JOB DESCRIPTION

WE ARE

Unit FI plans and executes the Implementation of the EU-Bond issuance programme which funds the Union’s financial assistance programmes and the NextGenerationEU programme and monitors the evolution of legacy programmes (SURE, EFSM). To this end, unit FI oversees the implementation of the EU’s unified funding strategy and is responsible for the enhancement of the capacities needed for its further successful development. Unit FI is also responsible for the financial structuring of loans to beneficiaries. FI is also responsible for communication with key capital market participants – notably management of the Primary Dealer Network but also Credit Rating Agencies, Investment banks, peer institutions and national Debt Management Offices. It is also responsible for the development of the EU’s investor outreach strategy.

Over the last 4 years, the Commission has built up a professional debt management capacity resembling the operational capacities housed in national debt management authorities. This operational framework is deployed for mobilising the financing for a number of high-profile EU financial assistance programmes, notably NextGenerationEU and the most recent support programme for the Ukraine as well as SAFE.

These operations are now organised under a unified funding approach, including the related internal governance and risk management structures. The Commission funding approach foresees the organization of funding operations through a common pool, complemented with a dedicated liquidity and payment management. The funds are mobilisied through different funding channels (syndicated transactions, auctions) as well as the entire maturity spectrum (short-term and long­term funding). Up to 30 percent of the proceeds will be raised through the issuance of Green Bonds for which the Commission has established a dedicated Green Bond Framework.

The successful candidate will join the Directorate, which undertakes market operations on behalf of the Union budget (“Asset and Financial Risk Management”). This Directorate, the bulk of whose activities are located in Luxembourg, forms part of DG BUDG.

The Commission is seeking to complement its team with an expert who can bring first-hand operational experience in the management of financial operations as well as experience in financial analysis. In particular, the successful candidate will be selected with a view to:

• Strengthen the Commission’s capacity for an integrated public debt and liquidity management in line with international best practices;
• Prepare the planning of the funding operations in collaboration with the colleagues and

provide support for their executions, in   line with the Commission’s unified funding approach;

• Strengthen the Commission’s capacity for managing a broad primary dealer network as well

as assessing the support of members of that network for the Commission’s debt management activities;

• Support in developing further the operational framework for the debt management, for example, through additional instruments and processes to refine its funding approach and/or liquidity management.

The successful candidate will enjoy important responsibilities in his/her respective field of competence and be relied on heavily for strategic and operational guidance. S/he will enjoy considerable autonomy and room for initiative in the achievement of agreed objectives while being fully integrated and working within the organizational/management structure of the Directorate.

WE LOOK FOR

The successful candidate should have sound judgment, strong team spirit, a sense of initiative, communication and problem—’solving abilities, as well as knowledge of the relevant procedures. The successful candidate should have the capacity to combine financial and institutional aspects in a versatile manner and should be able to advance and organise conceptual work in the Unit. S/he should also be able to coordinate work across different Directorates and services as well as the required communication skills (written and oral) for communication with senior Commission officials and Cabinets.

S/he should have a solid professional background in economics and finance, in addition to advanced computer science skills given the quantitative work implied by the planning of the operations, as well as a good knowledge of the policies and activities of DG BUDG, and ideally solid experience in budgetary policy analysis. Her/his academic background would preferably be in economics, finance and/or accounting. The candidate should be able to perform his/her tasks accurately, independently and to organize her/his work and the work of the team with a view to meet short deadlines. Experience in drafting reports and/or briefings would be important.

Given the highly technical and challenging character of this position, the successful candidate must possess a proven significant (first-hand) experience in the specific area of funding activities on debt capital markets (acquired either in private or public entities). S/he should have acquired this broad and sound expertise in planning and implementation of different types of funding operations, such as benchmark fixed income bond issuances through syndicated transactions and auction lines or private placements and should be familiar with the use of the dedicated platforms or programs used for this purpose as well as the management and assessment of a broad primary dealer network. A professional background in the specific areas described above will be an asset.

Apart from these core business competences, s/he should have also proven knowledge of the directly related activities, such as back-office operations, credit ratings, compliance and regulatory and financial framework. Familiarity with the institutional setting for collaboration, and exchange among debt management authorities in the EU would be an asset.

We look for a dynamic, experienced and open-minded team player who is motivated to proactively contribute to the different business processes under the responsibility of the Unit. The ability to function effectively as part of a team delivering to tight deadlines will be an important attribute. Furthermore, good communication skills will be important in facilitating constructive dialogue with colleagues across the DG and Commission. A very good command of English (written and oral) is required for this position.

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order:

1. your CV 2. completed  application form.

Please send these documents by the publication deadline to [email protected] indicating the selection reference BUDG/C0M/2025/2023 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline.