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 Division "RM.HR.5 - Local Agents” mission is to formulate a comprehensive human resource policy for over 3200 local agents employed in the EU Delegations and to help the delegations implement it.

We develop rules, policies and guidelines pertaining to HR policy, employment conditions, health insurance, pension and emoluments of local staff employed in Union Delegations and we ensure their conformity with the respective local laws of host states (outside the EU).

We support the Heads of Delegation and the Heads of Administration in the daily management of local staff and in handling legal disputes that may arise in this context.

To this end, the division is supported by the Legal Department (SG.LD.2), which provides legal analyses and legal opinions on Union law concerning the employment of local staff, as well as the local law provisions applicable by virtue of their employment contracts.

We facilitate an inclusive and wide-ranging social dialogue with the staff representatives and committees. We also carry out these activities on behalf of and in coordination with the Commission.

We propose

The position of “Legal 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 colleague to handle complex HR policy and legal issues pertaining to the local legislation of the local staff’s countries of employment and the European Union’s legal framework.

As legal officer/advisor in the area of human resources (HR), you will work in a team and focus mainly on the legal compliance of our HR decisions and processes with Union law and local law: from recruitment until the end of contract entitlements, including payroll and other employee benefits.

A colleague who enjoys designing and implementing HR policy, is solution- and service – oriented and likes handling a variety of issues in a fast-paced environment, while assisting the Head of Division in:

• providing legal analysis and advice on administrative law, labour law and on EEAS staff matters, in particular for local staff in Union Delegations (including employment contracts, disciplinary procedures, termination of contracts, conflict resolution including before local jurisdictions, etc);
• reviewing draft internal administrative rules and legal acts (internal rules, implementing rules, contracts and other legal instruments);
• providing legal guidance to management and operational units (including Delegations);
• communicating and giving training on local agent employment issues, especially on disciplinary measures, to the HR officers and assistants in the Division;
• providing advice on ad hoc cases or horizontal issues in other areas of administrative law and EU civil service law, including and not limited to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, data protection and access to documents;
• preparing written communications to relevant actors in HQ and Delegations on legal obligations and procedures;
• preparing synthesis notes and briefings on legal risks to facilitate decision-making by hierarchy, including on relations with other Union institutions (European Parliament, Court of Auditors, European Ombudsman, etc.).

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 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 professional experience providing legal advice;
• have strong drafting and analytical skills combined with sound legal judgement;
• have sound knowledge of EU legal and institutional matters;
• have excellent communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain a network of contacts both within and outside the EEAS;
• have strong service attitude;
• be able to draft legal texts in English and in French;
• be a flexible team player.
• experience in working with or within other EU institutions, especially in HR or legal services.

Furthermore, the following would be considered as strong assets:

• professional experience in labour law;
• have a background knowledge of human resources policies, practices and procedures and possess the ability to apply them in an organizational setting;
• have sound understanding of the EU Staff Regulations and Conditions of Employment of other Servants (CEOS);
• experience of working in a team in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;
• proficiency in Spanish would be considered as an asset;
• experience in dealing with employment, tax and social security;
• experience in working in a fast-pace environment;
• agility, creative and flexible mind-set to solve multi-dimensional problems.

Specific conditions of employment

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

This post is currently not identified as a post which requires Personnel Security Clearance (PSC) to access EU classified information (EUCI) in accordance with point 7 of Annex A I of the Decision ADMIN(2017) 10 on the security rules of the EEAS ² and as implemented by Decision ADMIN(2019) 7 on Security Clearance Requirements and Procedures for the EEAS of 08 March 2019 and its implementing decisions.

Nonetheless, candidates are informed that the list of posts requiring a PSC in the EEAS Headquarters is subject to regular review and that the current post might be identified in the future as a post which requires PSC.

If required after the taking of duty, the selected candidate will need to be in a position to obtain a valid PSC issued by the competent authority of their Member State in accordance with national laws and regulations.

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.

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 ³.

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 ⁴

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:

LOCAL-AGENTS@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 25/04/2024 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.

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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 OJ C 126, 10 April 2018, p.1.

⁴ 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)