Head of the "Defence Policy" major at the National Session

Application deadline 31/05/2025 | Position to be filled from 1st August 2025

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

To act as representative to international organisations in Brussels and as project manager within the European Affairs division.

Design, implement and evaluate awareness-raising, training and outreach initiatives in a variety of forms.

Acting as project manager for one or more of the following activities, with cross-functional responsibility for the others:

  • Design, implement and evaluate general and technical training and outreach programmes in different forms and with different stakeholders (MINARM, MEAE, MDD, CESD, bilateral partners, international organisations, etc.);
  • Acting as project manager within the European Activities and Armaments Office (BAE), including logistical and budgetary aspects;
  • Managing the Institute's specialist activities and courses at the European Security and Defence College, including seminars and high-level sessions (POLDEF UE, High Level Course on CSDP, Senior Strategic Course);
  • To steer the Institute's international "armaments and defence economics" activities, in liaison with the French Ministry of Defence's Directorate General for Armaments, the sector's industrialists and sector representatives;
  • Preparing and conducting European bilateral activities;
  • To coordinate the European activities of the Institute's directorates and departments, in particular the Brussels missions of the SN ;
  • Make forward-looking proposals for the European dimension of the Institute's international policy;
  • Participate as required in the organisation and design of the International Activities Office's activities, in particular the sessions organised jointly with the MEAE's Directorate for Cooperation and Defence (DCSD);
  • Advising the Director of the Institute on European security and defence issues, and France's role in the ESDC's academic and governance activities;
  • To represent the IHEDN within the EUPR, with the French services, and with the ESDC for academic and governance matters, in coordination with the EUPR and the PSCPR;
  • To contribute to the influence of the IHEDN in Brussels (institutions, former auditors, private sector, etc.);
  • To develop and maintain a network of high-level and technical experts as part of IHEDN's European and international activities;
  • Act as national nominator for CESD training courses and seminars (around 200 per year) for all candidates other than MIOM and the gendarmerie;

Profile required

Level 7 Master's degree/equivalent qualifications specialist in law or political science

Expected skills

Knowing how to be

  • Extreme rigour ;
  • Ability to work alone or in a small team;
  • Commitment to efficiency and excellence;
  • Internal and external relations in French and English (bilingual) ;

Know-how

  • Use appropriate training engineering methods in the field of security and defence;
  • Anticipate and plan activities and monitor budgets and logistics;
  • Working in comitology with international organisations based in Brussels as part of IHEDN's academic and outreach activities.

Knowledge

  • Minimum 5-7 years' professional experience (MEAE, MinArm, international organisations, defence industry or think tank);
  • Master 2 European Affairs from Sciences Po, Collège de Bruges or École Polytechnique ;
  • Knowledge of EU armaments policies and the French and European armaments industries;
  • Knowledge of the organisation and operation of the Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs;
  • Knowledge of diplomatic practices in international and intergovernmental relations ;
  • Knowledge of the structures of the international organisations represented in Brussels (EU, NATO, UN) in the field of security, defence, crisis management (CFSP-CSDP) and external action
  • Fluency in English (written, read and spoken) essential, other languages highly appreciated
  • Network of French and European contacts.

See the advert on the civil service portal

or apply to richard.decombe@ihedn.fr