Penetration Testing Manager

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 – C004570

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the SDM in delivering high-quality penetration testing services.
• Accurately evaluate scope and level of effort (LoE) for penetration testing tasks.
• Provide technical oversight of vulnerabilities identified during testing.
• Act as a technical liaison between penetration testers, service management, and stakeholders.
• Contribute to service quality, consistency, and continuous improvement.
• Assist in planning and scheduling penetration testing engagements across NATO and NCIA environments.
• Coordinate resources and ensure adherence to agreed timelines.
• Coordinate resources and ensure adherence to agreed timelines.
• Monitor engagement progress and manage risks and dependencies.
• Conduct technical scoping discussions with stakeholders.
• Assess complexity, attack surface, and constraints of target systems.
• Produce justified LoE estimates aligned with NCSC PTAE methodologies.
• Support engagement kick-offs, debriefings, and technical discussions.
• Translate technical findings into risk-focused language for decision-makers
• Support service reporting, KPIs, and dashboards.
• Contribute to methodology updates and lessons learned.

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications

• 3+ years in project management or service delivery management in cyber security.
• Extensive technical background in penetration testing and offensive security.
• Demonstrated understanding of vulnerabilities across network, application, and cloud environments.
• Ability to estimate effort and scope complex technical assessments.
• Strong understanding of the penetration testing service lifecycle.
• Proven ability to scope engagements including objectives, in/out of scope, assumptions, constraints, RoE, and deliverables
• Solid knowledge of common penetration testing standards and requirements (e.g., OWASP, PTES, NIST/ISO-aligned practices)
• ITIL experience, with a strong focus on Change Management
• Proven customer-facing experience including requirements gathering, stakeholder management, and expectation setting.
• Ability to map needs to the right test types (web/API, network, cloud, mobile, wireless, red teaming vs. penetration testing)
• Excellent English (written and spoken); able to produce and review customer-ready documentation

Working Location

• Mons, Belgium

Working Policy

• On-site

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance