WE ARE
The European External Action Service (EEAS), which supports the work of the High Representative in defining and implementing an effective and coherent foreign policy of the European Union. 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 of Vice-President of the Commission. The EEAS works in close cooperation with Member States, the Council and relevant services of the European Commission.
The “Rights, Obligations and Medical Cell” Division, within the Human Resources Directorate of the EEAS, is a dynamic team composed of 36 colleagues responsible for a wide portfolio activities for staff working in Brussels Headquarters and the network of the EU 144 Delegations across the world. This includes the management of entitlements linked to staff expatriation (Annex X to the Staff Regulations). The Division also plays a key role to ensure the duty of care over staff and dependents, hosting the EEAS Medical Service, a crisis management team, and a social team aimed at developing and implementing policies to improve well-being and work-life balance, including support to families.
WE PROPOSE
Under the responsibility of the Head of the “Rights, Obligations and Medical Cell” Division, we propose an interesting position of social worker whose main task will be to provide support to staff members and their families – with a particular focus on the needs of staff posted abroad.
The social worker will work closely with the EEAS Medical Service promoting well-being and a healthy work-life balance. They must offer a professional guidance about work, health, psychological, family and financial issues in the strictest confidentiality.
The main duties will include:
- Carry out individual and collective activities in prevention, assistance and, where the need arises, social accompaniment;
- Provide support to staff members e.g. family, psychological, administrative issues, adjusting to professional environment and cultural issues, health, etc.;
- Listen, advise, guide, support and accompany the staff in Headquarters and Delegations facing personal or professional difficulties, cooperating closely with the EEAS Medical Service and the EEAS Mediation Service;
- Provide information on the applicable rules relating to family support;
- Be a person of contact for staff and families in case of hardships;
- Liaise with the Belgian and the Commission’s health and social services (home help, care for sick children…) and refer colleagues to the right services as needed;
- Provide information on external, local professionals/resources/institutions, etc. ;
- Assess and prepare the files relating to financial support to families with disabled children;
- Organise and participate in EEAS or inter-institutional events, conferences or initiatives aimed at developing well-being and work-life balance at work;
- Contribute to the development of the EEAS social policy;
- Represent the administration at the EU Sickness Insurance Management Committee;
- Contribute to a listening help line
WE LOOK FOR
We are looking for a highly motivated and service-minded colleague, with excellent social skills and ability to listen, solve problems and provide customer-oriented solutions. Our future colleague should be able to work independently and within the team, be flexible, be ready to exchange views and practices with other team members and other services.
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, in accordance with EEAS Decision ADMIN(2015)20 on the engagement and use of temporary agents.
The successful candidate will be offered a contract as Temporary Agent under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS) at the grade of AST4.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Candidates must meet ALL of the following general and specific conditions on the closing date for online applications:
• Be a national of one of the EU Member States and enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• Meet any obligations imposed by the laws concerning military service;
• Provide the appropriate character references as to his suitability for the performance of his duties;
• Have the capacity to work in languages of the CFSP (English and French, in writing and orally). Both languages are required in the performance of the duties. The command of one language must be at minimum C1 level (Language 1 – thorough knowledge) and the command of the other one must be at minimum B2 level (Language 2 – satisfactory knowledge);
• Have a level of education that corresponds to completed post-secondary education of at least three years in social work, attested by a diploma, followed by at least three years’ professional experience directly related to the nature of the duties.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates should:
– have proven experience as a social worker;
– have knowledge in the administration and/or human resources or a good awareness of issues relating to human resources in a EU multi-cultural environment;
– have good knowledge of the rules (statutory, financial, deontological) applicable in the social and health sector;
– good capacity to handle administrative tasks in an autonomous way;
– good knowledge of standard IT applications (MS Office) and willingness to be trained on applications specific to the EEAS;
– sense of responsibility and integrity;
– capacity to efficiently manage one’s time, have good organizational skills, ability to prioritise and make progress in one’s own tasks in an autonomous way;
– have good drafting and communication skills in English and French;
– ability to establish trustworthy relations with the colleagues in contact with other Human Resources Divisions, EU Delegations and other Commission’s services;
– be a convinced team player, proactive, highly motivated and able to contribute to projects for well-being at the work place;
– have excellent inter-personal skills and be client-oriented;
– be empathetic and resilient to be able to cope efficiently with social issues;
– have capacity to manage stress and to cope with high emotional pressure;
– have ability to handle difficult situations keeping confidentiality;
– have discretion and capacity to handle sensitive data.
Furthermore:
– experience in working with or within other EU institutions and/or Agencies / EU Delegations / the Diplomatic Service of an EU Member State and/or in a team in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;
– knowledge of the main legal basis for managing human resources in an EU context (Staff Regulations, Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme);
– good knowledge of standard administrative procedures as well as knowledge of IT tools for personnel and document management;
– knowledge and experience of EU financial procedures;
would be considered as strong assets
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE2:
The selection procedure will take place in three different and successive steps:
1. Expression of Interest
Expressions of interest should be sent by e-mail to the following functional mailbox:
EEAS-HQ-APPLICATIONS-AST@eeas.europa.eu
For the purposes of the e-mail application, this post will appear under the subject of the email:
“Application EoI-HQ (AST)-TA2b-AST4-RM.HR.3-Social Worker and Family Issues-343558”
Such an expression of interest must be accompanied by:
– an updated Curriculum vitae. Candidates are invited to use the “Europass” CV format (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/documents/curriculum-vitae) for their applications;
– a letter of motivation (maximum 2 pages) in either English or in French.
Applications may be submitted during the period from 21/03/2022 to 28/03/2022 at 12:00 midday (Brussels time).
For correspondence concerning the selection procedure, please use the following email address (the e-mail must have in the subject the following title: “EoI-HQ (AST)-TA2b-AST4-RM.HR.3-Social Worker and Family Issues-343558”).
EEAS-HQ-APPLICATIONS-AST@eeas.europa.eu
2. Pre-selection
The selection panel will make a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and the professional experience described in the CV and motivation letter.
3. Selection
The candidates who have passed the pre-selection step will be invited for an interview so that the selection panel can evaluate these candidates objectively and without prejudice on the basis of their qualifications, professional experience and linguistic skills. Additional specific written or oral tests might be organised by the panel.
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.
If pre-selected, candidates with disabilities are invited to contact us 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 and recruited, the EEAS is committed to appropriate measures in order to accommodate his or her special needs to the working place or working conditions in accordance with Art 1d(4) of the Staff Regulations.
APPOINTMENT:
The selected candidate will be recruited as temporary agents under Article 2(b) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants (CEOS), in accordance with EEAS Decision ADMIN(2015) 20 on the engagement and use of temporary agents.
The selected candidate will be required to undergo a medical fitness examination in accordance with Article 13 of the CEOS.
Candidates shall have a valid Personnel Security Clearance (PSC) allowing them to access information classified at the level “SECRET UE/EU SECRET” or will be required to undergo the corresponding security vetting in accordance with the EEAS security rules3. In case the successful candidate does not obtain his or her PSC, his or her engagement will be terminated.
In case of positive results on the medical fitness examination and after assessment of the PSC conditions, the candidate will be offered a contract as Temporary Agent, Grade AST-44 for a duration 4 years renewable only once for another 2 years.
All member of the temporary staff shall serve initially a nine-month probationary period in accordance with Article 14 CEOS.
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Brussels, Belgium
CONTACT:
Florence LIOU
Deputy Head of Division RM HR.3
Florence.LIOU@eeas.europa.eu
The closing date for submissions is 28/03/2022 at 12:00 hours (Brussels time).
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=CE…
2 Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) 2018/1725. The privacy statement is available on EEAS webpage: http://eeas.europa.eu/data_protection/rights/index_en.htm
3 In accordance with the Decision of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 19 September 2017 on the security rules for the European External Action Service, ADMIN(2017) 10, OJ C 126, 10.4.2018, p. 1, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.C_.2018.1…
4The basic salaries offered by the EU institutions are set out in Article 66 of the Staff Regulations. The current level, can be accessed via the link: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:C:2020:428:FU…