Provision of Operational Acceptance support to SHAPE

SHAPE, Belgium Deadline: 23-10-2026 Posted: 13-10-2026 #17739

Duties

  • Monitor and analyse CIS projects and services, tracking project milestones, requirements, scope, timelines, costs, dependencies and changes.

  • Prepare project progress reports, dashboards and dependency matrices to support management oversight and decision-making.

  • Identify, assess and monitor operational risks, project issues and critical dependencies, recommending corrective and mitigation actions.

  • Maintain project risk registers and conduct periodic risk assessments and reviews.

  • Develop and maintain Operational Acceptance Criteria (OAC) based on operational requirements, functionality, performance and user needs.

  • Plan, coordinate, execute and assess User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT) for new or modified CIS systems and services.

  • Review test plans, test cases, requirements traceability matrices and test documentation to ensure acceptance requirements are met.

  • Conduct or witness service-based testing, operational testing and evaluation, performance, availability, failover and end-to-end service testing.

  • Establish service baselines and assess readiness for site acceptance, user acceptance, operational acceptance and transition to service.

  • Identify, document and track defects, acceptance deficiencies and residual risks, ensuring corrective actions or acceptable workarounds are implemented.

  • Support the transition of delivered systems and services into operational use, ensuring they meet agreed requirements with minimal mission impact.

  • Coordinate with NCIA Project Managers, ACO Senior Requirements Owners, operational requirements managers and other technical and business stakeholders.

  • Produce and contribute to project review reports, operational acceptance reports, test reports, corrective action reports and acceptance dashboards.

Requirements

  • Master of Science (MSc) degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related discipline from a nationally recognised or certified university, with at least 5 years of relevant post-degree experience.

  • Minimum 3 years of experience in CIS project and service analysis, monitoring and reporting.

  • Minimum 3 years of experience in planning and executing acceptance testing activities.

  • Minimum 3 years of experience with ITIL v3.

  • Minimum 3 years of experience in CIS projects involving core communications and IT infrastructure.

  • Knowledge of NATO responsibilities, organisation and operational environment.

  • Knowledge of software, system and service lifecycle management and quality management, preferably within a PRINCE2 and ITIL environment.

  • Working-level knowledge of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Project, Visio and SharePoint.

  • Working knowledge of JIRA.

  • Strong analytical, reporting, coordination and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, assess dependencies and recommend corrective actions.

  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, including preparing reports and delivering briefings.

  • Valid NATO Secret security clearance, maintained in accordance with the contract requirements.

Desirable qualifications

  • PMP certification.

  • PRINCE2 Foundation or Practitioner certification.

  • ISTQB Foundation Level certification.

  • Experience with NATO CIS projects involving software applications for the Operational Digital Workplace.

  • Experience working in an international environment comprising military and civilian personnel.

  • Knowledge of NATO responsibilities and organisation, including Allied Command Operations (ACO) and Allied Command Transformation (ACT).

Location: Primarily on-site at SHAPE Headquarters, Mons, Belgium, with possible activities in The Hague and other ACO locations.

Contract duration: 1 January–31 December 2027, with a possible one-year extension into 2028.

Apply for this position

Back