Learning & Development Quality Assurance Specialist

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU, and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting 

The NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) is responsible for providing secure and effective communications and information technology (IT) services to NATO's member countries and its partners. The agency was established in 2012 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The NCIA provides a wide range of services, including:

• Cyber Security: The NCIA provides advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect NATO's communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATO's military commanders to plan and execute operations.
• Satellite Communications: The NCIA provides satellite communications services to enable secure and reliable communications between NATO forces.
• Electronic Warfare: The NCIA provides electronic warfare services to support NATO's mission to detect, deny, and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATO's information technology infrastructure, including its databases, applications, and servers.

Overall, the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATO's communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATO’s principal C3 capability deliverer and CIS service provider. It provides, maintains and defends the NATO enterprise-wide information technology infrastructure to enable Allies to consult together under Article IV, and, when required, stand together in the face of attack under Article V.

To provide these critical services, in the modern evolving dynamic environment the NCI Agency needs to build and maintain high performance-engaged workforce. The NCI Agency workforce strategically consists of three major categorise's: NATO International Civilians (NIC)'s, Military (Mil), and Interim Workforce Consultants (IWC)'s. The IWCs are a critical part of the overall NCI Agency workforce and make up approximately 15 percent of the total workforce.

Role ID – 2026-0145 

Role Duties and Responsibilities  

The contractor(s) will perform QA activities on demand for the NCI Academy in the following areas: 

QA Standardization: 

• Successfully complete the QA Quality Focal Point Training (38 hours) to ensure standardized QA processes and tools are applied across all NCI Academy efforts. 

Course Monitoring and Assessment: 

• Given 10 days’ notice, prepare a monitoring and assessment plan for incoming courses. Activities include: 

• Review of course control documentation. 

• Development of student intake and exit surveys. 

• Conduct onsite or remote course observations. 

• Capture and document observations comparing course delivery to course control documents. 

• Conduct interviews with instructors and students regarding course conduct and delivery. 

• Generate a QA Assessment Report based on quantitative data from surveys and observations (report development ≤24 hours). 

• Anticipated level of effort: 60 hours per monitoring effort. 

• The contractor is expected to accept 80% of requests (8 out of 10) demanded. 

Instructor Monitoring and Feedback: 

• Given 10 days’ notice, perform instructor monitoring and feedback sessions per NATO instructor competency standards, including: 

• 2 hours to review lesson plans, presentations, and previous feedback. 

• 1–2 hours to conduct onsite observations. 

• 2 hours to prepare and deliver feedback to instructors. 

• Contractor is expected to accept 80% of requests (8 out of 10) demanded. 

Course Delivery Support: 

• Given 30 days’ notice, support the delivery of the CIS Technical Instructor Course (0970) and CIS Methods of Courseware Development Course (0971). Duties include: 

• Instructional delivery, lesson preparation, student assessment, student feedback. 

• Courseware update and refinement as part of the NCI Academy 

• Continuous Improvement Process. 

• Anticipated level of effort: 50 hours per course iteration. 

• Contractor is expected to accept 80% of requests (8 out of 10) demanded. 

Course Content Design and Development (CCD) Support: 

• Given 10 days’ notice, provide CCD support for NCI Academy courses, including: 

• Development of performance objectives and enabling objectives. 

• Creation of assessment plans. 

• Other CCD-related updates as required. 

• Anticipated level of effort: 10 hours per CCD review/uplift. 

• Contractor is expected to accept 80% of requests (8 out of 10) demanded. 

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications 

Essential qualifications and Experience 

• Experience giving feedback and coaching instructors (Minimum 2 years of experience). 

• Experience in course design and curriculum development including instructional analysis and documentation of performance standards (Minimum 3 years of experience). 

• Certification as a trainer of instructors and/or professional teacher training. 

• Ability to perform both onsite and remote QA activities. 

• Strong analytical, communication, and reporting skills. 

• Capability to accept demand-based requests at the required frequency (80% of requests). 

• Fluent in English and must be able to read and write technical and user documentation, as mentioned in paragraph 13.3. 

Desirable qualifications and experience 

• Previous experience as an NCI Academy instructor is highly desirable. 

• Knowledge and experience of working with NCI Agency. 

• Knowledge and experience of working with the NCI Academy. 

• NATO CIS Technical Instructor or equivalent qualification. 

• NATO Systems Approach to training or equivalent qualification. 

• Knowledge of modern education technologies (e.g. electronic whiteboards, training videos) and authoring tools. 

• Experience with development of technical documentation, training materials and instructional aids. 

• Experience working in an international environment with Military and Civilian elements. 

Working Location 

• Oeiras, Portugal 

Working Policy 

• On-site 

Travel 

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required 

Security Clearance 

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance