Ref.: EUISS (2024) SEC 01

Status: Seconded National Expert

Place of employment: Paris

Starting date: September 2024

Salary:

For a secondment as national expert, the salary will remain as determined (and paid) by the current employer plus a daily allowance of €110.40 paid by the EUISS.

Duration:

The successful candidate will be offered a contract as seconded national expert of 1 year. This could be renewed for a further period of up to 2 years.

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 the Institute acts as a trusted interface between EU officials and member state diplomats and Europe’s wider think tank and scholarly community.

Through its publications and events, it works to enhance policymakers’ understanding of the underlying trends and complexity of a fast-changing world. It always combines rigorous research with policy-relevant conclusions and recommendations. It has a solid track record of strengthening the links among EU think tanks working in the field of foreign, security and defence policy, thus helping to build a stronger EU ‘strategic community and culture’.

The EUISS seeks to hire a Research Director by way of secondment of a national expert who will work under the direct supervision of the EUISS Director and be responsible for the coordination of all EUISS research activities, maximising their policy relevance and impact.

Main responsibilities

• Working within the overall guidance of the EUISS Director, coordinating all EUISS research activities (in terms of timing, framing, quality of writing and ensuing the necessary link to evolving EU policy needs and requirements);
• Working with Senior and Associate Analysts overseeing the overall the development and execution of the annual work plan and its amendments throughout the year;
• Closely coordinating with the Publications team to improve the publication cycle of the EUISS, including its peer review mechanism;
• Making substantial proposals on areas/topics to be covered by the EUISS work programme, for approval by the Director;
• In agreement with the Director, developing his/her own specific research portfolio and related activities;
• Representing the EUISS at external events;
• Reinforcing the Paris-based strand of EUISS activities, through the organisation of brainstorming seminars, task forces and other formats.

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 who enjoys 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;
• Hold, or be in the position to obtain, a valid security clearance certificate.

Education

• A PhD, preferably in the field of international relations, security studies, political science, or a related field from a university of recognised global standing.

Professional experience

• Minimum of eight years of professional work experience within one or more policy research, governmental, academic, or educational institutions;
• Demonstrated knowledge in at least one of the geographical and/or thematic work portfolios of the EUISS as well as in key cross-cutting security issues;
• Proven record of producing and coordinating high-quality and original policy-oriented research and publications aimed at key EU stake-holders;
• Proven record of close collaboration and having established an extensive network with relevant national diplomatic and EU institutions;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills, including the ability to identify and distil complex policy issues and propose viable reforms and solutions;
• Well-developed communication and drafting skills, with a demonstrated ability to write and present policy innovations effectively to key audiences;
• Proven ability to work well under pressure and to ensure the delivery of high-quality results from different contributors within tight deadlines;
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work effectively in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment as a team member and team coordinator;
• High professional values and standards characterised by analytical rigour, integrity, and confidentiality.

Languages

• Excellent English and French writing and speaking skills are essential.

Procedure

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;
• A duly signed authorisation/letter of sponsorship from the current employer for the secondment to the EUISS.

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

NB 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, 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 an employer authorisation/letter of sponsorship for the secondment to the EUISS by the application deadline. Applications without proof of such confirmation will not be considered for the next steps of the procedure.

The deadline for submitting applications is Friday 6 September 2024, 12:00 CEST.

All eligible applications will be scrutinised by a Selection Committee. Candidates whose applications best match the selection criteria will be invited for an interview. In addition, a second interview or written tests may be carried out.

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 or religious conviction, sex or sexual orientation and regardless of disabilities, marital status or family situation.

Any questions related to this selection procedure have to be submitted to EUISS Human Resources via the online contact form and indicating the reference of the vacancy notice.

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.