Senior EXCON Advisor

Role ID – JFTC - 20-26

Role Background

The Officer Directing the Exercise (ODE) Team comprises up to fifty personnel. Some of which are permanent posts, other augmented from training audience or external contractors. The Senior EXCON Advisor Contractor is responsible to the Chief EXCON. They will oversee all aspects of the exercise planning and execution with the focus of Multidomain Operations in order to achieve the stated exercise training objectives. During the execution phase of the exercise, they will provide mentorship and assist in the dynamic scripting necessary to enable the TA to achieve their TOs.

 Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Bring detailed experience of working at the NATO Joint Operational & tactical level.


• Bring FOGO experience of NATO Joint Operational & tactical level.


• Employ detailed understanding and experience of the NATO Exercise Planning Process (EP as per Bi-SC 075-003) and Operational Planning Process (COPD, MC 0133/51) in preparation of NATO exercises.


• Provide Senior Staff Officer (OF-7 or above) level advice to JFTC personnel and assist in the translation of Training Objectives into Operational challenges at the tactical level, they will also assist with exercise content and play.


• Provide advice to all JFTC planning teams in key EXCON positions (MEL/MIL, OPFOR, Scenario) to facilitate exercise planning, delivery and synchronisation of effects (thereby supporting consistency in exercise delivery).


• Support EXCON activities during Dynamic Play and 24/7 exercise execution. Perform the role of adjudicator, along with the Senior OPFOR Advisor, and/or Chief Content or Chief EXCON (when required).


• Provide mentorship and advice in the conduct of Dynamic play to ensure realistic, credible and challenging outcome.


• Assist the JFTC EXCON team, and most precisely the Chief EXCON, in analysing the TA’s training objectives (TOs) and set the conditions for the TA to meet them.


• Provide FOGO level advice to and assist JFTC personnel in the translation of Training Objectives into Operational dilemmas at tactical level, exercise content and play.


• Provide advice to JFTC personnel in key EXCON positions to facilitate exercise delivery and synchronisation of effects (thereby supporting consistency in exercise delivery).


• Assist EXCON personnel in analysing TA produced orders and documentation into measurable actions and effects. If required, suggest options to resolve discrepancies in orders or COAs to facilitate TA education.


• Provide understanding of time-space-force effects at scale and how to challenge campaign synchronisation.


• Engage, if required, with the Senior Mentor(s) and/or other key stakeholders to coordinate JFTC activity.


• Attend daily coordination meetings as dictated by the EXCON battle rhythm, providing SME advice as required.


• Undertake any other duties as discussed with the ODE/EXDIR.


• Review Training Objectives and advise on their translation into tactical and operational-level headquarters dilemmas, decision points, injects and measurable effects.


• Advise on the integration of NATO operational planning products, including COPD/OPP outputs and, where applicable, Regional Plan constructs, into scenario design and exercise play.


• Support Joint Warfighting, OPFOR, Exercise Design and Operating Environment Content and Exercise Control functions to ensure coherent, realistic and synchronised exercise delivery that enables mission rehearsal.


• Provide senior advice during dynamic play, including re-scripting recommendations where required to preserve training intent, realism and exercise coherence.


• Support adjudication and control of operational effects, including multi-domain effects and time-space-force considerations.


• Mentor EXCON personnel and provide senior-level advice to JFTC staff, Chief EXCON, ODE/EXDIR and other stakeholders as required.


• Participate in EXCON battle rhythm events, coordination meetings and after-action discussions as directed.

 Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications

• Corps HQ level experience or higher within NATO / NCS / NFS / NATO operational structure.


• Former OF-7 or above, with senior NATO command group or senior staff experience.


• Demonstrated experience applying NATO Exercise Planning Process, Bi-SC 075-003.


• Demonstrated experience applying NATO Land Tactical and Operational Planning Process APP-28 / COPD / MC 0133/5 for NATO exercises or operations.


• Demonstrated experience advising or mentoring NATO HQs in dynamic/adaptive exercise or operational environments.


• Demonstrated ability to translate Training Objectives, plans or operational problems into exercise dilemmas, injects, effects or assessment conditions.


• Demonstrated NATO Regional Plans experience relevant to exercise design, tactical and operational-level planning or training delivery.

Language Proficiency 

• Native English language speaker or individual presenting very good command of spoken and written English with a proven ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing at the level of (SLP) NATO STANAG 6001 - 3333 (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing). To meet this requirement, the Contractor must provide one of the following pertaining to the Contractor’s personnel:


• NATO STANAG 6001 – 3333 certificate.


• Common European Framework (CEF) B2+ Vantage+ certificate.


• Council of Europe (COE) B2 Vantage certificate.


• Association of Langue Testers in Europe (ALTE) level 3 Independent User certificate.


• Cambridge ESOL – FCE certificate.


• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - level 5 certificate.


• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – with result between 487 and 566 (paper based) or between 57 and 86 (internet based).


• In lieu of the certificates it will be at the discretion of the JFTC contract award authorities, to consider equivalent English proficiency the following:


• Evidence having an English-speaking background.*


• Evidence of employment for at least 24 months within last 3 years in a position that required the Contractor’s personnel to carry out their duties in English language as primary. To document fulfilment of this requirement a written reference on company letterhead from the employer providing their contact details and details of employment with them is mandatory.


• Evidence of provision of services under a contract (as a prime contractor or sub-contractor) for at least 24 months within last 3 years with tasks that required the Contractor’s personnel to carry out their duties in English language as primary. To document fulfilment of this requirement a written reference on company letterhead providing their contact details and details of service provided to them is mandatory.


• *The JFTC will consider the Contractor’s personnel to have an English-speaking background if it can be proved that the Contractor’s personnel:


• Completed primary and at least three years’ secondary schooling provided in English as primary language.


• Completed at least five years’ secondary schooling at schools provided in English as a primary language, or completed at least three years’ university education or post-graduate studies provided in English as a primary language.

 Working Location

• Bydgoszcz, Poland

 Working Policy

• Onsite

 Travel

• JFTC will reimburse the Contractor an airline economy, return flight (or/and long distance train) ticket from the closest airport of Contractor’s personnel habitual residence to Bydgoszcz, Poland, or to one of the airports near Bydgoszcz (i.e. Poznan, Gdansk, Warsaw).


• After completion of each event, the Contractor shall submit an invoice with copies of flight (or/and long distance train) tickets purchased. Other travel related estimated expenditures should be included in the man-day rate offered within the bidding price proposal.


• Additionally, the contract terms state:


• Expenditures for travel between Contractor Personnel residence and training event venue shall be reimbursed in accordance with JFTC Directive 55-02 – Travel on International Duty. Time spent on travel is not billable.


• Expenses for travel and per diem will be in addition to the firm-fixed-price rates. The Contractor will be reimbursed for travel expenses based on the NATO Group III daily subsistence allowance for meals, lodging, incidental expenses and applicable overhead and/or fees. Air or train travel will be reimbursed up to the lowest available non-refundable economy fare. JFTC is not responsible for initial travel to take up duties, leave/holiday travel, or final travel from the duty station to the home country.


• Contractor Personnel are not required to travel outside the NATO/PfP Area. If travel to Areas of Operation (AO) is required, a separate annex will be concluded between the Parties.

 Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance