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 Global Communication and Public Diplomacy Division leads the European Union’s efforts on global communication and public and culture diplomacy. It develops, designs, and implements communication and public diplomacy strategies, narratives, and campaigns on global and thematic policies aimed at building and maintaining long-term partnerships with selected audiences outside the EU and reaching out to EU citizens. It creates original content to advance EU policies, values, objectives, and interests and to engage with audiences and increase the visibility of the EU as a global actor among EU citizens and at 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 global and thematic policies and activities 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. It is the focal point for EU institutions for implementation and coordination on external strategic communication, public and cultural diplomacy activities.

We propose

The position of Information and Communication Policy Officer for Global Issues, 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 October 2024  

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 for global and thematic communication encompasses the duties to contribute to the development and implementation of EU's Foreign Policy Global and Thematic communication campaigns and to support general communication and outreach of the EU's external relations.

Tasks will include to:

• Advise the hierarchy and engage with other EU departments on EEAS global and thematic communication campaigns.
• Develop, design, and implement communication strategies, narratives, campaigns on global policies and activities, such as human rights, democracy, climate or gender.
• Create original content to advance EU policies, values, objectives, and interests, increase engagement with external audiences, and promote the EU using the whole strategic communications toolbox.

• Strengthen internal coordination of the communication on global issues and foster synergies between both the communication team and Global affairs teams.
• Liaise and coordinate with other EU institutions implementing programmes and initiatives having a global and thematic communication dimension and promote closer cooperation and synergies between the EEAS and the EU institutions in their efforts towards effective EU communication and public diplomacy activities.

• Provide strategic input, guidance and manage FPI-funded activities and programmes in the area of communication and public diplomacy and act as focal point with DG Foreign Policy Instrument (FPI) of the European Commission.
• Support the implementation of the EU participation in the Expo Osaka 2025, the coordination of the interinstitutional Task Force, and the hosting EU Delegation, the Member States and other partners; and prepare participation for Expo 2030 Riyadh.
• 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.
• Design global and thematic campaigns and communication assets for use by Delegations, missions and operations, and Electoral Observation Missions to engage audiences in third countries.
• Establish and maintain contacts with universities, private and public cultural bodies, foundations, external stakeholders and opinion groups.

• 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.

Legal basis

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

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 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 at least 5 years professional experience in similar posts
• have knowledge of external relations, internal policies and functioning of the Union;
• have    ability   to maintain diplomatic  relations and to ensure representation and communication in a complex, multicultural environment;
• have capacity to create constructive working relations in the field of external relations with national authorities, international organisations and EU Member States;
• have excellent communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain a network of contacts both within and outside the EEAS;
• have    strong  drafting and analytical skills combined with sound judgement;
• have knowledge of and/or experience on management of EU funded activities and programmes in the area of communication and public diplomacy;
• 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 fluent in English and in French (both orally and in writing);
• 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;
• experience in an EU Delegation, embassy or equivalent international institution

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[2].

The selected candidate should hold, or be in the position to obtain, a valid Personnel Security Clearance (PSC)[3] 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[4]. 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[5]

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:

SG-STRAT-2-RECRUITMENT@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 20/08/2024 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.

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]    OJ C 126, 10 April 2018, p.1.

[3]    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’.”

[4]    OJ C 126, 10 April 2018, p.1.

[5] 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).