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 Division GLOBAL GI 5 aims to ensure that EU international policy and cooperation is an integral part of EU external action and responds to the current geopolitical and geo-economic environment. It coordinates within EEAS Heading 6 of the MFF 2021-27, including the programming and implementation of external financing instruments and in particularly of the NDICI – Global Europe instrument.

GI 5 overall objective is to mobilise the EU toolbox of external aid instruments in support of a ‘policy first’ and ‘value-driven’ approach and ensure the complementarity of financing instruments to develop stronger partnerships and international alliances underpinning the EU geo-political priorities and the 2030 Agenda. In doing so, GI5 supports the HRVP in his double mandate as chair of the FAC/DEV and as Vice-President of the Commission.

GI5 coordinates, in close cooperation with the relevant Commission services the multi-annual programming of EU external financing assistance and related-budgetary issues (Heading 6). It also provides support and coordinates within EEAS the institutional engagement on the key financing modalities for external assistance including EFSD+ and budget support and acts as EEAS focal point of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach in fragile and conflict-affected countries.

GI5 works closely with Member States and the European Parliament, as well as with international organisations (in particular UN and IFIs), academia, think tanks and civil society organisations.

We propose

An attractive and challenging a position as Policy and Programming Officer (contract agent FGIV as per article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union - CEOS)[1] to contribute to the coordination and quality of the programming, implementation and review of the EU’s international cooperation under Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI-Global Europe) for the period 2021-2027. In addition, the successful candidate will assist in ensuring overall coherence and complementarity with other policies contributing to the EU external action, in particular humanitarian and peace interventions and the EU response in crisis contexts in close coordination with the EEAS geographic and thematic colleagues, the Commission, EU Delegations and other EU/international actors. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to benefit from a wide array of opportunities to advance both his/her knowledge, expertise and network.

Place of employment: EEAS Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Post available:  16 January 2024

We look for

A highly motivated and versatile colleague, capable to cover different files in parallel, with experience in both foreign relations and international cooperation who, under the authority of the Head of Division and in coordination with the EEAS geographic and thematic divisions, will work on the programming, implementation and review of the NDICI-Global Europe for the period 2021-2027. Particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa country and regional programmes, Global Gateway investment package and European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD+) guarantees, European Development Fund (EDF) and Post-Cotonou. On the thematic cooperation, the successful candidate will follow thematic programmes on Peace, Stability and Conflict Prevention. S/he will be the EEAS Focal point for the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus and for Resilience building in fragile and conflict- and crisis-affected countries, working closely with the EEAS geographic and thematic division and the relevant Commission services (INTPA, NEAR, ECHO and FPI) and contributing to strengthen joint action with EU Member states and other external actors. Furthermore, the colleague will coordinate crisis response actions implemented by FPI and resilience support with INTPA/NEAR.

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 ability to maintain diplomatic relations and to ensure representation and communication in a complex, multicultural environment;
• have experience in project management and/or EU international cooperation policy work;
• have capacity to create constructive working relations in the field of external relations with national authorities, international organisations and EU Member States;
• have strong drafting and analytical skills combined with sound judgement;
• have knowledge of EU external relations, internal policies and functioning of the Union;
• have excellent communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain a network of contacts both within and outside the EEAS;
• 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: 

• geographical knowledge and/or experience in Africa and with conflict-affected and fragile countries;
• knowledge of European financing instruments, NDICI- Global Europe in particular, would be considered an asset.
• experience of working in a team in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;
• experience in working with or within other EU institutions

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.

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  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 .

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:

GLOBAL-GI-5@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 03/11/2023 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).

[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)