Call for expression of interest – EUISS Cyber Capacity Building Task Force

The EUISS is seeking up to five experts to participate in its Cyber Capacity Building Task Force. The Task Force aims to develop a policy overview and provide operational guidance that will serve as a 'cyber capacity building toolkit’ for the EU's external cooperation programmes.

Goals of the project

The overall objective of the project is to promote a strategic approach and understanding of cyber capacity building among EU stakeholders. To that aim, the EUISS will establish a Task Force composed of experts in the field of cybersecurity and/or capacity building to:

• Address the existing gaps in the EU’s analytical and methodological work in the area of cyber capacity building in a coherent and holistic manner;
• Consolidate cyber policy and its related dimensions and translate this into operational guidance for any EU external cyber capacity building action.

The main outcome of the project will be an ‘EU cyber capacity building toolkit’ in the form of a publication.

Duties of the Task Force members

The main task of the Task Force members will be to contribute to the implementation of the project under the supervision of the Project Coordinator. Members of the Task Force will be expected to perform the following tasks:

• Support the Project Coordinator in streamlining the methodology for the project;
• Contribute to the drafting of the ‘Toolkit’ in line with their expertise, primarily by providing input and comments on successive drafts;
• Participate in the workshops organised within the framework of the project.

The Task Force will run for a period of eight months, from the beginning of September 2017 to the end of April 2018 (with the peak of the analytical and drafting work between September and December 2017). Participation in the Task Force does not require the members’ permanent presence at the EUISS premises in Paris or Brussels but will require occasional travel to Brussels. The costs linked to members’ participation in the Task Force meetings and events will be fully covered by the EUISS.

Each member of the Task Force will be awarded a total fee of €5,000 net for the whole duration of the project. The estimated time that each member of the Task Force will need to devote to the project is 30 days.

Eligibility requirements

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 records 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;
• Have a minimum of a Master’s degree and at least five years’ experience in a university, think tank, governmental or non-governmental organisation or similar in cyber-related research, policy support or capacity building projects.

The candidate must also have proven expertise and a record of publications in one of the following cyber-related domains:

• Internet governance (including access and economic development, critical infrastructure protection);
• Cybercrime and electronic evidence (criminal justice response);
• Human rights protection in cyberspace (including privacy and data protection, freedom of expression and association online, rights-based cybersecurity);
• The Security and Intelligence dimension of cybersecurity (including aspects pertaining to defense);
• Development Cooperation and Capacity Building Methodology (including programme design, metrics, implementation, monitoring and evaluation).

Selection requirements

Essential

• Excellent oral and written knowledge of English;
• Proven experience in research and policy support initiatives in one of the above-mentioned areas;
• Familiarity with the EU institutional environment;
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and diplomatic skills and an ability to operate in a multi-national setting;
• Very good knowledge of the work of the EUISS, the EEAS and the broader European foreign policy and external action machinery.

Desired

• Experience with cyber capacity building projects;
• A proven record of collaboration with EU institutions and bodies.

Selection procedure

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

• A detailed CV, with clear description of education and professional experience;
• A list of relevant publications and research projects;
• A short cover letter addressed to the Director, outlining the reasons for the candidate’s interest in joining the Task Force and the applicant’s main strengths and experience, specifically in one or several areas of expertise indicated above.

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

The deadline for submitting applications is 18 August 2017, 1800 CET.

An internal Selection Committee, chaired by the EUISS Director, will prepare a shortlist and a reserve list of candidates on the basis of the merits of their applications by Friday, 25 August 2017. The final offers will be made only to the shortlisted candidates once they are approved by the European Commission. 

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 (EC) N°45/2001. 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 (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 have also 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, the selection procedure, or the procedure to follow in case they wish to lodge a complaint, they should contact ‘Human Resources’ using the online contact form.