Microsoft Power BI Service Operations

Spektrum have a wide range of exciting opportunities in several global locations.  We are always looking to add great new talent to our team and look forward to hearing from you.

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 – 2026-0036

Role Background

1.1 To strengthen the Alliance through connecting its forces, the NCIA delivers secure, coherent, cost effective and interoperable communications and information systems in support of consultation, command & control and enabling intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, for NATO, where and when required. It includes IT support to the Alliances’ business processes (to include provision of IT shared services) to the NATO HQ, the Command Structure and NATO Agencies.

1.2 The NATO Business Application Centre (NBAC), as part of the NCIA, and in line with the Agency’s Charter and its Cloud broker role, is to provide Business Applications Capabilities & Services to the Agency, and across NATO Enterprise, and ensure their harmonization rationalisation, and coherence, with the aim to enable overall efficient day-to-day operations, support transparency, and foster internal control.

1.3 In the light of these activities, NBAC (hereafter referred to as the “Purchaser”) is seeking Support for Microsoft Power BI Service Operations, Development and Training. This support will focus on ensuring the configuration, operational support, development, documentation and training of Microsoft Power BI based solutions, including both Power BI Report Server (on-premises and Saas), in alignment with NATO’s IT Service Management processes.

1.4 The Contractor is expected to deliver and maintain high-quality data visualization solutions, aligned with business and governance requirements, while contributing to Level 2 and Level 3 Support (incident, problem, change and service request management) in accordance with ITIL standards. The service includes coordinating with internal infrastructure service teams, documenting technical work, provisioning end-user training, and supporting secure access and authentication configurations (e.g., ADFS claims-based setup for Power BI Report Server).

1.5 The Contractor is also expected to demonstrate flexibility to support project priorities in a dynamic operational environment and may be to work on-site at NATO classified levels in various NATO locations, limited to NCIA Braine L’Alleud, NCIA Mons (SHAPE) and NCIA Brussels, as operationally required.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Power BI Server Configuration & Performance Optimization
  • Provide expert-level configuration, tuning and optimization of Power BI Server to ensure high performance and reliability. The contractor will assess the current deployment, identify bottlenecks, and implement best practices aligned with Microsoft standards.
• Platform Administration & Monitoring
  • Deliver ongoing Level 2/3 support, including monitoring of backups, logs, and performance tuning.
  • Support Level 1 support.
  • Maintain compliance with ITIL processes and NATO service operation protocols, and contribute to operational resilience of BI platforms.
• Incident, Problem & Change Management
  • Resolve Service Desk tickets in line with SLA targets and participate in change management, including impact assessments, patching, and upgrades.
  • Ensure coordination with cross-service infrastructure teams. Patching & Upgrade Services (Power BI On-Premises)
• Patching & Upgrade Services (Power BI On-Premises)
  • The contractor will perform planned patching and upgrade activities for the on-premises Power BI instance in alignment with internal release authorization (A2SL) and security standards (typically 2 to 4 times per calendar year).
• Cross-Service Coordination & On-Call Support
  • Collaborate with infrastructure and database teams under OLAs to resolve performance or upgrade-related issues.
• Power BI Visualization & Dashboard Delivery
  • The contractor will design and deliver four (4) interactive dashboards using Microsoft Power BI to support operational and informational reporting needs.
  • Three (3) dashboards will be developed using existing data sources. These dashboards will enable users to search, filter, and visualize both current and historical workforce related data. One of the dashboards will include tabular and visual representations of duty rotations.
  • One (1) dashboard will involve the redevelopment and migration of an existing dashboard from a separate reporting platform into Power BI, including replication of core functionality and necessary adaptation of underlying data structures. Existing dashboard logic will be provided.
  • All dashboards should be designed with appropriate data modelling, user-friendly visualization, and standard interactivity (e.g., filtering, slicing) based on the data available in the HR data sources. If necessary, the contractor will create the optimized data structures in the workforce/personnel data warehouse with possibility for the HR admins to support SHAPE Command Group requirement.
  • For the assignment in scope of the project/service for this RFQ, the aim is to empower the Power Users to build/deploy their own dashboards. And focus will be on platform provisioning and supporting the users in their endeavour.
• Contribution to BI Architecture & Standards
  • Contribute to the creation and maintenance of the documentation of relevant architectural artefacts, data modelling and coding guidelines, standards and best practices.
  • Contribute to the creation and maintenance of relevant Standard Operating Procedures
• Knowledge Transfer & End-User Training
  • Develop and deliver a Knowledge-Transfer Plan & Schedule for NBAC staff, including end- user training sessions (both remote and in-person).
  • Provide clear training materials, deliver class-room and/or virtual training classes and maintain attendance records
  • Provide ad-hoc technical mentoring to Power Users as part of the Service.
• Documentation & Handover Assurance
  • Deliver complete and accurate documentation of platform administration, operational processes, and support procedures.
  • Training shall culminate in a live walkthrough where NBAC staff demonstrate independent execution of administration tasks.

Essential Skills, Experience and Certifications

• All Contractor personnel delivering services on the contract must hold a NATO SECRET Security Clearance, as from the start date of the contract.
• Professional Experience: Minimum 5 years as a consultant on large-scale business application implementations (evidenced by project descriptions including scope, role, and technologies used)
• Power BI Platform: Minimum 3 years of experience with Power BI Report Server (on-prem) and Power BI Service (cloud), including configuration, administration, troubleshooting, and maintenance (evidenced by explicit tasks and environments in project experience)
• Power BI Development: Minimum 3 years of experience in data modelling, DAX, and dashboard/report development (evidenced by delivered reports/dashboards and described responsibilities)
• MS SQL Server: Minimum 5 years of experience with MS SQL Server (2014 or higher), including complex SQL queries and ETL processes (evidenced by technologies and data- related tasks per role)
• Data Modelling: Minimum 2 years of experience proficiency in normalized/denormalized models and star/snowflake schemas (evidenced by data modelling activities in project descriptions)
• Service Management: Minimum 2 years of experience in Level 2 and Level 3 support within ITIL-based environments (incident, problem, change, request management) (evidenced by support activities and use of ITSM tools)
• Agile Methodology: Minimum 2 years of experience working in Agile environments (evidenced by Agile roles or methodologies referenced in CV)
• Analytical & Process Skills: Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process oriented mindset (evidenced by troubleshooting, RCA, or process improvement activities)
• Communication: Ability to communicate with technical and non-technical stakeholders (evidenced by customer-facing roles or stakeholder interactions)
• Ways of Working: Ability to work independently and in teams, and to produce technical documentation (evidenced by responsibilities and deliverables such as SOPs, runbooks, or specifications)

Language

• Full professional proficiency in English (evidenced in CV, minimum level C1 or equivalent)

Desirable

• Configure PBI Server to work with claims based ADFS authentication
• Knowledge of Oracle Databases
• Knowledge of KNIME Analytics Platform.
• Experience in developing in Java.
• Prior experience of working in an international environment comprising both military and civilian elements.
• Knowledge of NATO responsibilities and organization, including ACO and ACT.

Working Location

• NCIA Braine L'Alleud, BE – primary location (location of the user community for this project/service).
• NCIA Brussels, BE - as operationally required
• NCIA Mons, BE (SHAPE) – secondary locations.

Working Policy

• Hybrid (50% onsite/50% offsite)

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance

We never know what new opportunities might be just over the horizon. If this opportunity isn't for you, please feel free to send us your resume anyway and be the first to know if something suitable for your skills and experience comes up.