YPP, Marketing & Strategic Communications

The Young Professionals Programme (YPP)

In a more dangerous and competitive security environment, NATO continues to do everything that is needed to keep one billion people across Europe and North America safe. We are strengthening our defences, responding swiftly and decisively to threats to our security, and working together – as allies and partners – to protect our freedom and shared interests.

We are launching an accelerator for your international career – the fourth cycle of our Young Professionals Programme (YPP). Through this global three-year programme, you will experience the frontline of a political and military alliance and start a journey of personal and professional development in a diverse and inclusive work environment. Together, we will ensure NATO continues to:

• respond with unity, strength and resolve to growing dangers to our security across the Euro-Atlantic area and in all domains – land, sea, air, space and cyberspace;

• build stronger defences by investing more in defence and accelerating defence production and innovation;

• harness new technologies for our security, and stay ahead in cutting-edge domains such as cyber and space;

• leverage partnerships, including with the European Union, individual countries and the private sector, to protect our freedom and shared interests; and

• contribute to fighting terrorism and rampant instability in NATO’s southern neighbourhood.

Do you want to make a difference and help protect close to one billion people across 32 NATO member states, including your own? If you are ready to take on this challenge, and are a national of a NATO member state, hold a Master’s degree and have at least one year of work experience, then apply for the YPP.

With you, we are stronger.

#WeAreNATO

Your role

During the three years of the programme, you will be assigned to three different NATO bodies:

Year

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

NATO body

NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA)

NATO International Staff (IS) – NATO HQ

(Office of Strategic Communications)

NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA)

Work area

Marketing & Strategic Communications

Marketing & Strategic Communications

Marketing & Strategic Communications

Placement

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels, Belgium

Capellen, Luxembourg

For more information, please see the path narrative here. You can also find more information about the NATO bodies here & the NATO Young Professionals Programme here.

This is an opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and skills in the broader area of Legal Affairs. As you gain experience, you will be given increasing responsibilities, such as:

• Positively contributing to the development and improvement of communications campaigns and projects and providing expert advice to stakeholders on communications requirements;
• Coordinating and collaborating with peers to ensure consistent and effective communications messaging across projects and activities;
• Coordinating important relationships with leadership, throughout the enterprise and beyond;
• Applying change management skills, with the capacity to quickly grasp NATO’s political and military environment and the wider context of NATO’s activities;
• Developing and distributing communications products to a wide internal and external audience via the approved means to reach strategic objectives;
• Liaising with different internal stakeholders, national delegations and other NATO bodies, and capturing key messages that will contribute to enhancing a NATO-wide culture;
• Contributing expertise to the development of internal communications policies, and ensuring projects are consistent with those policies and/or that policies are adapted as required following progress through projects;
• Giving expert and executive advice to senior leadership and managers within NATO;
• Maintaining and developing contacts NATO-wide, with external suppliers and with other international organizations to promote coherence and a uniform approach;
• Supporting the coordination and execution of events such as press conferences, open days, online webinars, tours and visits;
• Implementing and developing communications metrics and KPIs, to assess comms effectiveness, impact, and areas of improvement. Contributing to the creation of evaluation reports;
• Researching new trends within the areas of responsibilities of Marketing & Strategic Communications.

Who we are looking for

The changing pace of the world demands that NATO and its people remain flexible, eager to learn and able to work effectively with a variety of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds. For a YPP position, we are looking for candidates with at least one year of professional experience.

For the YPP, Marketing & Strategic Communications path, we are generally interested in the following educational backgrounds:

• Master’s degree in marketing, communications, journalism, political science, public administration, business administration or other management disciplines; and,

• Any other degree that you believe can be useful to the area of Marketing & Strategic Communications – let us know how your knowledge and skills can be applied!

Any of the following experience or skills would be considered as an asset:

• Professional experience in communications services functions;

• Experience in the design and implementation of communications plans with a focus on internal or external communications (e.g. branding, brand management, public relations, public affairs, government affairs, lobbying, investor relations, marketing, advertising, design or management of visual identity, etc.);

• Experience creating and editing written and/or visual communications: drafting articles, producing videos, establishing layouts and targeting the readership; or running a digital signage network;

• Experience and interest in the use of different communication channels (video, electronic, print, presentations, and meetings);

• Experience and interest with the use of graphics design tools such as Photoshop and InDesign;

• Experience and interest in digital communication and social media;

• Experience in a field of NATO core business (international relations, political affairs, defence, security, etc) and/or a functional area of other communications clients (e.g. IT, finance, construction and general services, etc.);

• Experience in a national administration, international organization, innovative or start-up environment, or in the entertainment (movies, shows, games) industry;

• Experience liaising with internal and external stakeholders at all levels;

• Experience in media relations and ability to foster relationships with journalists and media outlets to maximise positive media coverage;

• Familiarity with analytics and measurement tools to analyse the impact of communications and adapt strategies based on data insights;

• Experience working with cloud applications;

• Familiarity with the latest developments in communications and marketing tools and trends;

• Basic knowledge and understanding of international and political affairs;

• Experience in the management and development of communications projects/programmes;

• Any additional training/ certification(s) related to communications and marketing and project or program management certification;

• Good written or spoken French;

• Strong drafting skills;

• Proactivity, can do attitude & willingness to learn and share information; and,

• Teamwork, excellent communication, facilitation and interpersonal skills.

What we offer

NATO will offer the Young Professionals:

• An experience of a lifetime at the forefront of an international organization where you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills and expand your professional network;

• A diverse and stimulating work and personal experience where you will be assigned to three different NATO bodies around the globe, one each year; and,

• A competitive salary and other benefits, including excellent health insurance and a generous annual leave package of 30 days

Are you interested in being part of NATO and the YPP?  Apply by 31 May 2026 [23:59 – Brussels time]

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that we can only accept applications from nationals of NATO member countries. Applications must be submitted using e-recruitment system, as applicable:

• For NATO civilian staff members only: please apply via the internal recruitment portal (link);

• For all other applications: www.nato.int/recruitment

Please note that at the time of the interviews, candidates will be asked to provide evidence of their education and professional experience as relevant for this vacancy.

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.

More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (https://www.nato.int/en/work-with-us/careers).

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 welcomes applications of nationals from all member Nations, and strongly encourages women to apply.

Building Integrity is a key element of NATO’s core tasks. As an employer, NATO values commitment to the principles of integrity, transparency and accountability in accordance with international norms and practices established for the defence and related security sector. Selected candidates are expected to be role models of integrity, and to promote good governance through ongoing efforts in their work.

Due to the broad interest in NATO and the large number of potential candidates, telephone or e-mail enquiries cannot be dealt with.

The nature of this position may require the staff member at times to be called upon to travel for work and/or to work outside normal office hours.