Senior Legal Counsel

OVERVIEW OF DIANA

The Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) is NATO's newest body. From across the Alliance, DIANA will bring together innovators and operational end users to foster a trans‑atlantic ecosystem supporting dual‑use, ground‑breaking innovation in deep technologies. DIANA is an independent NATO body comprised of an Allied Board of Directors and an executive management team – the DIANA Executive (DX). Operating out of regional offices in Europe and in North America, the DX will conduct DIANA's mission: accelerating deep‑tech, dual‑use solutions to critical trans‑atlantic challenges in defence and security. The DX will use Challenge Programmes in line with a published Strategic Direction as the primary vehicle to accomplish this mission. DIANA is a dynamic, agile and hybrid workplace that strives for innovation, diversity, and excellence. In order to achieve these aims, DIANA is committed to providing people with a positive, inclusive, and collaborative environment.

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE

The Office of the General Counsel of the DX, led by the General Counsel, is responsible for the provision of legal advice and other legal services to the Managing Director of DIANA, the DX, the Board of Directors, and, as appropriate, other NATO bodies or Allied Nations. The Office advises its clients on all legal matters – domestic and international – impacting the responsibilities, functions, and other activities of DIANA. The work covers a broad spectrum, including matters covering commercial contracts, public procurement, agreements, regulatory frameworks, technology development, international law and the privileges and immunities of DIANA, legal agreements with partner organisations, potential litigation, engaging with Allied governments and innovators, with an overall focus on fast‑paced work with innovators and sponsors of development and procurement programmes to enable defence adoption.

The Senior Legal Counsel is a senior individual contributor who plays a central role in delivering DIANA's legal advisory function, ensuring that legal frameworks, processes and advice are coherent, resilient and capable of supporting DIANA's current and future operational challenges. Operating with a high degree of professional autonomy, the Senior Legal Counsel provides authoritative legal advice across a broad portfolio of complex and fast‑moving matters. The role encompasses a wide range of legal issues; however, the primary focus is on enabling the development, selection, and adoption of defence and dual‑use technologies. This includes providing independent legal advice on competitive selection and procurement processes – such as the development of evaluation materials, contract templates and programme documentation – as well as leading legal support for adoption activities involving allied nations and innovators. The Senior Legal Counsel is expected to oversee and independently support adoption matters end‑to‑end, from initial requests for innovation support through to delivery under negotiated legal arrangements. Reporting to the General Counsel.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal advice that enables DIANA to conduct competitive selection and procurement processes, ensuring compliance, defensibility and operational effectiveness in fast‑moving and innovative contexts.
• Represent the DX, as required, in the preparation and discussion of agreements, Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) or other legal documents to be concluded by DIANA, exercising professional judgement and safeguarding DIANA's legal and institutional interests.
• Enable multinational programmes related to defence technology development, procurement and adoption, advising on the legal frameworks, structures and mechanisms required to operate effectively across jurisdictions.
• Analyse and address complex legal questions affecting DIANA's mandate and operations, including matters arising under national, international, public and regulatory law, and provide clear, pragmatic advice in areas where precedent may be limited or evolving.
• Provide senior‑level legal advice to the Managing Director, the Board of Directors and other senior stakeholders, as appropriate, supporting informed decision‑making on legally sensitive, high‑impact or novel issues, under the direction of the General Counsel.
• Lead the drafting and review of regulatory, procedural and contractual documentation, including legal texts, internal memoranda, templates and guidance materials, ensuring consistency, quality and alignment with DIANA's strategic and operational objectives.
• Contribute to policy development in the legal domains and anticipate the legal implications of policy decisions, as assigned, with a focus on DIANA's adoption efforts and nexus with public innovation and procurement mechanisms.
• Maintain and develop domain expertise by following major activities in the field of defence procurement, public law, international law and relevant national and commercial laws and regulations that have a direct impact on assigned tasks, especially in the field of activities related to DIANA.
• Develop and maintain effective professional networks across NATO entities and member states, including with legal, procurement and operational counterparts, as well as with external legal offices, to support coordination, alignment and knowledge exchange.
• Perform any other related duties as may be required.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS, QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A Bachelor's degree at a nationally recognised/certified University in Law or a related field; OR exceptionally, the lack of a university degree may be compensated by at least 10 years of extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience providing independent legal advice on complex compliance, regulatory and commercial matters, including exercising professional judgement in balancing legal risk with operational and commercial objectives.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience advising on public procurement and regulatory matters in multi‑jurisdictional contexts.
• Experience in providing legal advice to senior stakeholders in environments lacking clear precedent, including developing pragmatic and creative legal approaches and robust processes that manage legal risk.
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and delivering other high‑quality legal documentation within tight timeframes.
• Demonstrated excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing, and the capacity to present complex issues in a concise and clear manner.
• Possess the following minimum levels of NATO's official languages (English/French): V (Advanced) in one; and I (Beginner) in the other.

DESIRABLE

• Experience advising start‑ups and/or systems integrators in defence and/or dual‑use.
• Experience engaging with or working within allied governments.
• Experience on matters involving, or experience directly advising, companies on innovative and alternative approaches to public procurement.
• Experience providing legal advice on cross‑border or multinational defence programmes, covering commercial matters in technology, innovation or R&D ecosystems.
• Knowledge of DIANA's legal framework and mission.

COMPETENCIES

• Organisational and environmental awareness.
• Ability to take initiative and responsibility.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible.
• Ability to inspire and influence others to take action.
• Ability to manage stakeholders.
• Ability to lead and develop others.
• 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/Halifax/Tallinn.
• 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.

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. 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.