EEAS Vacancy Notice Contract Agent FGIV – Job title: Policy officer – Public diplomacy

We are

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 tasks of conducting the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and chairing the Foreign Affairs Council. It also supports the High Representative in his capacity as Vice President of the Commission with regard to his responsibilities within the Commission in the external relations field including the coordination of other aspects of the EU's external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with Member States, the Council and relevant services of the European Commission.

The Communications Policy and Public Diplomacy Division leads the European Union's efforts on the public dimension of European diplomacy and its communication on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, as well as its external action more broadly. It pro-actively communicates and enhances support for the values, policies, priorities, actions and impact of the EU as a global actor among EU citizens and at the international level.

The Division supports the EU Delegations and relevant Missions and Operations around the world in communicating and enhancing support for the EU and its activities and policies to the relevant audiences. It also supports and facilitates the internal communications in the European External Action Service and plays a leading role in information management activities.

We propose

The position of Policy Officer, Public diplomacy - contract agent FGIV as per article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS).

Place of employment: EEAS Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Post available: Immediately

We look for

A highly motivated colleague and team player who will work closely with the relevant services within the EEAS, the Commission and the EU Delegations. A challenging position as Policy officer of public diplomacy encompasses the tasks of:

To contribute to the development and implementation of EU's Public Diplomacy policy approach in EU Foreign Policy and to implement the Public Diplomacy policy in EU's external relations.

Tasks will include to:

• Advise the hierarchy and engage with other EU departments on the policy development of EU’s public diplomacy.
• Liaise and coordinate with other EU departments implementing programmes and initiatives having a public diplomacy or people-to-people dimension (e.g. sectoral diplomacies) and promote closer cooperation and synergies between the EEAS and the EU institutions in their efforts towards effective EU public diplomacy activities.
• Oversee the programming and implementation of Global Europe programme in the areas related to Public Diplomacy policy and provide strategic input and guidance to FPI-funded activities and programmes in the area of public diplomacy and international cultural relations and act as focal point with DG Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI) of the European Commission.
• Coordinate EU presence at EXPO2025, organise the work of the Taskforce among Member States, EU institutions, partners and hosting EU Delegation and prepare participation for EXPO 2030.
• Engage with relevant stakeholders and target groups in the EU and abroad to build trust and understanding on the EU and on the approach and objectives of EU Public Diplomacy efforts.
• Advise EU Delegations on public diplomacy policy issues, including by participating in the regular regional conference calls and regional seminars.
• Establish and maintain contacts with universities, private and public cultural bodies, foundations, external stakeholders and opinion groups and manage the EU Alumni initiative project.
• Work together with relevant EU Institutions and bodies on strategic medium-long term activities, including regional or country-based public diplomacy campaigns and representing the Division in relevant internal and external meetings.
• Conceptualize a methodology to work with EU diaspora in third countries.

Legal basis

The vacancy is to be filled in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS).¹

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 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 CAST in 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 of 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:

• have an excellent ability to maintain diplomatic relations and to ensure representation, communication in a complex, multicultural environment;
• have an excellent capacity to create constructive working relations with national authorities, international organisations and EU Member States;
• have strong drafting, communication and analytical skills combined with sound judgement;
• have excellent knowledge of external relations, internal policies and functioning of the Union;
• have excellent communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain a network of contacts both within and outside the EEAS;
• have the ability to communicate clearly on complex issues and the capacity to perform with accuracy and in a flexible manner a diversity of tasks in a complex institutional environment;
• have strong service attitude;
• be a flexible team player;
• have fluency in both spoken and written English and French.

Furthermore:

• experience of working in an Embassy, a Delegation (or equivalent in an international organisation);
• experience of working in a team in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;
• experience in working with or within EU institutions
• and working knowledge of Spanish

would be considered strong assets.

Specific conditions of employment

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

The successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting if she or he does not hold already a Personal Security Clearance to an appropriate level, in accordance with relevant security provisions.

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 procedure³

To be adapted Please send your CV and cover letter (with your EPSO CAST number) via email to SG-STRAT-1-RECRUITMENT@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 21/04/2023 at 12.00 (CET).

Candidates shall draft their CV following the European CV form 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 panel will recommend a shortlist of candidates for a final decision by the Authority Empowered to Conclude Contracts of Employment. The Authority may decide to interview the candidates on the final shortlist before taking this decision.

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.

It is recalled, that if the interest of the service so requires, the selection procedures can be terminated at any stage in the interest of the service.

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

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1570023902133&uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20190101

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.

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)