- OVERVIEW OF DIANA
NATO DIANA is the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic, a NATO body dedicated to finding and accelerating innovation to provide decisive defence and security effects for the Alliance, while fostering deep-tech innovation.
NATO DIANA is comprised of a Board of Directors, representing all 32 nations, and an operational team referred to as the DIANA Executive (“DX”). Operating from three offices in Europe and North America, the DX leverages a network of military end users, world-leading accelerator sites, test centres, professional mentors and experts, and Allied expertise to accelerate the most innovative technologies from across the NATO Alliance. DIANA is a dynamic, agile workplace, which strives for innovative thinking, diversity, and performance excellence across all teams. To achieve our mission, DIANA is committed to providing our people with an environment that is positive, inclusive and collaborative.
OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
The Legal Counsel provides legal advice and support across DIANA’s mandate and operations, contributing to the management of legal risk, institutional governance, and the development and application of legal frameworks and agreements.
The role is responsible for handling a range of legal matters with a degree of autonomy, while more complex or sensitive issues are escalated as appropriate.
The role also supports data protection and information governance activities within DIANA.
*Reserve candidates may be considered for similar posts in Estonia or Canada, if appropriate. *
Reporting to the General Counsel.
Duties of this role include:
Provide legal advice across a range of areas including international, public, regulatory, and commercial law relevant to DIANA’s activities, identifying legal risks and proposing appropriate mitigation measures.
Draft and review legal instruments, including Memoranda of Understanding, contracts, regulatory documents, and internal policies, ensuring consistency with NATO frameworks and host nation requirements.
Contribute to the development, interpretation, and implementation of internal legal frameworks, policies, and governance arrangements, supporting the provision of legal advice to stakeholders.
Support organisational decision-making by delivering clear, well-reasoned, and practical legal analysis to internal stakeholders, ensuring alignment with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
Monitor legal and regulatory developments relevant to DIANA’s activities (e.g. defence, technology, procurement, and innovation), identifying potential implications and supporting appropriate organisational responses.
Support data protection and information governance activities, including maintaining relevant documentation, advising on routine matters, and escalating complex or high-risk issues as appropriate.
Liaise with colleagues across DIANA and, where required, with NATO bodies and external stakeholders, supporting coordination, consistency, and information exchange on legal matters.
Contribute to the development and maintenance of legal templates, guidance materials, and internal processes to support consistent and high-quality legal outputs.
Perform any other related duties as required.
ROLE REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
The incumbent must have:
A minimum of 2 years of work experience in legal areas relevant to DIANA’s activities, such as public procurement, defence or technology regulation, or international public law.
A minimum of 2 years of experience providing legal advice with minimal supervision.
Experience drafting clear, accurate, and well-structured legal documents.
Experience supporting data protection and information governance activities, including handling sensitive information and understanding compliance requirements.
Ability to engage effectively with stakeholders and communicate legal concepts in a clear and practical manner.
Experience working in a multidisciplinary or international environment.
Strong analytical, organisational, and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
Possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French)\: V (“Advanced”) in one; and I (“Beginner”) in the other.
NOTE\: Most of DIANA’s internal work is conducted in the English language.
DESIRABLE
The following would be considered an advantage:
Legal work experience in an innovative, technology‑driven, or start‑up environment, or exposure to legal work supporting innovation or emerging technologies.
Exposure to international or commercial legal matters within a public, international, or regulated organizational context.
Knowledge of the legal or regulatory framework of one or more of the Host Nations (United Kingdom, Canada, or Estonia).
Knowledge of NATO institutional framework, policies and procedures.
COMPETENCIES
The incumbent must demonstrate\:
Organizational and environmental awareness
Ability to take initiative and responsibility
Ability to adapt and be flexible
Ability to provide positive customer service
Ability to plan and prioritize in dynamic conditions
Ability to build positive working relationships and contribute to collective work products
Self-awareness and a learning mindset
WHAT WE OFFER
Genuinely meaningful work as part of the newest unit within the most successful alliance in history.
Tax-free salary.
Household and children’s allowances and privileges for expatriate staff including expatriation and educational allowances (where applicable) and additional home leave.
Excellent private health insurance scheme.
NATO pension scheme.
Generous annual leave of 30 days plus official holidays.
Flexible working conditions and a smoke-free office in London.
Opportunities for learning and development.
CONTRACT
In accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations, the successful candidate will receive a definite duration contract of three years, which may be followed by an extension.
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 to the agreement of the national authority concerned. The maximum period of service in the post as a seconded staff member is six years.
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.
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 the e-recruitment system. Applications and other documents will not be reviewed if sent through other formats (including email, social network, etc).
Before you apply to any position, we encourage you to click here and review how to apply. There are helpful videos to watch that describe the recruitment process and provide helpful tips to prepare your application.
Due to the broad interest in NATO DIANA and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or email enquiries cannot be dealt with.
After reviewing your online application, successful candidates will be invited to a pre-recorded video interview. Shortlisted candidates from that will then be invited to the final assessments, which include\: a language proficiency test, a written test, and a panel interview. These final assessments are expected to be held approximately 8-10 weeks after the application closing date.
Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate) and approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser.
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.
NOTE: DIANA will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools, including and without limitation to chatbots, such as Chat Generative Pre-trainedTransformer (Chat GPT), or other language generating tools. DIANA 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 generative or creative AI applications may be rejected without further consideration at DIANA’s sole discretion, and DIANA 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 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 along with documented medical evidence to support your request.
All NATO DIANA personnel are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the current NATO Code of Conduct as agreed by the North Atlantic Council (NAC), and thus display the core values of integrity, impartiality, loyalty, accountability, and professionalism.
The incumbent is required to be a resident in the host nation for the duration of their contract. DIANA has a flexible teleworking policy to permit working in office, at home, and across NATO Allied Nations subject to managerial approval.
For more information on DIANA, please visit our website.
