Principal Assistant, Personnel, Administration and Logistics

Role summary

Principal Assistant, Personnel, Administration and Logistics is a role at NATO in Paris, Ile-de-France, France (on-site). Posted 2026-10-18. Salary: EUR 6,072 per month. Experience level: 5-10.

Job title

Principal Assistant, Personnel, Administration and Logistics

Company

NATO

Location

Paris, Ile-de-France, France

Work arrangement

on-site

Category

Logistics & Warehousing

Salary

EUR 6,072 per month

Experience level

5-10

Date posted

2026-10-18

Job description

VACANCY NOTIFICATION

Post Title: Principal Assistant, Personnel, Administration and Logistics

Science and Technology Organization (STO)

Collaboration Support Office (CSO)

Grade: NATO Grade G 12

Duty location: Paris (Neuilly-sur-Seine), France

Duty start: 1st Feb 2027

Closing date: 06 December 2026

Post ref.: CSO-CHF-0020

Vacancy ref: 261637

The in-person interview by the selection committee and written technical test at the CSO Paris (FR) are tentatively scheduled week 11 January 2026. The exacts dates will be reconfirmed at a later stage of the recruitment process. The competition will also comprise an online French and English language tests done few days before the interview.

Would you like to play a central role in delivering reliable, people-focused HR services in a dynamic international scientific environment? The NATO Science and Technology Organization (STO) Collaboration Support Office (CSO) is seeking a proactive and experienced Principal Assistant to join its Personnel, Administration and Logistics (PAL) Branch.

This is a hands-on senior operational role. You will take direct responsibility for managing a broad portfolio of personnel administration, advising staff and management, preparing the monthly civilian payroll for the civilian staff, supervising an assistant, and helping improve the way HR services are delivered. You will contribute to the continuity and development of the Branch as the organisation evolves.

1. POST CONTEXT AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The NATO Science & Technology Organization (STO) is a NATO subsidiary body to the North Atlantic Council (NAC), and is governed by the NATO Science and Technology Board (STB). The STB reports to the NAC through the Military Committee (MC) and the Conference of National Armaments Directors (CNAD).

The mission of the STO is to help position the Nations and NATO Bodies’ S&T investments as a strategic enabler of the knowledge and technical advantage supporting the defence and security posture of Allies and partner Nations. As described in the STO Charter, the STO Collaboration Support Office (CSO) is one of the three Executive Bodies of the STO.

Within the framework of the STO Collaborative business model, the CSO provides executive and administrative support to the S&T activities conducted through the eight STO Scientific and Technical Committees (STCs). The CSO facilitates the world’s largest and most vibrant scientific network for defence and security. More than 5 000 scientists and engineers from NATO and Partner Nations are engaged in approximately 460 carefully selected S&T Activities in the Collaborative Programme of Work (CPoW). Together, they work to solve real-world problems that Nations face today, and to better prepare their Armed Forces to meet future challenges. In its areas of expertise, the CSO provides assistance and support to the NATO Science and Technology Board (STB), its Chair, the Chief Scientist, and his/her office.

The Personnel, Administration and Logistics (PAL) Branch includes the sections of Personnel and Administration, Facilities Management (FM), and Security.

The CSO is currently and for the coming years facing a very exciting yet challenging period with the implementation of a new ambition decided by NATO Nations and reflected in a 2030 vision and strategy.

Key challenges facing the successful candidate will likely include to support the PAL Branch as strategic partner in contributing to the implementation of the NATO STO Collaborative Programme of Work Strategy 2024-2030.

This implies in particular for the PAL Branch:

o Adapting the workforce through additional recruitments and alignment of the existing Job Descriptions to the findings of the ongoing CSO organisational study;

o Leading an ambitious infrastructure project including mid-term (temporary construction) and long-term projects (modernisation and enlargement).

And for the future Principal Assistant, Personnel, Administration and Logistics (PAL):

o In a continuously evolving environment, supporting the PAL Branch in further developing a human centric workforce policy.

o Mastering the NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations (NCPR) and the payroll administration.

o Enhancing the positive integration of newly recruited staff, and maintaining staff spirit and cohesion within the CSO.

o Becoming a recognized hands-on senior HR practitioner and key player.

The Principal Assistant (PAL) must combine broad operational HR competence and hands-on payroll capability. The incumbent is expected to autonomously handle wide HR administration and support the employee lifecycle while concretely preparing the full cycle of the monthly payroll.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Functions include:

• Acting as a focal point of contact externally and internally for HR-related queries.

• Broad personnel administration: personnel records, contracts, compensations and benefits, staff arrivals/departures, benefits and allowances, leave and time-management data and key employee-lifecycle deadlines.

• Interpret and apply relevant NATO Civilian Personnel Regulations, provide dependable advice for day-to-day cases; answer staff queries, ensure accurate, timely and confidential case handling, prepare correspondence, implement instructions and administrative procedures, flag risks and escalate complex issues appropriately.

• Contribute to recruitment administration, onboarding, performance-evaluation and training processes, staff reporting and HR data quality.

• End-to-end hands-on monthly payroll oversight for civilian staff in the Personnel Management Information System (PMIS).

• Contribute to personnel and PAL budget information and the annual financial audit.

• Supervise and guide the Assistant PAL (time management, tax-free scheme, protocol, privileges and immunities), organise priorities and ensure service continuity.

• Support the Branch Head and the Staff Officer Human Resources (HR) with practical advice, and deputise for both when required.

• Coordinate with inter