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Senior Analyst: cyber and digital issues

Senior Analyst (EUISS Post 20) – Ref.: EUISS (2022) PER/SEC 003

Contract Staff Member OR appointment by secondment

Grade A3

Place of employment: Brussels

Starting date: January 2023

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 €96.40 paid by the EUISS.

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 expert on cyber and digital issues 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:

EU Cyber Direct - EU Cyber Diplomacy Initiative

The EUISS is leading the EU Cyber Direct - EU Cyber Diplomacy Initiative, an EU-funded project focused on policy support, research, outreach and capacity building in the field of cyber diplomacy. The EUISS assumes the managerial and secretarial responsibilities for the Action. The Senior Analyst will assume the functions of Project Director and will be part of the Project Management Team which includes Project Coordinators from two partner organisations and will take decisions about the strategic direction of the Action, including the development and adoption of the Annual Work Plan. The Project Director is responsible for the overall coordination, implementation and development of the Action. S/he will be responsible for representing the project externally and liaising with key institutional stakeholders. The Project Director manages a small team of individuals working exclusively for the project.

For detailed information on the EU Cyber Direct - EU Cyber Diplomacy Initiative, please consult the dedicated website:

https://eucyberdirect.eu/

Other responsibilities

  • Leading the analysis on cyber and digital issues, focusing on emerging trends, security implications, and governance options;
  • 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;
  • Contributing to the development of the EUISS work programme on cyber and digital issues 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 an EU, research, governmental, academic, or educational institution;
  • Demonstrated experience in managing complex, multiannual projects;
  • Demonstrated experience in managing staff;
  • A record of publications in the relevant field;
  • Excellent communication and drafting skills, with a demonstrated ability to write and present effectively to policy audiences;
  • Excellent knowledge of the European Union, its institutions and policies;
  • 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.

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 Monday 26 September 2022, 14:00 CEST.

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.