Please note that the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium is a non-smoking environment.

For information about the NATO Single Salary Scale (Grading, Allowances, etc.) please visit our website . Detailed data is available under the Salary and Benefits tab.

NATO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. For more info please click here .