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 Strategic Communication, Task Forces and Information Analysis Division (SG.STRAT.2) provides strategic communication support in the implementation of EU foreign and security policy in related priority regions (Southern and Eastern Neighbourhood, the Western Balkans) by developing and implementing specific strategic communication actions focused on advancing EU policies, values, objectives and interests. The Division also plays a leading role in addressing disinformation and foreign manipulative interference by implementing the Action Plan against disinformation (JOIN(2018) 36 final), European Democracy Action Plan (COM/2020/790 final) and relevant Council Conclusions, which outline and call for concrete actions to bolster EU capabilities to detect, analyse and expose disinformation and strengthen coordinated and joint responses between the Union and Member States.
The Division also conducts awareness raising campaigns about the harmful impact of disinformation and contributes to the development of effective policy responses in the EU and at the international level. It manages the EU’s Rapid Alert System and works closely with other EU institutions and agencies to implement relevant policy initiatives tackling disinformation. The Division and its Task Forces contribute to effective and fact-based strategic communication and the strengthening of the overall media environment and civil society in the regions it covers.
The job holder will work within the team of communications experts recruited from the EU institutions and Member States, whose obejctives are to: (a) increase effective communication and promotion of EU policies towards the EU’s Neighbourhood and W.Balkans; (b) strengthen the overall media environment in these regions; and (c) improve the EU’s capacity to forecast, address and respond to disinformation. The team works closely with its regional Delegations, EU Member States, EEAS policy colleagues, EU institutions, the EU spokespersons service, EU IntCen, NATO, media, NGOs and think tanks.
The job holder will work in close partnership and cooperation with the team’s other FGII assistants in the Strategic Communications Task Forces.
We propose:
The position of the assistant – contract agent FG II as per article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS).
We look for:
A highly motivated person for the Contract Agent FG II position of assistant to be based within the Strategic Communication, Task Forces and Information Analysis Division (SG.STRAT.2). This Contract Agent will support the team and work to enhance overall EU communication efforts towards the EU’s Neighbourhood. The Contract Agent will work in close coordination with the relevant policy divisions of the EEAS, the European Commission (DG NEAR), the EU Delegations, the Spokespersons Service and EU member state communications experts.
Functions and Duties:
The Contract Agent will assist/contribute to:
1. The work of assistants’ team and provide administrative support to the STRAT.2 team:
- Supporting missions (mission planning, budgeting, MIPS)
- Coordinating and organising events, visits and meetings (organisation of meetings, invitations, visitor access, minutes of Division’s meetings)
- Managing functional mailbox;
- Maintaining communications initiatives and events grid;
- Assisting the work of the team, including liaison with geographic departments, Delegations, Commission, Member States;
- Administering briefing requests, ARES, EP questions, inter-service consultations and EEAS requests concerning access for documents;
- Providing administrative support in line with the Division’s needs
2. Provide specific strategic communication support:
- Track and coordinate EEAS website translations, acting as contact point between the translations unit and the EEAS Website team;
- Updating the content relevant for Division’s work on the EEAS Intranet.
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
The successful candidate will be offered a contract agent position (Function group II); renewable contract for a maximum duration of 6 years (with a valid CAST exam).
Eligibility criteria:
Candidates for this contract agent II post should:
- – (i) have passed a valid EPSO CAST in FG II ;
or
– (ii) be registered in the EPSO Permanent CAST in FG II https://epso.europa.eu/apply/job-offers_en?keyword=&contract=37&grade=Al… - Have a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma; or a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to the post-secondary education, and appropriate professional experience of at least three years; or where justified in the interest of the service, professional training or professional experience of an equivalent level;
- have the capacity to work in languages of CFSP and external relations necessary for the performance of their duties;
- 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 past experience of working in an administrative function;
– have excellent knowledge of English;
– have good knowledge of the EU policies;
– have prior experience of supporting team work in terms of logistics, organization of public events and visits, coordination of partners;
– have good skills for organising, prioritizing and being attentive to the details;
– have experience of working with document registration and archiving systems;
– be ready to work in a highly dynamic team in a fast-paced policy environment;
– demonstrate creativity and flexibility.
Furthermore:
– experience of working in a team in multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural environment;
– experience in working with or within other EU institutions, government or corporate communications;
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 successful candidate might be required to undergo security vetting if she or he does not hold already a Personal Security Clearance to an appropriate level, in accordance with relevant security provisions.
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 procedure2
Please send your CV and cover letter (with your EPSO CAST number) to STRATEGIC-COMMUNICATIONS-RECRUITMENT@eeas.europa.eu
Deadline for sending application: 1 April 2022 – 12:00 (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 panel will recommend a shortlist of candidates for a final decision by the Authority Empowered to Conclude Contracts of Employment. The Authority may decide to interview the candidates on the final shortlist before taking this decision.
Interviews will be scheduled in the first quarter of 2022.
Place of employment: EEAS Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium
Post available: Immediately
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 (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-s…)