1) Application

Once the application has been received by NAMSA Personnel Division, candidates will receive the receipt of their application by e-mail. If a receipt has been not received within 10 days after applying, please contact NAMSA at hr@namsa.nato.int.

Reminder:
If the application file is incomplete it will not be considered.

2) Preselection

All valid applications received are screened on the basis of information provided in the Application Form and in the Post Requirements Form. The selection criteria are clearly outlined in each vacancy notice. Taking into account qualifications, training, competencies, technical skills and professional experience, a preselection is made and the candidates who qualify are contacted for the next round.

3) Test/Interview

Often candidates are required to complete a written test. For obvious reasons, details of tests cannot be given but the questions will be relevant to the functions of the position which they are applying for. The interview is conducted by a panel of four or five members from the Resources Directorate and the Personnel Division as well as representatives from the Programme or Division with the vacancy. Both official NATO languages are used to test the candidate’s proficiency. All candidates will be notified, whether successful or not. No information will be given to candidates neither on their performance nor on their tests. Tests are conducted at NAMSA’s Capellen site in Luxembourg. Location maps can be found here.

4) Final Checks

Candidates selected will receive a letter informing them that NAMSA intends to carry their application forward. However, it is also made clear that there is not yet a guarantee that they will be taken on, as the appointment is subject to the satisfactory completion of the file. The following conditions are imperative:

• A) Security clearance: A valid security clearance must be received by the NAMSA Office of Security before the candidate can be appointed. The necessary security vetting is carried out by the relevant national authorities at NAMSA’s request. Candidates will be sent a number of forms for completion once their selection is decided. Please be advised that this is not just a formality. The time required to obtain security clearance can vary from several months to over a year depending on factors beyond NAMSA’s control such as nationality, previous residences and employment history.



• B) Category A position national endorsement: NAMSO, as well as NATO, is an International Organization composed of member states and their national authorities. In the case of a Category A position, NAMSA requires candidates to obtain the support from their respective national authorities. This is done through the members of the Board of Directors (BOD) or the respective liaison officers. Once candidates are at this stage, the Personnel Division will provide necessary information. Please be advised that it is the candidates’ responsibility to gain the support from their national authorities.



• C) Medical file: Another significant aspect of the process is the medical file. Prior to the signature of the contract, a medical check, undertaken by NAMSA Medical Service, is obligatory as the medical condition could be decisive upon final employment. A pre-existing medical condition may in addition lead to certain exclusions from the medical insurance scheme.

5) Status:

There are 2 categories of status for the selected candidate:

• A) Freelance: Freelance staff members are those who come from the private sector or have resigned or retired from civil or military service. They have no ties with their national administration.



• B) Secondment: Seconded staff members are those who have been released for a limited time from their national administration, be it civilian or military, to take up employment with NATO. On completing their contract with NAMSA, secondees can return to their original place of employment.

Any future queries concerning the processing of the candidate’s application should be made to the Recruitment Service, which will closely monitor progress, and not to the programme or service where the candidate applied for the position.

For further information please contact: hr@namsa.nato.int

Webmaster