European External Action Service (EEAS) Contract Agent FG IV post – Job title: Information Systems Officer (Data Analysis and Capabilities)

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 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 disinformation and foreign manipulative interference 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 disinformation. 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.

The job holder will work in close partnership and cooperation with the data analyst team in the Task Forces and Information Analysis Division.

We propose:

The position of information systems officer (data analysis and capabilities) to be based within the EEAS Strategic Communications Division - 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 are looking for:

A highly motivated and qualified information systems officer (data analysis and capabilities), who will work with our Information Analysis, Open Source & Data Strategy team and in close cooperation with our regional Task Forces (East Stratcom, Stratcom South and Western Balkans) as well the as teams covering emerging threats and policy. She/he will contribute to the implementation of the European Democracy Action Plan. The officer is expected to assume a guiding role in the knowledge production, enhancement and sharing process and optimize research and development resources to support the team’s core tasks and help Task Forces in the implementation of a more data-driven approach to strategic communication. She/He will also contribute to different types of reports covering various aspects of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI).

The expert will be required to work closely with the relevant policy divisions of the EEAS, EU Delegations, relevant divisions of the other European institutions and services.

Functions and Duties:

The Contract Agent will:

• Support the development and exchange of best practices on the detection, analysis and countering of FIMI including disinformation;
• Enhance, develop and document manual and automated monitoring and anomaly detection systems and constant tracking of their performance;
• Create data-driven reports and visualisations;
• Supervise IT development projects;
• Assess, manage and optimise existing data analytics tools, processes and infrastructure;
• Support the team in the implementation of a more data-driven approach to communication;
• Advise Delegations on the development of state-of-the-art data analytics and digital communications approaches.

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

The successful candidate will be offered a contract agent position (Function group IV); renewable contract for a maximum duration of 6 years (with a valid CAST exam).

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/apply/job-offers_en?keyword=&contract=37&grade=All&institution=101&location=All
• 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 sound understanding of the digital information space as well as knowledge of latest research as to FIMI actors and activities;
• have proven experience detecting and analysing FIMI (including disinformation) campaigns and incidents
• be fluent in English (both orally and in writing);
• have working experience of at least three years in data analysis, including skills in data-driven communications, data collection, management, cleaning and preparation;
• Have proven ability to conceptualise, implement and evaluate data science projects in a fast-paced environment;
• have proven experience of successfully managing and overseeing data-focused projects;
• solid analytical capability as well as excellent drafting and reporting skills;
• rapid grasp of complex problems and capacity to identify issues and solutions.
• understanding of the EU's strategic communications objectives in the European Neighbourhood and beyond;
• knowledge of EU institutions and decision-making processes, the EU's external action and EU enlargement policies.

Furthermore:

• experience of working in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural team and environment;
• experience in working within EU institutions or governments;
• relevant experience in team management and collective planning processes 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 procedure²

Please send your CV and cover letter (with your EPSO CAST number) to STRATEGIC-COMMUNICATIONS-RECRUITMENT@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 16/09/2023 at 18.00 (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.

Interviews will be scheduled in Autumn 2023.

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 also 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 then 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 (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. 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: (http://eeas.europa.eu/data_protection/rights/index_en.htm) and on the EEAS Intranet: (https://intranet.eeas.europa.eu/page/eeas-work/data-protection/privacy-statements).

[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.