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The European External Action Service (EEAS) supports the work of the High Representative in defining and implementing an effective and coherent EU foreign policy. The EEAS supports his/her tasks of conducting the Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy and chairing the Foreign Affairs Council. It also supports the High Representative in his/her capacity as Vice President of the Commission with regard to his/her responsibilities within the Commission in the external relations field including the coordination of other aspects of the Union’s external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with Member States, the Council and relevant services of the European Commission.

The Strategic Communication, Task Forces and Information Analysis Division (SG.STRAT.2) provides strategic communication support in the implementation of EU foreign and security policy in related priority regions (Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood, the Western Balkans) by developing and implementing specific strategic communication actions focused on advancing EU policies, values, objectives and interests.

The Division also plays a leading role in foreign information manipulation, including disinformation, by implementing the Action Plan against disinformation (JOIN(2018) 36 final), European Democracy Action Plan (COM/2020/790 final) and relevant Council Conclusions, which outline and call for concrete actions to bolster EU capabilities to detect, analyse and expose disinformation and strengthen coordinated and joint responses between the Union and Member States.

The Division also conducts awareness raising campaigns about the harmful impact of disinformation and contributes to the development of effective policy responses in the EU and at the international level. It manages the EU's Rapid Alert System and works closely with other EU institutions and agencies to implement relevant policy initiatives tackling disinformation. The Division and its Task Forces contribute to effective and fact-based strategic communication and the strengthening of the overall media environment and civil society in the regions it covers.

The job holder will work within the team of communications experts recruited from the EU institutions and Member States, whose objectives are to: (a) increase effective communication and promotion of EU policies towards the EU’s Neighbourhood and W.Balkans; (b) strengthen the overall media environment in these regions; and (c) improve the EU's capacity to forecast, address and respond to information manipulation threats. The team works closely with its regional Delegations, EU Member States, EEAS policy colleagues, EU institutions, the EU spokespersons service, EU IntCen, NATO, media, NGOs and think tanks.

We propose

The position of strategic communication officer - contract agent FGIV as per article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS) (1).

Place of employment: EEAS Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Post available: 01/09/2023

We look for

A highly motivated person for the Contract Agent FG IV position of strategic communications officer to be based within the Strategic Communication, Task Forces and Information Analysis Division (SG.STRAT.2) which supports, through strategic communication, the implementation of EU external policies and programmes in the priority regions (Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood and the Western Balkans). The Division also plays a leading role in addressing disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference and in raising awareness about them. The successful candidate will work in the East Stratcom Task Force (ESTF), part of SG.STRAT.2 Division.



Functions and Duties:

The Contract Agent is expected to perform the following tasks

• Advising and planning strategic communication activities in the European Union’s Eastern neighbourhood through engagement with relevant stakeholders, including EU delegations and a network of stratcom officers at EU Delegations, media and civil society partners;
• drafting of communication action plans and developing EU narrative to communicate the EU policies and interests in the EaP region;
• Contributing to development of EU’s support to independent media in the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, in close cooperation with relevant EU institutions;
• Contributing to the development of diverse communication products and communication campaigns in order to raise awareness about foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, notably through the EUvsDisinfo campaign;
• Raising awareness of disinformation through partnerships with strategic communication teams in the EU member states and partner countries, academia, online platforms and research organisations;
• Raising awareness of disinformation and FIMI by appearing on the expert panels, giving background briefings to journalists, drafting articles and participating at the public events.

Legal basis

The vacancy is to be filled in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the CEOS, in particular Article 82 thereof.

Subject to having passed the CAST exam, the successful candidate will be offered a contract agent position (Function group IV), on the basis of a contract with an initial duration of one year that may be successively renewed for a maximum duration of 6 years.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates for this contract agent IV post should:

• - (i) have passed a valid EPSO CAST in FG IV;

or

• - (ii) be registered in the EPSO Permanent Contract Agent Selection Tool (CAST) for FG IV (https://epso.europa.eu/en/job-opportunities/open-for-application). In that case, while the registration will render the candidate eligible for the selection procedure, the recruitment of a candidate on this vacant post will be subject to their successfully passing the CAST exam that this candidate will be called to attend.2
• have completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma;
• have the capacity to work in languages of CFSP and external relations necessary for the performance of their duties. Knowledge of other EU languages would be an asset;
• be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and enjoy full rights as a citizen.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Candidates should:

A. Professional knowledge

• have at least three years of relevant professional experience in communications and media/information analysis, preferably in the international context;
• Have a thorough knowledge of countries in the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood, including foreign and security policy of these countries. Expert knowledge on one of the countries, their foreign and domestic policies as well as strategic communications approach will be considered an asset. The experience of working in one of those countries will be considered an asset.
• Have in-depth knowledge of foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, with its main narratives, tactics, techniques and procedures.
• Have professional experience in strategic communications and communications.
• Have professional experience in project management.
• Good working knowledge of the EU (institutional) environment and decision-making processes and understanding of the EU’s policies towards Eastern neighbourhood will be considered an asset.

B. Skills

• Have the capacity to work and communicate under time constraints in an international diplomatic and multilingual environment. Intercultural sensitivity skills are required.
• Have solid analytical and drafting skills. Rapid grasp of problems and capacity to identify issues and solutions. Creativity and flexibility would be valuable assets.
• Have experience of independently leading and managing projects, including in the field of communications.

C. Languages

Thorough knowledge (excellent capacity to write and speak) of English is required. Very good knowledge of Russian and/or other language of the EU’s Eastern neighbourhood is required. Knowledge of another EU language would be an asset.

D. Personal Qualities

• Be dynamic, motivated and flexible
• Able to adapt quickly to new situations and deal with new challenges.
• Have the ability to work in a team, to coordinate with other teams and to communicate effectively.

Specific conditions of employment

The signature of the contract will be subject to prior favourable opinion of the Medical Service.

The requested level of security clearance for this post is: SECRET UE/EU SECRET. A description of the EU classified information levels is available under Article 2 of the Decision ADMIN(2017) 10 on the security rules of the EEAS[1].

The selected candidate should hold, or be in the position to obtain, a valid Personnel Security Clearance (PSC)[2] issued by the competent authority of the Member State concerned.

Candidates who do not already have a valid PSC will be required to go through the security clearance vetting procedure of their Member State to obtain this clearance in accordance with national laws and regulations and with the procedure laid down in the Decision ADMIN(2019)7 on Security Clearance Requirements and Procedures for the EEAS of 08 March 2019 and in Annex A I of the Decision ADMIN(2017) 10 on the security rules of the EEAS[3]. Until the PSC is issued by the competent authority of the Member State concerned, the selected candidate will not be authorised to access EUCI at the level of CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL or above, or to participate in any meetings or workflow where EUCI is processed.

Please note that the necessary procedure for obtaining a PSC can be initiated on request of the employer only, and not by the individual candidate.

In case of failure to obtain or renew the required PSC, the AACC may take the appropriate measures in accordance with Article 3(3) of the Decision ADMIN(2019) 7 on Security Clearance Requirements and Procedures for the EEAS of 08 March 2019.

Equal Opportunities

The EEAS is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EEAS is committed to promoting gender equality and to preventing discrimination on any grounds. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and from the broadest possible geographical basis amongst the EU Member States. We aim at a service, which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.

Candidates with disabilities are invited to contact CONTRACTAGENTS-HQ@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure the possibility to pass the selection procedure in equality of opportunities with other candidates. If a candidate with a disability is selected for a vacant post, the EEAS is committed to providing reasonable accommodation in accordance with Art 1d.4 of the Staff Regulations.

Application and selection procedure (3)

Please send your CV and cover letter (with your EPSO CAST number), in English or in French via email, with reference to the Vacancy number in the Subject field, to:

STRATEGIC-COMMUNICATIONS-RECRUITMENT@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 01/06/2023 at 12.00 (CET).

Candidates shall draft their CV using the Europass CV , which can be found at the following internet address: http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae.

Late applications will not be accepted.

The selection panel will make a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and professional experience described in the CV and motivational letter, and will produce a shortlist of eligible candidates who best meet the selection criteria for the post. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be informed about the outcome of the pre-selection phase.

The candidates who have been preselected will be invited for an interview by a selection panel.

The selection panel may decide, in addition to the interview, to organise written tests, either for all pre-selected candidates or to the best ranked ones, after the interview. The content of such written tests will be defined by the selection panel and may include, but not be limited to, multiple choice questions, open questions and/or topics for a short essay.

Pre-selected candidates shall be invited to sit the CAST exam before or after the interview stage by the selection panel (in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out above).The panel will recommend a shortlist of candidates for a final decision by the Authority Authorised to Conclude Contracts of Employment (AACC). The AACC may decide to interview the candidates on the final shortlist before taking this decision.

If, exceptionally, on the date of recruitment, the successful candidate has not yet had the opportunity to pass the tests necessary to obtain the CAST, the latter will be engaged on condition that he obtains the CAST within six months of taking up his duties. Failure to obtain the required CAST will give the EEAS the right to terminate the employment contract.

It is recalled, that the selection procedure may be terminated at any stage in the interest of the service.

In the interest of the service, after identifying the candidate that best fulfils the requirement of the post as set out in the vacancy notice and that has successfully passed the CAST exam, the AACC may also establish a reserve list of candidates. These candidates shall be informed that the reserve list shall remain valid for a period of one year from when it is established and that it may be used to fill the same post or an equivalent post in the EEAS having the same job profile.

1. Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS).

2. An invitation to sit the CAST exam does not commit the EEAS to invite the candidate to a selection panel nor to offer a Contract Agent position, should they succeed the CAST exam.

[1] OJ C 126, 10 April 2018, p.1.

[2] The ‘Personnel Security Clearance’ is defined under point 2 of Annex A I of the Decision ADMIN(2017) 10 on the security rules of the EEAS as “a statement by a competent authority of a Member State which is made following completion of a security investigation conducted by the competent authorities of a Member State and which certifies that an individual may, provided his ‘need-to-know’ has been determined, be granted access to EUCI up to a specified level (CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL or above) until a specified date; the individual thus described is said to be ‘security cleared’.”

[3] OJ C 126, 10 April 2018, p.1.

3. Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, as implemented by ADMIN(2019) 8 Decision of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The privacy statement is available on the Europa website: (https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eeas-privacy-statement-data-protection-notice-purpose-processing-personal-data-related-public_en) and on the EEAS Intranet:(https://intranet.eeas.europa.eu/page/eeas-work/data-protection/privacy-statements-dp-notices)