Computational Linguist, Brussels

**PENDING BUDGET APPROVAL **

1. SUMMARY

NATO’s Council Secretariat (CONSEC) bears overall responsibility for the end-to-end enablement of Alliance consultation and decision-making processes – from planning and organization to their effective and efficient implementation. It thereby provides organizational support, advice and linguistic services to the NATO Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council (NAC) as well as to individual Allies and Partners.
Under the Linguistic Tools and Resources Management Unit, the Computational Linguist assists the Deputy Head, Linguistic Services and Digital Transformation Lead in developing strategies, methods and good practices for Linguistic Services. They are responsible for managing the lifecycle of linguistic data, and assessing whether the output meets the standards for linguistic quality, requirements and expectations. They also help clients make the best possible use of their data by running Artificial Intelligence (AI) based linguistic technology for them. 
This position requires flexibility to work outside of normal hours when necessitated by the workload.

2. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The incumbent must:
• have successfully completed university-level training in translation or hold a degree in a relevant discipline with proven translation capabilities; 
•  have at least 3 years’ experience in administering database-supported tools, processes and content;
•  have experience in the specific requirements of translation processes and computer-assisted translation (CAT) software;
•  have experience in implementing an AI-based Machine Translation system in a language department; and
•  possess the following minimum levels of NATO’s official languages (English/French): V (“Advanced”) in both.

The following would be considered an advantage:
•  excellent communication skills coupled with good knowledge of linguists’ technical needs and expectations; 
•  experience developing easy-to-follow, illustrated procedures for IT processes; and
•  experience in managing CAT tools in an international public administration.

3. MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES

Expertise Development: Advise the Deputy Head, Linguistic Services and Digital Transformation Lead, on the selection and use of IT tools that best suit the needs of Linguistic Services. Continuously adapt the AI-based Machine Translation (MT) solution with relevant multilingual data, based on insight into the linguist’s mindset and expectations. Keep up with developments in the IT environment, including AI-based tools such as Neural Machine Translation (NMT) and Large Language Models (LLMs). Ensure that best practices are in place in Linguistic Services. Provide training to HQ staff members who make use of the tools.

Project Management: Be responsible for coordinating with the appropriate NATO entities on the design, set-up, administration, maintenance and back-up of CAT/NMT systems. Independently solve technical issues or automate tasks on the translation tool server. Participate fully in the translation-tools acquisition process, including bid evaluation, testing, budgeting, implementation and maintenance. Prepare the yearly budget for Linguistic Services’ language technology requirements.

Knowledge Management: Manage a library of procedures and tool settings documents. Participate in the upkeep of the Linguistic Services intranet. Manage accesses to Linguistic Services’ linguistic data and portals for NATO staff who need it. Be fully aware of NATO’s Information Knowledge Management (IKM) Strategy.

Stakeholder Management: Coordinate with staff members of Linguistic Services, NATO Communications & Information Agency and Information and Communications Technology Management to ensure compliance with technical requirements. Maintain a network of contacts within the international community of AI-tools specialists and attend international events related to language technology. 

Perform any other related duty as assigned.

4. INTERRELATIONSHIPS

Reporting Lines: The Computational Linguist reports to the Deputy Head, Linguistic Services and Digital Transformation Lead.
Interactions: The incumbent works closely with all members of Linguistic Services. 

Direct reports: N/A
Indirect reports: N/A

5. COMPETENCIES

The incumbent will demonstrate:
•     Achievement: works to meet standards. 
•     Analytical Thinking: sees basic relationships. 
•     Clarity and Accuracy: checks own work. 
•     Conceptual Thinking: sees patterns based on life/work experience. 
•     Customer Service Orientation: takes personal responsibility for correcting problems. 
•     Empathy: reads non-verbal cues and understands meanings. 
•     Impact and Influence: takes multiple actions to persuade. 
•     Initiative: is decisive in a time-sensitive situation. 
•     Teamwork: cooperates.
6. CONTRACT  Contract to be offered to the successful applicant (if non-seconded): Definite duration contract of three years’ duration; possibility of an indefinite duration contract thereafter. 

Contract clause applicable:
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 indefinite duration contract.

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.

Serving staff will be offered a contract in accordance with the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations.

7. 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 e-recruitment system, as applicable:

For all other applications:

Before you apply to any position, we encourage you to click here and watch our video providing 6 tips to prepare you for your application and recruitment process.

Do you have questions on the application process in the system and not sure how to proceed? Click here for a video containing  the information you need to successfully submit your application on time.

When submitting your application, please ensure that your Taleo Candidate Profile is updated and that your CV is correctly uploaded in the Taleo attachments section.

More information about the recruitment process and conditions of employment, can be found at our website (

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance (provided by the national Authorities of the selected candidate), approval of the candidate’s medical file by the NATO Medical Adviser, verification of your study(ies) and work experience, and the successful completion of the accreditation and notification process by the relevant authorities.

NATO will not accept any phase of the recruitment and selection prepared, in whole or in part, by means of reference documents without proper quotes (plagiarism), or any tools available on internet, including but not limited to translation facilities, or generative artificial-intelligence (AI) tools. NATO 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 tools will be rejected without further consideration, and NATO reserves the right to take further steps in such cases as appropriate.

8. 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.

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.

Candidates will be required to provide documented medical evidence to support their request for accommodation.

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.

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.

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.

The organization offers several work-life policies including Teleworking and Flexible Working arrangements (Flexitime) subject to business requirements.

Please note that the International Staff at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium is a non-smoking environment.

For information about the NATO Single Salary Scale (Grading, Allowances, etc.) please visit our  website . Detailed data is available under the Salary and Benefits tab.

NATO does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. For more info please click here .