EEAS Vacancy Notice - Contract Agent FGIV – Job title: Policy Officer - EEAS Headquarters job n° 296433

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/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 Americas Regional Affairs Division (AMERICAS.1) is responsible for the coordination of EU relations with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) at regional and thematic level. This includes relations with regional organisations and groups, such as the Community of Latin American and Caribbean countries (CELAC), the Organisation of American States (OAS), the Pacific Alliance and the Ibero-American Summit process. The division is leading on the bi-regional EU-CELAC agenda and prepares the EU-CELAC summits and ministerial meetings.

The tasks of the division include the provision of expert input and coordination of thematic cooperation with LAC (in priority areas such as the green and digital transitions; human development, including the fight against inequalities, education; citizen security and the fight against transnational crime; migration; democracy and human rights and gender issues). The division also coordinates the Americas input on topical issues such as the impact of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and it carries out horizontal tasks for the Americas department, for example, the relations with the European Parliament, election observation issues and briefings having a horizontal/regional content. The division closely follows the implementation of the Americas Regional Multiannual Indicative Programme (MIP) under NDICI-Global Europe (Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument, 2021-27) and the Global Gateway Investment Agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean launched at the EU-CELAC summit in July 2023.   In addition, the division supports the work of the COLAC Chair.

We offer a dynamic and friendly working environment and our team deals with a varied and challenging portfolio, contributing to the overall work of the Americas Department. Under the authority of the Head of Division Americas.1, the Policy Officer is expected to perform the following functions and tasks:

• coordinate MD Americas input and closely follow the implementation of NDICI-Global Europe, with focus on the regional MIP, including Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs), the  EFSD+ , horizontal programmes managed by INTPA (EU-LAC Policy Dialogue Support Facility, budget support, ADELANTE etc.) and existing and ongoing projects relevant for MD Americas;
• coordinate MD Americas contribution and closely follow the Global Gateway strategy and investment package for LAC, in close cooperation with DG INTPA;
• coordinate MD Americas contribution to the upcoming discussions on the future funding for EU external relations and notably the next Multiannual Financial Framework;
• contribute to the daily functioning of the division, including by drafting briefings, reports, policy documents, political level correspondence, as well as replies to parliamentary questions, and participate in staff meetings;
• maintain close contact and build constructive working relations with relevant services within the EEAS, the European Commission as well as Council and Parliament;
• build good relations with relevant external stakeholders;
• at division level, cooperate closely with other policy officers and team members and ensure effective back-up within the division as required;
• carry out any other tasks within the division’s remit that may be assigned by the Head of Division in line with emerging needs.

We propose

The position of Policy 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:  1 March 2024

We look for

A dynamic, proactive and highly motivated colleague with strong team spirit. The candidate should have excellent coordination, analytical and drafting skills as well as proven experience in the field of international cooperation and a good understanding of EU policy and decision-making processes and inter-institutional relations. Experience of working with Latin America and the Caribbean would be a strong asset.

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.
• 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:

1. Professional experience

• Proven track record in international cooperation;
• Experience of working in EU institutions would be a strong asset;
• Knowledge of the region and experience of working with Latin America and the Caribbean would be a strong asset.

2. Skills

• Excellent coordination and organisational skills;
• Ability to deliver quality results under pressure and time constraints;
• Very good drafting and reporting skills and the ability to communicate information and ideas clearly in an international diplomatic and multilingual environment;
• Solid analytical capability, rapid understanding of problems and capacity to identify issues and solutions;
• Ability to deal with a diversity of tasks in a complex, multicultural environment. Efficiency and ability to prioritize;
• Sound political judgement.

3. Languages

• Excellent speaking and drafting skills in English and Spanish are essential. French language skills would be a strong asset.

4. Personal Qualities

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build constructive working relations;
• Be a flexible team player;
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment with a wide range of stakeholders in the EEAS, the European institutions, EU Delegations, EU Member States, diplomatic Missions, civil-society organisations, cultural organisations, think tanks and the private sector;
• Ability to adapt quickly to new situations and deal with new challenges;
• Have a strong service attitude;
• High standard of ethics and sense of public service.

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[2]

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:

AMERICAS-1@eeas.europa.eu , copy: Claudia.Gintersdorfer@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 01/03/2024 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, 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). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20140501&from=EN

[2]    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)