EUISS – Senior Analyst: Middle East and North Africa

Senior Analyst (EUISS Post 3) – Ref.: EUISS (2021) PER/SEC 002

Contract Staff Member OR appointment by secondment

Grade A3

Place of employment: Paris

Starting date: May 2022

Salary:

The salary scale of the EUISS is calculated according to that of the Coordinated Organisations to which the grade A3 makes reference.

For a secondment, the salary will remain as determined (and paid) by the current employer plus a daily allowance of €102,40.

Duration:

3 years, renewable for up to 2 further years if under the status of contract staff member;

Up to 2 years, renewable for a further period of 1 year maximum if seconded.

Job description

The European Union Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) is the EU Agency that analyses foreign, security and defence policy issues. With its Headquarters in Paris and a Liaison Office in Brussels, it also acts as an interface between European experts and decision-makers at all levels.

The EUISS seeks to hire an experienced MENA expert who will report to the Director and join a highly qualified and motivated team engaged in providing relevant expertise to both EU/national officials – through publications, seminars and other activities.

Main responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director, s/he will be in charge of:

• Leading the analysis on MENA security matters, focusing especially on countries that are most relevant to EU foreign and security policy;
• Authoring high-quality analysis as well as forward-looking quantitative and qualitative reports;
• Coordinating projects and publications as required;
• Organising meetings designed to disseminate EUISS research and analysis and inform decision-makers;
• Organising events and briefings for officials;
• Monitoring ongoing security and economic developments in the MENA area;
• Monitoring existing EU policies/legislation/strategies/negotiations on the MENA area;
• Contributing to the development of the EUISS work programme on MENA with original and relevant ideas;
• Liaising with government officials, think tanks, universities and regional organisations, as required;
• Collaborating with EUISS colleagues in order to combine different areas of expertise and create synergy effects;
• Representing the Institute within Europe and abroad, participating in relevant meetings of the EU, member states, international organisations and research institutes as required;
• Traveling on a regular basis, as required;
• Supervising junior staff.

Eligibility criteria

On the closing date for applications, candidates must fulfil all the following conditions:

• Be a national of a member state of the European Union;
• Enjoy full rights as a citizen attested by a recent extract from judicial record and/or certificate of good conduct;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by national law on military service;
• Be physically fit to perform the required duties.

Education

• A PhD, preferably in the field of security studies, conflict studies, political science, political economy, international relations or a related field from a university or other institution of higher learning of recognised standing.

Selection criteria

• Minimum of four years’ relevant professional work experience with a research, governmental, academic, or educational institution;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the MENA region and its security context;
• A record of publications in the relevant field;
• Well-developed communication and drafting skills, with a demonstrated ability to write and present effectively to policy audiences;
• Good knowledge of the European Union, its institutions and policies;
• Field experience (research and/or time spent living in a MENA country);
• Excellent analytical skills, including the ability to identify and distil complex policy issues and propose viable solutions;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment as a team member as well as independently;
• High professional values and standards characterised by objectivity, analytical rigour, integrity and confidentiality;
• Excellent command of English (writing and spoken) and a satisfactory knowledge of another official language of the European Union.
• Familiarity with terrorism trends, including anti/counter terrorism policies would be an asset;
• Working knowledge of French and/or languages used in the region (notably Arabic, Farsi, Turkish) would be an asset.

Procedure

The candidate awarded the position will have the status of either contract staff member or seconded expert. Applicants must state their preference.

All interested candidates must complete the online application form, and attach:

• A detailed CV in English (with a clear indication of educational attainment and professional experience);
• A list of publications;
• Two writing samples of policy-relevant publications in English;
• A cover letter in English addressed to the EUISS Director;
• If applying for a secondment, a letter of sponsorship from the current employer addressed to the Director.

Applications received by email, fax or post will not be considered. Only correctly and fully completed applications will be accepted.

NB Regarding applications for the position under the status of secondment: in accordance with the rules applicable to secondments to the EUISS, a person seconded to the Institute remains in the service of their current employer and continues to be paid their salary by that employer. Therefore, in order to be considered in the selection process, candidates for a secondment to the advertised position must be sponsored by their current employer. Confirmation is required in the form of a letter of sponsorship addressed to the Institute by the closing date for the receipt of applications (and in any case not later than the recruitment date). In the absence of such sponsorship candidates can only be offered the position under the status of contract staff member.

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday 12 November 2021, 14:00 CET.

The Selection Board, chaired by the Director of the EUISS, will screen the applications and establish a shortlist of candidates to be interviewed. The interview will be completed through a written technical test, the exact nature of which will be communicated to the candidates concerned in advance. Both interview and written test will be organised remotely.

Following the interviews and written test, the successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of three years with a nine-month probationary period (or an initial secondment for a period of up to two years).

All applicants will be informed of the results of their application by the end of the procedure.

The EUISS is an equal opportunities employer and accepts applications without distinction on the grounds of age, race, political, philosophical or religious conviction, sex or sexual orientation and regardless of disabilities, marital status or family situation.

The processing of personal data by the EUISS is governed by Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) N° 45/2001 and Decision N° 1247/2002/EC. By submitting an application, the applicant consents to the processing of the personal data contained in the application form and the supporting documents enclosed therewith, in the sense of Article 5.1 (a) of the Regulation. The personal data in question is collected by the EUISS for the sole purpose of this selection process.

Complaints: Candidates have the right to address to the Director of the EUISS an administrative complaint under Article 30.1 of the EUISS Staff Regulations. The complaint must be directed against an act that adversely affects their legal status as a candidate.

Candidates also have the right to submit an appeal to the EUISS Appeals Board, under Article 30.3 and Annex X of the EUISS Staff Regulations. Appeals are not admissible before an administrative complaint has first been made.

Candidates can make a complaint to the European Ombudsman. It should be noted that, under Article 2(4) of the general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman’s duties, any complaint lodged with the Ombudsman must be preceded by the appropriate administrative approaches to the institutions and bodies concerned.

Should a candidate have any questions related to the current vacancy notice or the selection procedure or the procedure to follow in case they want to lodge a complaint, they should contact Human Resources using the online contact form and indicating the reference of the vacancy notice.