NATO is seeking a Chief Information Officer (CIO) for its newest body: The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) – a greenfield job at a new entity targeting initial operational capability this year.
DIANA and a new multinational NATO innovation fund were both announced in April 2022.
DIANA aims to “bring defence personnel together with the Alliance’s best and brightest start-ups, scientific researchers, and technology companies to solve critical defence and security challenges” whilst the innovation fund was seeded with €1 billion to invest in startups and funds aligned with its strategic objectives (AI, “autonomy”, Big Data, biotechnology, novel materials, quantum-enabled technologies, and space).
As of March 2023 it had grown to a network of more than 100 affiliated accelerators and test centres.
The first CIO of DIANA – which is targeting full operational capability in 2025 – will receive a tax-free salary of £9,226 monthly. Key challenges facing the successful candidate, a job description says, “will likely include: Establishing DIANA and a new CIO function for DX [DIANA executive]” and liaise with “the NATO HQ CIO, the Consultation, Command and Control (C3) Staff, the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) CIO and the NATO Office of Security (NOS) to ensure that all DIANA IT conforms to relevant NATO standards and is fully interoperable with existing NATO IT systems.” (Yes, there will be lots of stakeholders.)
NATO wants a minimum of five years experience in a leadership position; “proven experience or demonstrated capability in leading ICT transformational initiatives in complex and dynamic environments” and experience leading and developing “a diverse team of professionals in a complex environment” among the requirements.
The day job will include work setting "strategic direction and oversight for the design, development, and operation of DIANA’s internal IT systems" as well as providing "senior assistance, advice and recommendations on ICT capabilities and services, including technological trends, long-term planning, and prospects for cooperation."
Applications close on June 18, 2023. Dust off that CV...
