Internship HQ JFC Brunssum - J5 Plans Wargaming & Operations Data Section (J5 Plans)

Internship - J5 Plans Wargaming & OPS Data Section (J5 Plans)

Primary Location: Brunssum, the Netherlands

NATO Body: Headquarter Joint Force Command (HQ JFC) Brunssum

Offices: J5 Plans Wargaming & OPS Data Section (J5 Plans)

Schedule: Full-time

Closing date: 23 October 2026

Stipend: € 1477.30 (2026 rate) per month (taxable)

Description:

As an intern in the J5 Plans wargaming & OPS Data Section (J5 Plans) at HQ JFC Brunssum, you will be required to support the development, execution, assessment, and refinement of professional wargames, using an AI-enabled modelling and simulation (M&S) environment.

About the internship:  

During this 6-month programme starting 30 August 2027 until 25 February 2028, you will join the J5 Plans Wargaming & OPS Data Section. The Section is looking for an intern to assist in designing operational, organizational, resource-management, and business continuity wargames, by supporting the development of scenarios, player roles, decision points, injects and data collection plans, thereby contributing to analysing the results, identifying trends and capturing lessons learned so that the HQ will gain improved wargaming effectiveness and M&S verification and validation.

The ideal candidate must:

     1)   Be enrolled for a Bachelor’s degree in the field of Operations Research, Decision Science, Simulations and Game Design,      M&S Engineering, or similar.

     2)   Participation in at least one professional wargame, or exposure to multiple professional wargames.

     3)   Ability to convert qualitative observations into organized analytical findings.

     4)   Experience in multidisciplinary collaboration within a laboratory, research, simulation environment.

     5)   Knowledge of modeling & simulation verification and validation principles, including evaluation of model assumptions, limitations,              inputs, outputs, and unexpected behaviors.

     6)   Knowledge of game or experimental design principles, including how rules, incentives, information, uncertainty, and player interactions      can influence decisions and outcomes.

     7)   Possess knowledge of international organisations including the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation;

     8)   Be able to effectively plan and organize the working time; 

     9)   Have the ability to work under pressure.

In addition, we are looking for candidates having the following desirable skills:

     1)    Strong computer skills (e.g. ECDL) including use of Microsoft Office package;

     2)   Experience evaluating alternative courses of action under differing assumptions, risk tolerances, uncertainties, or interpretations of a        situation.

     3)    Exposure to multiple artificial intelligence concepts.

     4)   Be dynamic, self-motivated and personable with an ability to work in a team environment with people from diverse backgrounds.

Stipend:

     1)   You will be compensated at a fixed taxable rate of € 1477.30 (2026 rates), per month based on 37.5 hours internship work hours          per week.

     2)   We will also compensate you for travel costs to/from university to HQ JFC Brunssum (within set cap rates).

     3)   Interns will be entitled to 2 days of leave for each full month (of 37.5 hrs a week) of internship.

How to apply:

     1)   Complete the application form in the NATO Talent Acquisition Platform (NTAP) using the following link:

     https://nato.taleo.net/careersection/5/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

     In the NTAP internship list, please select the HQ JFC Brunssum J5 PLANS internship opportunity and apply.

      2)   Add a motivation letter and CV/Resume as mandatory attachments to the application in NTAP. This one-page essay should include your                       motivation for an internship at NATO / HQ JFC Brunssum, your interests, expectations and objectives.

Please note that only candidates fulfilling all eligibility criteria will be taken into consideration.

Please visit https://jfcbs.nato.int/contact for more information on internship criteria and requirements.