NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

The Office of the Legal Adviser (OLA) is an independent office which acts as the custodian of the rules governing the activities of NATO and provides legal advice to the Secretary General, the Private Office, the International Staff and the Committees on legal issues relating to NATO activities, procedures, operations, rules and provisions.  

Legal advice is given on the legal status of the Organisation and the Secretary General; North Atlantic Council (NAC) approved Operations, cooperation activities (such as PfP, MD, ICI etc.), the enlargement process, relations with third States and other international organisations, personnel issues in the different Divisions, and the like.  

OLA also represents the Organisation before its Administrative Tribunal (the NATO Appeals Board) and is an observer at the Committee of Legal Advisers on Public International Law of the Council of Europe (CAHDI) and at the meeting of the Legal Advisers of the Co-ordinated Organisations.   It works closely with the Legal Offices of the two Supreme Military Headquarters as well as subordinate Military Headquarters and NATO civilian agencies.

As appropriate, OLA works through Allied delegations or directly with foreign ministry, defense ministry and other legal offices in Allied nations. 

What is it like to work as an intern for the Office of the Legal Adviser (OLA)?

The NATO Office of the Legal Adviser is an independent and dynamic office which is daily involved in a broad range of issues. Its work includes all issues arising at NATO Headquarters, from negotiation of international agreements to representing management in personnel matters. It consists of several legal advisers from different nationalities with general and specific legal expertise.

As an intern, you will get the opportunity to work closely with every one of them and learn from their expertise and gathered experience in and outside the organization.

In general, throughout the course of the internship, you will be assigned with very diverse projects, depending on the needs of the office. More specifically, next to doing relevant research related to past, pending and upcoming issues, you will be asked to provide (ad hoc) legal input on - for example - (draft) agreements and current (news) issues, write memos and background papers, attend meetings (with occasional minute taking / direct reporting…) and sporadically attend a seminar, mainly related to the general or specific needs of the office at that time.

Next to direct contact with project-related relevant authorities within the organization, as it is not the only legal office within NATO as a whole, you might also collaborate closely with legal advisers from the IMS, SHAPE, ACT SEE etc.

If you show initiative and a proactive attitude, you will get the opportunity and freedom to work on projects which are closely related to your personal field of interest, or which catch your attention ‘while in the field’.

As an intern with a legal background (LL.M.), I found the experience in this office a great way to get a better understanding of the operating of NATO as a political as well as military alliance consisting of 28 Member States and many partners, as an international actor and as a full-fledged international institution.

The Council Secretariat (CONSEC) is part of the Secretary General’s Private Office at NATO HQ. Its main role is to support the North Atlantic Council's  work at all times, taking care of organizational arrangements for meetings at Ambassadorial and Ministerial level.

As an intern in the Council Secretariat (CONSEC) one becomes part of the team whose central role within the Secretary General’s Private Office is to support the North Atlantic Council in its day-to-day work and to organise all meetings at Ambassadorial and Ministerial level.  Interns in CONSEC acquire unique and close-up insights into high-level diplomacy involving a broad range of Alliance issues, and develop excellent diplomatic and problem-solving capacities as well as analytical, organisational and drafting skills. 

Tasks of interns have included:

• Providing an overview of the work of subordinate committees tasked by the North Atlantic Council;
• Assisting in the co-ordination of high-level meetings within HQ or offsite, by providing administrative and logistical support;
• Preparing the meetings, liaising with the relevant divisions and Allied or Partner Delegations, as well as other International Organisations;
• Carrying out ad hoc research on event-related topics or general Council-related matters;
• Drafting documents such as memos and speaking notes, and taking notes at meetings and preparing minutes.

What is it like to work as an intern for the Council Secretariat ?

As an intern in the Council Secretariat (CONSEC) one becomes part of the team whose central role within the Secretary General’s Private Office is to support the North Atlantic Council in its day-to-day work and to organise all meetings at Ambassadorial and Ministerial level.  Interns in CONSEC acquire unique and close-up insights into high-level diplomacy involving a broad range of Alliance issues, and develop excellent diplomatic and problem-solving capacities as well as analytical, organisational and drafting skills. 

Tasks and activities of interns have included:

• Providing an overview of the work of subordinate committees tasked by the North Atlantic Council;
• Assisting in the co-ordination of high-level meetings within HQ or offsite, by providing administrative and logistical support;
• Preparing the meetings, liaising with the relevant divisions and Allied or Partner Delegations, as well as other International Organisations;
• Carrying out ad hoc research on event-related topics or general Council-related matters for the Secretary of the Council or, under his supervision, on topics of their own choosing;
• Drafting documents such as memos and speaking notes, and taking notes at meetings and preparing minutes.

What could an internship at OFC be like?

The Office of Financial Control (OFC)is responsible for the call-up of funds and the control of expenditures within the framework of the Civil and Military Budgets and in accordance with NATO's Financial Regulations. Being an Intern with the OFC entails working closely with many people from different Finance Units and gaining insight into the Budget and Treasury as well as  Internal Control Services. Due to my financial background my daily responsibilities also extend to arranging payments against invoices and executing budget commitments.

Further to this, I have been involved in the closure of several of NATO’s Trust funds and handled mission reimbursements. I regularly attended management meetings and working groups and was responsible for writing the minutes and subsequent meeting reports. In addition to this, I carried out research in a variety of areas, most significantly participating in the working group which prepared a new travel policy for NATO staff going abroad on mission. My responsibilities included weekly meetings and researching the policies of other international organizations in order to establish the best practices to implement in the policy being created.

The NATO Office of Resources (NOR) brings together, under the direction and leadership of the Director NOR, all international staff working on NATO military common-funded issues with the aim of reinforcing military common-funded resource management at the NATO HQ. The NOR provides integrated staff advice and support on military resource issues to the Secretary General, other International Staff and International Military Staff Divisions, to the Resource Policy and Planning Board (RPPB), the Budget Committee (BC) and the Investment Committee (IC) as well as to their Chairmen.

What could an internship at NOR be like?

As the first intern of the NATO Office of Resources (NOR), I had the opportunity to learn about the resource management backbone of the Alliance and NATO military common funding (which includes the three resource pillars NATO Security Investment Programme, Military Budget and Manpower). In austere times, it is extremely important for NATO to invest its money smartly and more efficiently.

As part of the ongoing Resource Reform efforts, the NOR initiated the NOR System Evolution project which is aiming at improving the quality, transparency and timeliness of reporting on financial and implementation data for projects using common funding. I was involved in the project as of the first planning steps.

Activities of my internship included:

• Documenting the current business processes and contributing to the improvement of these processes.
• Analyzing information coming from NATO member nations and agencies about their own business processes and IT systems used for implementing NATO projects.
• Supporting the definition of user and system requirements for the future project portfolio management application.

As implementation of the NOR business processes and new IT system continue, possible future activities of a NOR intern would involve updating and refining business process documentation, testing system functionalities and data, contributing to user trainings, interacting with stakeholders. As such, applicants with experience and interest in these areas would have the opportunity to contribute to a dynamic business transformation project in an international organisation.

The NATO Office of Security (NOS) is responsible for the overall coordination of NATO security among Member, Partner and Mediterranean Dialogue nations and NATO civil and military bodies. In this connection it is responsible for ensuring the correct implementation of NATO security policy NATO wide.  

The NOS is divided into  four  Branches, Policy Oversight (POB), Security Intelligence (SIB) , Terrorist Threat Intelligence Unit (TTIU)  and Protective Security (PRB).

What could an internship at NOS be like?

I am 25 years old and I am Spanish. I studied two Master degrees in Political Sciences and Administration, and Law School.

During my internship at NATO I was seconded to the NATO Office of Security in the Terrorist Threat Intelligence Unit for 6 months. In this division I had the chance to contribute to products by conducting research on current affairs of NATO interest from a security point of view,  and I was also assigned my own projects under the direction of my supervisors. The opportunity of working daily surrounded by highly qualified specialist in the security field was very rewarding, enabling me to see developments in international relations from a new perspective.

This experience had provided me not only with a wider and deeper view of NATO’s mechanisms and work methods as an International Organization, but also has provided me with an inside view of the role NATO plays in promoting security in the World.

But this internship has not only allowed me to develop as a professional in a multicultural environment, but has also contributed to my personal growth, forging a new network of friendships that is sure to be enduring.

The world around NATO has changed. The Alliance’s security environment is increasingly diverse, rapidly evolving and unpredictable.  The new Emerging Security Challenges Division (ESCD) is part of NATO’s response to this evolving international environment. The creation of the ESCD underlines the determination to move new, non-traditional security challenges to the fore of NATO’s security agenda, policies and actions. To this end, developing NATO’s ability to anticipate and effectively address new challenges will be central to the future of the Alliance.

With the aim of addressing emerging security challenges in a crosscutting and comprehensive way, the ESCD is comprised of seven different sections:

• Counter-Terrorism Section – coordinates counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency related efforts across the Alliance;
• Cyber Defence Section – leads NATO’s efforts to protect the Alliance against cyber attacks;
• Energy Security Section – assesses and addresses the threats and risks relating to energy infrastructure and supply, and assists the Alliance’s preparedness and ability to recover;
• Nuclear Policy Directorate – assists in the development of all matters pertaining to nuclear policy and strategy;
• Science for Peace and Security & Partnership Cooperation – works to apply best scientific and technical expertise in order to solve security challenges of mutual concern to NATO Allies and partners;
• Strategic Analysis Capability – helps to anticipate and perform medium term assessments of potential crisis situations and their possible implications for the Alliance;
• WMD Non-proliferation Centre – promotes a common understanding of challenges posed by WMD and their means of delivery and seeks to enhance cooperation and coordination of all WMD-related defence and political activities at NATO.

What could an internship at ESCD be like?

Working as part of the Emerging Security Challenges Division (ESCD) is being at the forefront of NATO’s evolving security context.

As an intern within the division, I was exposed to a wide range of issues pertaining to cyber defence, energy security, WMD, counter-terrorism and the list goes on. My tasks were quite varied – and included everything from designing presentations and developing speaking notes for senior managers, to conducting research and providing analysis for an assessment of a potential security crisis. Be it helping to organise visits, or sitting in on the North Atlantic Council and various committee meetings, the work was cross-cutting and provided a great opportunity to expand my skill-set and work with colleagues around the building (both civilian and military staffs as well as the Nations).

Moreover, throughout my internship, I was able to get a feel for the bigger picture of what NATO is about, and more specifically, as part of the ESCD, how the Alliance is working to address the emerging security challenges of the 21st century.

The Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (PASP) acts in many respects as a Foreign Ministry for NATO. In close coordination with other divisions, PASP provides political advice and policy guidance for the Secretary General regarding internal, regional, economic and security affairs. Furthermore, the Division handles the Alliance’s numerous relations with partner countries and with other international organisations. PASP itself is organised into several sections dealing with: Arms Control and Coordination, NATO and Multilateral Affairs, Russia and Ukraine Relations, Euro-Atlantic Integration and Partnership, Mediterranean Dialogue & Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, Cooperation Policy & Programmes, and Defence and Security Economics.   

What could an internship at PASP, DSED be like?

My first task as an intern in the Defence and Security Economics Section of the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division (DSE/PASP) was to set up a one day workshop with international experts on the impact of the financial crisis on defence budget expenditures. This workshop gathered high-level experts from defence institutes, think tanks and international financial organisations (IMF, OECD…). The discussions aimed at finding concrete solutions for collaboration and pooling in the defence sector. All the experts stressed the importance of deepening defence collaboration in order to maintain strategic capabilities despite necessary cuts in defence budgets. Following this workshop, I drafted a report to the Private Office (PO) stating the aims, the participants and the valuable outcomes of such events.

In addition to these activities, I worked on improving NATO’s relations with international financial organisations like the IMF, the World Bank and the OECD. We were responsible for organising expert briefings to the OPC (Operations Policy Committee) and the PPC (Political Partnerships Committee) on specific economic issues. The last briefing we organised was with the Deputy-Director of the World Bank Afghanistan on the Kabul Bank Crisis. We prepared a paper on the impact of the Kabul Bank crisis on Afghanistan’s reconstruction and development process.

I am also helping some members of my team for the Afghan First and the Building Integrity project. These projects aim at promoting good practices and reducing the risk of corruption in the defence sector.

The experience you get while being at NATO is truly unique. You get to work with highly motivated people from various backgrounds on interesting subjects.

What could an internship at PASP, RUUK section be like?

For the past 6 months I have been working with the Russia and Ukraine Relations Section (RUUK), which coordinates NATO’s relations and cooperation with these two important partners. As part of its responsibilities, RUUK supports the work of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) and the NATO-Ukraine Commission (NUC), which are the main forums for consultation between Allies, and Russia and Ukraine. Even as an intern, my tasks have been very similar to those of a junior staff officer. For example, I regularly prepare files and documents for NRC or NUC committee and ministerial meetings including decision sheets, reports, and speaking notes. Additionally, I attend and often participate in other NATO meetings that involve files relevant to our Section and/or Division and offer written and oral briefings to other members of PASP when necessary.

Other tasks of mine have included contributing to a daily newsletter that is circulated NATO-wide regarding Russia, Ukraine and the CIS using open source materials; writing analytical memos on relevant developments in Russia and Ukraine and explaining their implications for NATO; providing other sections and divisions with inputs for requested checklists; and delivering briefings on NATO-Russia and NATO-Ukraine relations to visitor groups. This list is not exhaustive. In PASP, there is always work to be done whether administrative, analytical, or operational.

Interning with PASP has been a rewarding experience. The atmosphere is exhilarating, the work is substantive, and the Division offers interns the opportunity to fully immerse themselves. If you have an interest in seeing how NATO policy is made first-hand, I highly recommend applying for a position with PASP.

The DPP Division has the lead role on the defence-related aspects of NATO's fundamental security tasks. It is organised into two Directorates.

Major responsibilities:

• The Defence Policy and Capabilities Directorate deals with the development of Alliance defence policies and strategies,  including pol-mil aspects of defence capabilities, Logistics capabilities, as well as defence cooperation policies with Partners.   It maintains an awareness of major security and defence developments on the international scene, and also has the lead on NATO-European Union cooperation in defence policy and capabilities.

• The Planning Directorate is responsible for the conduct of NATO Defence Planning, including the development and adoption of force goals and the conduct of regular defence reviews, including the PfP Planning and Review Process for Partners.

What could an internship at DPP be like?

While working in the Nuclear Policy Directorate/Weapons of Mass Destruction Center there are a number of projects made available to interns.  My tasks have included: speech writing, speaking note preparation, updating of NATO reports/documents, attending various committee meetings, note taking, event analysis, research and policy analysis, as well as the production of materials for internal distribution around NATO Headquarters.  An ongoing project for interns is the creation and constant updating of the “Practical Handbook of Current Non-proliferation and Security-related Initiatives.”  The Handbook is meant to provide a quick reference to NATO HQ staff on the dozens of ongoing initiatives and treaties in place regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction and their means of delivery.

Andie da Ponte

Operations will provide the operational capability required to meet NATO's deterrence, defence and crisis management tasks. Responsibilities include NATO's crisis management and peacekeeping activities and civil emergency planning and exercises.

The Division consists of two Directorates: the Planning Directorate and the Operations Directorate.

The ASG/Operations has two deputies, with the following responsibilities between them for:

• Crisis Management, deterrence and defence operations
• Peacekeeping
• Civil emergency planning
• Council exercises
• Situation Center

What could an internship at OPS be like?

“My work in the Operations Division and especially the placement in the Civil-Military Planning and Support Section gave me an unequaled professional insight into the 'modus operandi' of NATO's core structure dealing with operational issues and the building of operational capacity.

The focus of the projects I was involved in was on critical infrastructure protection, civil-military cooperation and civil capability in military operations and deployments. The internship in the OPS Division was a unique opportunity not only to acquire invaluable knowledge on NATO's priorities but also to get firsthand experience in the planning and coordination of projects of direct impact for NATO operational capability.

The tasks and assignments completed during this internship required a high degree of adaptability to a fast-paced work environment and ranged from research to direct involvement and responsibilities in project management.

In addition to requiring my engagement in the support or coordination of ongoing projects, this internship has undoubtedly better equipped me with professional skills and abilities that are indispensable for an international career. This internship has by all means been a challenging but equally rewarding and enriching professional and personal experience. “

The Defence Investment Division focuses on the development of military capabilities to enhance the Alliance’s capacity, including armaments planning, integrated air defence, airspace and air traffic management, and command and control.  It contributes to the Nations’ ability to assign to the Alliance forces that are properly equipped and interoperable to undertake the full range of military missions. It provides technical, policy and procedural expertise relating to C3, armaments, space, air defence and airspace management.

The division also includes a programme office that oversees the New NATO Headquarters project, the construction of which is ongoing on Boulevard Leopold III across from the current HQ.

The Division also plays a significant role in developing cooperation with partner countries in the context of the Partnership for Peace, Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, as well as the special relationships with Russia and Ukraine.

The Division has recently been restructured and consists of a programme Office, three directorates and an independent section:

• The Headquarters Programme Office (HQPO) oversees the New NATO Headquarters project, and represents NATO with the Host Nation (Belgium) Project Management team.
  
• The Aerospace Capabilities Directorate comprises three sections: Space and Air Defence Section, Airspace Management Section and the Missile Defence Section.  It provides policy advice and expertise for the development of capabilities, mainly in the areas of Air and Missile Defence, Space, Airspace and Air Traffic Management, to contribute to the full range of the Alliance’s missions.
  
• The Strategy Directorate consisting of two sections: Policy Plans & Partnerships Section and the Capability Delivery Section. This directorate is in charge to enforce overall coherence of the capability deliverables through policies, plans and links with external stakeholders.
  
• The C4ISR Capabilities Directorate, currently the NHQC3S with its recent adoption of a revised structure consisting of five Branches, now includes an IS element for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR). This directorate ensures capability coherence across the entire C3 planning.
  
• An independent section on Land and Maritime Capabilities responsible for armaments cooperation in the land, maritime and ammunition safety domains.  

What could an internship at DI be like?

Thanks to the NATO Internship Programme I worked for 6 months in the Defence Investment Division as an Intern. This work experience gave me the opportunity to gain familiarity with the international defence environment and the working practices of a complex multilateral organization; more importantly, I had the chance of working at NATO in a defining moment of the Alliance because of the launch of the new Strategic Concept and the various reform and rationalization efforts currently taking place at many levels.

As an Intern in the Armament Directorate of the Defence Investment Division, I supported the work of a joint civil-military team engaged in the end-to-end review and rationalisation of the entities involved in NATO defence planning and capability development. My tasks were to collect, revise, and reformat the different inputs provided by some of  NATO Divisions involved in capability development; to manage and coordinate the consultation rounds with the relevant stakeholders; and to draft, in collaboration with the rest of the team, an interim report to be submitted to the attention of the Private Office. Among my other tasks, I also supported the Armament Directorate’s Executive Office in the organisation and preparation of the meetings of the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD) – the senior NATO committee responsible for promoting cooperation between countries in the armaments field. Finally, I had the opportunity of attending some of the meetings of the North Atlantic Council and to prepare speeches, speaking points and presentations for senior DI officers.

Intern 2010 / 2011

The New Headquarters Project Office (HQPO) is part of the Defence Investment Division. It is responsible to the Nations of the North Atlantic Alliance for the programme management for the New NATO Headquarters. The HQPO provides an interface between the political oversight of the project, provided by the Nations, and day-to-day project management which will be provided by the Host Nations, Belgium and NATO’s C3 Agency.

The HQPO will oversee the design, construction and delivery of a new NATO Headquarters in Brussels; represent the interests of the users (Nations, NATO Staffs and Agencies); and will have a key role in assisting with the  transition from the current HQ to the new building. 

Major Responsibilities

The New Headquarters Project Office, through the Director, will :

• advise the Secretary General and other senior officials, through the Assistant Secretary General, Defence Investment (ASG-DI) on progress at all key stages of the project (design, construction, delivery and occupation);
• ensure that the project adheres to the critical path and that its realization is both on schedule and within the overall budget;
• ensure that the guidelines (including resources) which are agreed by Nations are observed in the detailed management of the project and that issues requiring strategic decisions are sent forward to Nations in a timely manner;
• negotiate NATO’s direct interests with the users of the new Headquarters (Nations, Staffs and Agencies); the Host Nation and its Concept Design Team (CDT) and Construction Contractor(s) on possible changes to requirements and specifications and on the distribution of space and geographical location in the new NATO Headquarters;
• through it's ICT PMO, coordinate the efforts of the Host Nations integrating the Information, Communication and Technologies aspects of the new Headquarters Project into the overall project;
• lead and manage a team of NATO personnel, reinforced by the services of external technical consultants, as and when required;
• keep the user community and Nations informed on the progress of the project through the use of modern communication means.

HQPO Staffing

The HQPO has a core staffing of 16 people. This is split between executive, administrative and technical functions. This staffing may be adjusted based on the needs of the project, through consultation or reinforcement as needed to ensure proper management of the project.

Inter-relationships

The HQPO has many essential inter-relationships :

within the NATO Staff:

• though part of Defense Investment Division, the HQPO also works closely with other Staff elements, in particular Executive Management Division, including Human and Financial Resources; Construction & General Services and Financial Control;
• through ASG-DI, the HQPO also works closely with the Private Office (when wider political guidance is required);
• the New HQ project will impact on the whole NATO population. As design elements are refined, increased contact will be essential with all IS and IMS Divisions as well as National Delegations and Agency occupants of the new Headquarters;
• the HQPO will also foster a proactive working relationship with the International Board of Auditors for NATO (IBAN), which audits the development of the project at all stages.

with Nations:

• the HQPO maintains a daily, detailed interface with the Host Nation of Belgium, which through its Project Management Team (PMT) will conduct the ongoing management of the project, including Design and Construction contracts.
• through its ICT PMO - maintain daily detailed interface with the ICT Host Nations Project Management Teams who conduct the ongoing design and implementation of ICT projects within the overall HQ project;
• the HQPO keeps Nations fully advised of progress, and seeks approval of nations for project requirements and resources through the Deputies Committee (DPRC). The Committee  is effectively the governing body for the New NATO HQ Programme.

What could an internship at HQPO be like?

'Being part of the HQPO team as an intern was an incredible experience. The team is very professional and they are always available to help.

As most of us came from a technical background (engeneering, architecture, ICT) it is very interesting experiencing the project management of one of the biggest construction sites taking place in Europe. My personal experience allowed me to take contact to Acad drawings, 3d models, technical specifications, space planning, requirements management and other exciting tasks.

Apart from that, the multi cultural environment and the different Speacker Series make the internship more complete both professionally  and personally.

The most incredible feeling is that every experience counts and since the first moment you are part of the team.'

Our common vision

“We strive to be the best-in-class international organization in engaging and communicating with the public. Our activities and services are key to building an enhanced understanding in our publics about NATO’s values and policies. We want to build a truly integrated and focused communications approach and become better in telling NATO’s stories through multiple tools and to multiple audiences.”

Our three key roles

• 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 by
  
  • People-to-people engagement, especially in Allied and partner countries
  • Mass communication, image-building and branding
  • 24h media operations
    
• 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.
  
• 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.

What could an internship at PDD, Corporate Communications Section be like?

As I had a background in journalism and editing I did my internship in the Corporate Communications Section of the Public Diplomacy Division. It is a team that I enjoyed working with and felt very welcome in. I was given responsibility for tasks, the room to offer ideas and be listened to, allowed to develop projects that played to my strengths as a writer, as well as working across many of NATO's divisions with people from various backgrounds. I had a variety of tasks and projects including developing an exhibition, producing a DVD and video stories, writing stories and in-depth briefings as well as more historical research in the archives, all of which taught me something. I came to NATO to get a better understanding of how the organization worked, who made decisions, when, how and why, and I think the internship in PDD gave me a chance to get involved with the Alliance on an intimate level in the run up to the Lisbon Summit and try to answer all those questions.

The role of Executive Management (EM) is to provide management and support services to the North Atlantic Council (NAC), its subordinate committees and to the International Staff (IS) headed by the Secretary General.  EM is organized in four directorates – Human Resources (HR), Information and Communications Technology Management (ICTM), Headquarters Support (HQS) and Financial Resources (FR).  Each of the directorates provides a wide range of management support and services to the Secretary General and the IS.  The management support ranges from medium term financial  and workforce planning, to facilities and linguistic support and information technology services including enterprise applications and cyber-defense.  The staff expertise in EM covers financial and human resources, management, technology management (from software development to architecture management) , linguistic skills, building management and general management know-how. 

What could an internship at EM be like?

Due to the wide range of responsibilities of EM an internship with the Division offers the opportunity to apply and develop management skills as well as specific technical skills.  Interns work on specific projects, generally reporting to senior staff and have the opportunity to interact with the policy making and operational Divisions or NATO HQ.  Recent interns worked on enterprise application implementation projects (information management, resource planning), designing new office space, participated in the development of new human resources policies, help establish a diversity program and participated in the development of a staff performance management process.  Executive Management internships are as challenging as the internships in the other NATO HQ divisions.  Interns have the opportunity to apply their financial and resources management skills and technology experience while interacting and supporting the policy making process.  Senior managers include interns in their meetings to allow them to observe the decision making process and help them prepare for future professional challenges.  In sum, internships in EM are a hands-on experience where substantial responsibilities are given to the interns for their projects. 

What could an internship at EM, Human Resources (HR),  Privileges & Immunities (P&I) be like?

Undertaking an internship at NATO, Executive Management (EM), Human Resources (HR), Privileges & Immunities (P&I) has been a stimulating challenge that has presented me with numerous learning opportunities.  Working in an international enviroment has allowed me to compliment my current skills and traits by being introduced to best practice that has evolved from all over the world (courtesy of the mix of nationalities in the IS and their joint working methods). I had the opportunity to use my foreign languages, and to learn being even more custom-oriented, as the P&I Service can be an extremely busy "train station". This unique experience has given me an excellent foundation that will pave the way for a future career where I will feel extremely confident of adding value to an organisation. Nonetheless, I will always have good memories of my nice colleagues and new friends at NATO.

What could an internship at EM, Human Resources (HR), Policy

My internship began on 4th of October 2010. I settled in quickly thanks to the experience and motivation of the team. My first week involved research work on current and future projects assigned to the section as well as in understanding the type of work which was to be expected from me, and more importantly how NATO operates in setting-up Human Resources (HR) policy work.

After a few weeks, my manager entrusted me with a project for which I had almost the entire responsibility. The outcome of the project was to set-up a directive on how a specific allowance had to be implemented at NATO. This required a significant amount of research on the subject, a lot of coordination with the various stakeholders and the writing of the directive itself.  The final version of the directive is now with the Legal Office for endorsement..  In addition to this project, I have also assisted my manager in his daily work, giving legal advice on different HR topics and writing and/or amending policies and directives.

I have been very lucky to be at NATO at an extremely important and exciting time of change. NATO is currently going through major reform, which impacts on the responsibilities of the section, in particular regarding the regulatory framework on reorganisation and on staff’s  employment and regulations.

Being involved in these projects has given me the opportunity to understand how work is conducted at NATO in general and more specifically how HR operates in setting-up policy and implementation work.

In general, my internship with NATO has been extremely rewarding. I have been able to learn a lot and to acquire new skills and experience thanks to my participation in the various projects that my section entrusted me with and for which I am extremely grateful.

What could an internship at EM, Information Communication and Technology Management Directorate (ICTM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) be like?

My internship with the Information Communication and Technology Management Directorate of EM gave me the opportunity to be a part of a major enterprise software procurement process.  During my six months at NATO HQ I become familiar with the business operations of the organization, performed process analysis and was responsible for developing content for the internal website of one of the major enterprise application implementation projects.  With my background in International Business and Finance I was a perfect for for Executive Management which covers all business functions of NATO HQ.  For my project I had the opportunity to work with an international team but I was also able to observe North Atlantic Council (NAC) meetings, attend guest speaker conferences, visit European Organizations and SHAPE, NATO's military HQ.  NATO gave me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and gain professional experience while learning and observing the inner workings of an international organization

NATO is embarking on an ambitious plan, as part of NATO Agencies Reform, to design and put in place a shared services environment to provide support services in HR, Finance, General Procurement and IT to all NATO agencies and NATO Headquarters.  To lead the development of the detailed design for shared services and the agreed implementation plan, an Office of Shared Services has been established.  As an intern, depending on the time you will join, you will be working on one or more of the following deliverables/work-streams:

• Shared Services Detailed Design.  Project planning and reporting. Develop the shared services Standard Operating Model (defining activities that will move into a shared services environment and activities that will have to stay with the retained organization).  Define the delivery model for the shared services operation (who will provide what services from where).  Organizational design to support the shared services design.  Legal and regulatory implication for implementing shared services.  Communications and change management. Enabling Technology requirements. Service Management Framework (Service Level Agreement, charging mechanism, Key Performance Indicators, etc.). Migration Strategy (defining the sequence of the go-lives in the shared services environment and the methodology to execute it).  Financial business case to determine current and future costs, upfront investments needed, payback period, etc.
• Shared Services Implementation.  Project planning and reporting. Knowledge transfer planning, execution and monitoring.  Develop detailed job description for the shared services operation and the retained organization. Communications and change management. Review and support the development of desktop procedures . Prepare for cut-over.  Support stabilization.