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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 addressing foreign information manipulation and interference, 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 obejctives are to: (a) increase effective communication and promotion of EU policies towards the EU’s Neighbourhood and Western Balkans; (b) strengthen the overall media environment in these regions; and (c) improve the EU's capacity to forecast, address and respond to disinformation. The team works closely with EU Delegations in these regions, EU Member States, other EEAS services, EU institutions, the EU spokespersons service, EU IntCen, NATO, media, NGOs and think tanks.

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:  immediately

We look for

A highly motivated person for the Contract Agent FG IV position of policy officer to be based within the EEAS Strategic Communications and Information Analysis Division (STRAT.2). The Contract Agent will work on horizontal issues related to foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, with a  focus on new and emerging threats, actors and regions. In particular, she/he will contribute to the development of the Division’s information analysis process and support to CSDP Missions and Operations, in line with the EU Strategic Compass.

The Contract Agent will: (a) assist the Division and its Task Forces in coordinating, streamlining and guiding knowledge production on foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, and information environment analysis; (b) assist the Division and its Task Forces in increasing the analytical capacity on emerging threats, actors and regions; (c) undertake support activity assisting CSDP Missions and Operations and EU Delegations in conflict regions in increasing their understanding of (online) communication threats, disinformation and foreign manipulative interference; and (d) develop and manage projects aiming at increasing operational capacity and resilience of CSDP missions and operations against foreign information manipulation and interference.

The expert will be required to work closely with the relevant divisions of the EEAS, EU Delegations, EU CSDP Missions and Operations as well as other European institutions and services.

Functions and Duties:  

The Contract Agent will assist/contribute to:

• analysis of information environments and emerging threats/actors, and detection of foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation;
• increase awareness and understanding on operational elements of  foreign information manipulation and interference via providing assistance to, and act as reachback for EEAS HQ CSDP structures, CSDP Missions and Operations and EU Delegations, including in conflict prone regions;
• design and develop support activities, including training and coaching, for CSDP Missions and Operations and EU Delegations, including in conflict prone regions, in order to increase their in-theatre capacity to detect, analyse and respond to potential threats coming from disinformation and foreign manipulative interference;
• manage a network of contracted and external experts in analysing emerging threats and actors in the context of foreign information and manipulation, including disinformation;
• manage projects with external contractors and/or partners to deliver an the annual objectives of Division’s business plan;
• support other tasks of the Strategic Communications Division.

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:

• be fluent in English (both orally and in writing);
• have at least 3 years of experience in assessing information environments and/or communication driven threats, disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference, including relevant analysis/monitoring methods and techniques;
• have at least 2 years of experience in the field of publicly available information analysis, including social media;
• have hands-on knowledge in developing capacities and/or training on monitoring and analysing the threats of foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, or closely related areas;
• have prior experience in handling projects including external partners and contractors;
• have capacity to create constructive working relations in the field of external relations         with national authorities, international organisations and EU Member States;
• 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  drafting and analytical skills combined with sound judgement;
• be willing to travel, including to difficult environments;
• be able to coordinate (ad hoc) teams (also for projects and missions);
• be a flexible team player.

Furthermore: 

•       experience of working in a team in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;
•       experience in working with or within other EU institutions;
• a working level notion of French (both orally and in writing);
• having prior experience working in a security oriented environment and/or conflict  region context;
• having prior experience working in (civ/mil) missions and operations and/or in a supporting reachback role;
• have prior experience in managing projects implemented by external contractors;
• holding a valid security clearance level EU SECRET.

would be considered as strong assets: 

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:

STRATEGIC-COMMUNICATIONS-RECRUITMENT@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 05/12/20203 at 18.00 (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

[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.

[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)