Head of the National Session Department (F/H)

Who are we?

Institute for Advanced Studies in National Defence

The Institut des hautes études de défense nationale (IHEDN) is a national public administrative body under the supervision of the Prime Minister and, more specifically, of the Secrétariat général à la défense et à la sécurité nationale (SGDSN).

The Institut des hautes études de défense nationale (IHEDN) prepares leaders from all spheres of activity to assume the highest responsibilities by developing their understanding of national defence and security issues, their knowledge of related public policies, their perception of the interplay of players involved in their implementation, and their aptitude for strategic thinking. The training provided as part of the national session is designed to enable all students to grasp from the outset the cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary, interministerial, European and international dimensions of defence and security issues through a common foundation and in-depth study of 5 major areas (Armament and the Defence Economy, Economic Defence and Security, Maritime Issues and Strategies, Defence Policy, Digital Sovereignty and Cybersecurity).

The IHEDN, working to build and disseminate a common defence culture, helps to forge lasting links between senior public and private, civilian and military officials.

Job description

Main activities

  • It is a member of the IHEDN Steering Committee. As such, it participates in the Institute's strategic decisions and, as such, must ensure that the activities of the DSN department are consistent with the Institute's strategic plan.
  • He is head of the DSN department, which is responsible for the design and implementation of the National Session, based on five major areas of common activity.
  • It supervises 23 category A staff with civilian (contract or civil servant) or military (active or 2S) status, 7 of whom are directly supervised.

Coherence and coordination of majors

  • leads and coordinates actions aimed at implementing (designing and running) the National Session and, in particular, works with the Department of Europe and International Affairs (DEAI) to plan missions abroad,
  • coordinates with the heads of each major department to which it reports hierarchically (e.g. selection of committee managers),
  • coordinates with the academic advisor to whom it is functionally attached (e.g. choice of expert advisors),
  • acts as Head of Delegation in the absence of the Director, Deputy Director or Head of Major,
  • participates in steering committees for major projects,
  • participates in the institute's professional development and teaching committees,
  • participates in the Institute's Boards of Directors,
  • assists in the selection of auditors for the national session, in accordance with the guidelines and under the authority of the Deputy Director, who is responsible for the recruitment process.

Financial responsibility

  • The Head of the DSN Department is responsible to the IHEDN Management Committee for the budget of the National Session (drawn up in accordance with the core and major programmes, then monitored during management), the guidelines for which he or she has given to each Head of Major; 
  • Within the budgetary framework for the National Session set by the Deputy Director of the IHEDN, he or she has the power of arbitration prepared by the Deputy Head of the DSN Department within this financial envelope. He reports to the Deputy Director of the IHEDN on any difficulty resulting in non-compliance with the framework.

Human resources

  • The Head of the DSN Department informs the staff of the DSN Department of the decisions taken and the guidelines defined by the Institute's Steering Committee,
  • The Head of the DSN Department is responsible for maintaining the number of staff authorised annually by the Director of the Institute,
  • He ensures compliance with the staff appraisal and promotion cycle for the DSN department, the implementation of which he delegates to the deputy head of department,
  • He is involved in the recruitment of staff working in his department.

Expected skills

Knowing how to be

  • Takes initiative and makes proposals,
  • Organisation and method,
  • Adaptability, representativeness, diplomatic skills,
  • Good interpersonal skills,
  • Resistance to stress.

Know-how

  • Collect, process and distribute information,
  • Proficiency in office automation tools and multimedia,
  • Working in project mode,
  • Leading a large group of auditors and authorities (50 to 100 people) in real time, sometimes in an emergency situation,
  • Design and planning skills.

Knowledge

  • Very good knowledge of the national defence and security apparatus and of major global geopolitical issues,
  • Good command of English (spoken and written).

See the advert on the civil service portal

or apply to recrutement@ihedn.fr