Project Officer (2 positions)

Ref.: EUISS (2022) TEMP 003/004

Countering Foreign Interference. A project to strengthen EU CSDP capacities against foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI)

Title: Project Officer (2 positions)

Temporary Staff Member

Place of employment: Paris, France

Indicative starting date: 01/02/2023

Salary:

The gross salary for each position is EUR 4.000, subject to national taxes and social insurance. The Project Officers will be working full-time from the EUISS headquarters in Paris.

Duration:

The initial contracts will run for two years, with the possibility of an extension within the limits of the duration of the Action itself, currently foreseen to end 31/12/2025.

Job description

The EUISS is leading the Countering Foreign Interference project, a multi-million EU-funded Action focused on enhancing knowledge and developing EU methodologies and tools to detect, analyse, assess, and based on that prevent, deter and counter threats emerging in the information space. This project aims to enable the EU to address foreign policy needs and forge new partnerships in the fields of information manipulation and other types of foreign interference. It will contribute to strengthening the resilience and responses against FIMI, reinforcing the EU’s role as a global security provider and defender of democratic values. The EUISS assumes the managerial and secretarial responsibilities for the Action.

The EUISS is looking for two highly motivated and dynamic individuals with a great sense of responsibility to support the implementation of the Countering Foreign Interference project. The Project Officers will be part of the project’s front office and contribute to research outputs, event organisation and coordination, communication and outreach. They will report to the Project Co-Directors and work closely with the Project and Finance Manager, and partner institutions.   

Main responsibilities

Research support

Support the delivery of the project’s research and analytical outputs, under the supervision of the Project Co-Directors and in cooperation with implementing partners;

Liaise with external authors to ensure timely delivery of commissioned research and analytical outputs;

Prepare research dossiers, background materials, help with data collection, analysis and visualisation, as agreed with the Project Co-Directors;

Monitor and collect, process and analyse relevant facts and figures on FIMI threats, and particularly related to CSDP missions and operations, in the Eastern and Southern neighbourhoods and others, as required;

Contribute to the project-related briefings, and to liaising with think tanks, universities in Europe and partner countries, and regional organisations;

Aid with publication proof-reading and assist with formatting project documents and presentations, as needed;

Other related duties as required.

Event coordination

In cooperation with partners and the EUISS team, support the logistics of physical and/or online working level, high-profile public and closed-door events (including travel and accommodation arrangements, filing expense reports, etc.); liaising with event partners (venues, caterers, content providers, etc.);

Under the supervision of the Project Co-Directors, prepare narrative and quantitative reports from events and other; collect reports from partner organisations for events under their responsibility;

Contribute to preparation of press releases after the events; prepare activity reports and blogs for the project’s webpage; ensure follow up with partner organisations, event participants and other stakeholders after the event;

Support the Project and Finance Manager maintaining an updated and accessible repository of all the activities carried out under the project, including a database of participants invited to the events.

Communication and outreach

In cooperation with partners and the EUISS team, design and implement outreach activities that strengthen the visibility and impact of the project’s deliverables;

Under the supervision of the Project Co-Directors, implement a stakeholder relations strategy to maintain contacts with EU institutions, Member States, civil society, experts and private sector, as well as with relevant stakeholders in third countries;

Contribute to the establishment of a network on counter-FIMI in CSDP missions, manage, coordinate and keep track of network activities, oversee the evolution of the network into a thriving community of practice on countering foreign interference;  

In cooperation with the EUISS Communications Coordinator and project’s Co-Directors, contribute to the project’s communication activities through the website, social media, and other channels. Create, maintain and expand a distribution list and ensure that the project’s activities and deliverables are communicated to a targeted audience;

Contribute to the production and delivery of communication materials, such as brochures, videos, social media threads, press releases, etc.

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 to be attested at the moment of recruitment 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 Masters’ degree in Political Science, International Relations, Security Studies, or other disciplines relevant to this position.

Selection criteria

Professional experience

• At least 1 year of work experience in international affairs, preferably in a research institution, think-tank or international organisation;
• Prior experience working with/on EU institutions and demonstrated knowledge of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) and/or foreign interference will be considered an asset.  
• Demonstrable experience in organising events and other outreach and/or communication activities

Qualifications and skills

• Excellent command of spoken and written English; knowledge of French will be an asset;
• Qualitative and quantitative research skills, ability to collect/analyse data, and proficient use of common IT tools and Microsoft technologies (Word, Excel, PowerPoint);
• Excellent communication skills, and ability to speak effectively to different stakeholders;
• Ability to work under pressure and to deliver to high standards under tight deadlines;
• Good sense of initiative and problem-solving skills, and an eye for detail;
• Teamwork skills as well as the ability to independently organise and prioritise a number of parallel tasks;
• High level of discretion and integrity;
• Excellent client/service orientation;
• Ability to work effectively within a multicultural environment.
• Travels for work missions, as necessary.

Procedure

The EUISS recruitment procedure is applicable.

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 cover letter in English addressed to the EUISS Director;

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 4 January 2023, 12:00 CET.

The Selection Board will screen the applications and establish a shortlist of candidates to be invited for an interview.

The successful candidate will be offered an initial contract of two years with a nine-month probationary period.

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.