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International Staff
Updated: 06 March 2026
The primary role of the International Staff (IS) is to provide advice, guidance and administrative support to the national delegations at NATO Headquarters. The IS helps to implement decisions taken by the representatives of NATO member countries at different committee levels and, in doing so, supports the process of consensus-building and decision-making within the Alliance.
- Some 1,600 civilians work within NATO’s IS, which is composed solely of nationals from NATO member countries.
- The IS provides advice, guidance and administrative support to the national delegations at NATO Headquarters.
- It helps implement all decisions taken at any committee level.
- The IS is headed by the NATO Secretary General, who from an administrative point of view is also a member of the IS.
- Vacancies within the IS are announced on NATO’s website and are open to citizens of all member countries.
- Worldwide, 9,000+ civilians work for NATO in different agencies and strategic and regional commands.
Role and responsibilities
The International Staff (IS) is an advisory and administrative body that supports the North Atlantic Council (the Council or NAC) – NATO’s top political decision-making body. It is responsible for organising all sessions of the Council, preparing all necessary information for NATO’s members to discuss and debate, and taking action following the Council’s decisions. The IS produces a wide range of documents, from policy papers to background notes, reports and speeches, on issues relevant to NATO’s political and military agenda. It also supports and advises all of the NAC’s subordinate committees, preparing and following up on their discussions and decisions, and thereby facilitating the political consultation process.
The IS liaises closely with NATO’s International Military Staff (IMS), which is also located at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The IMS is the executive body of the Military Committee – NATO’s senior military authority.
Members of the IS owe their allegiance to the Organization throughout the period of their appointment. They are either recruited directly by the Organization or seconded by their governments.
Vacancies within the IS are announced on NATO’s website, and are open to the citizens of all member countries.
The structure of the International Staff
The International Staff includes the Office of the Secretary General; six divisions, each headed by an Assistant Secretary General; and 10 independent offices.
The Office of the Secretary General
The Office of the Secretary General (OSG) comprises: the Secretary General himself, as well as the Deputy Secretary General; the Chief of Staff, Senior Deputy Directors and their support team; the Director-General for Management and his team; and the Policy Planning Unit.
Divisions
Cyber and Digital Transformation (CDT) Division
This joint civil-military division focuses on cyber and hybrid threats, data and AI, and NATO’s digital transformation. CDT not only shapes policy in these areas but also defines requirements in capability development, capability coherence and interoperability. It also leads in certain aspects of operational planning, especially in the digital and cyber fields.
Defence Industry, Innovation and Armaments (D2IA) Division
This division focuses on innovation, relations with industry, and emerging and disruptive technologies. It facilitates the development and adoption of cutting-edge capabilities for the Alliance, including by promoting standardisation and interoperability, and fostering a capable transatlantic defence industrial base.
Defence Policy and Planning (DPP) Division
This division develops and implements the defence policy and planning dimension of NATO’s fundamental security tasks. This includes defence planning, the Alliance's nuclear policy, enablement and resilience, as well as certain aspects of operational planning, including Integrated Air and Missile Defence.
Joint Intelligence and Security Division (JISD)
This division produces strategic analytical reports based on intelligence-sharing between member country intelligence services and the Alliance. These reports can cover areas such as terrorism and its links with other transnational threats. JISD is also responsible for coordinating, monitoring and implementing NATO's security policy, for overall security within NATO and for the NATO Headquarters Security Service.
Operations (OPS) Division
This division provides the operational capability required to meet NATO's core tasks, including deterrence and defence, and crisis prevention and management. Its responsibilities include NATO's crisis management and peacekeeping activities, civil preparedness and exercises, and defence institution and capacity-building. It also oversees NATO’s Science for Peace and Security (SPS) programme.
Political Affairs and Security Policy (PASP) Division
This division provides political advice and policy guidance to the NAC and its subordinate committees. It has the lead role in the political aspects of NATO's core security tasks, including global, regional and security affairs, as well as relations with other international organisations and partner countries. It also deals with arms control issues, disarmament and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Independent Offices
In addition to the six divisions, the IS also includes 10 independent offices:
- the Council Secretariat,
- the Office of Strategic Communications,
- NATO Human Resources,
- the Information, Communication and Technology Management Office,
- the Workspace Management and Business Continuity Office,
- the Office of Legal Affairs,
- Internal Oversight Service,
- the NATO-Wide Coordination Office,
- the Office of Financial Control,
- and the NATO Office of Resources.