Recruitment of Temporary Agents

THE COMMUNITY FISHERIES CONTROL AGENCY - CFCA - IS A EUROPEAN UNION BODY ESTABLISHED IN 2005 TO ORGANISE OPERATIONAL COORDINATION OF FISHERIES CONTROL AND INSPECTION ACTIVITIES BY THE MEMBER STATES AND TO ASSIST THEM TO COOPERATE SO AS TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES OF THE COMMON FISHERIES POLICY IN ORDER TO ENSURE ITS EFFECTIVE AND UNIFORM APPLICATION.

The Community Fisheries Control Agency is organising selection procedures with a view to drawing up reserve lists for the following positions:

• FISH-CFCA-TA-AD6-0801: LEGAL OFFICER
• FISH-CFCA-TA-AD6-0802: HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
• FISH-CFCA-TA-AD7-0803: BUDGET AND FINANCE OFFICER
• FISH-CFCA-TA-AD7-0804: DESK MANAGER OF OPERATIONS (4 POSITIONS)
• FISH-CFCA-TA-AST2-0805: ASSISTANT FOR COORDINATION OF OPERATIONS

The Agency will welcome applications from highly motivated candidates to participate in the development of CFCA.

1. Conditions of employment

The successful applicants will be appointed as Temporary Staff members of CFCA, according to the provisions of Article 2 (a), title I of the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Communities (CEOS).

The successful candidates will be recruited in grades mentioned in the titles of offered positions.

The initial duration of the contract is of three years, with possibility of renewal.

The place of employment is Vigo, Spain, where CFCA will be located from June 2008.

2. General conditions for applications

Candidates may apply only where meeting the following criteria for consideration of their application:

A. Common conditions to all positions

• You must be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union or of Iceland or Norway.
• You must be entitled to your full rights as a citizen.
• You must have fulfilled the obligations imposed on you by the laws concerning military service.
• You must meet the character requirements relating to the position you apply for.
• You must submit a completed application for each post applied for.
• You will be invited, if selected for an interview, to sign and date a declaration that information provided in the application documents is true and complete.

Candidates may apply in any of the official languages of the European Community, but it would be helpful to apply in English in order to facilitate the selection process, when the Agency follows a practise of using English as working language.

However candidates are also requested to state their educational qualifications and positions held in the language of origin.

The Agency is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women.

If you are invited to an interview, you will be asked to submit supporting documents to prove the information provided in your application.

B. Submission of applications

Each application shall contain the following documents:

• A detailed curriculum vitae in European format (that can be obtained at the following address

http://europass.cedefop.eu.int/europass/home/vernav/Europass+Documents/ Europass+CV//navigate.action,

• A duly completed and signed declaration of honour ( ~87 Kb),
• A motivation letter of 2 pages maximum including a clear mention of the post applied for and of your address for correspondence and for invitation to interview

These three documents should be sent by electronic mail only to:

cfca-vacancies-ta@ec.europa.eu

Please mention in the subject line your last name followed by the position reference:

     FAMILY NAME – CFCA-TA-XX-XXX

Please, note that only complete applications containing the above mentioned documents and information required will be taken into account.

Deadline for sending your application is Thursday 31 January 2008

3. Selection procedure

A. Selection

A selection board is set up for each selection procedure. The principle of confidentiality, which states that the proceedings of the selection board must be secret, shall apply. It works in two ways: first, it imposes obligations to ensure equal treatment for candidates; and second, it seeks to protect the selection board to ensure that its decisions are totally impartial.

The selection board adheres strictly to the conditions of admissions laid down in the publication notice when deciding whether of not candidates are to be admitted. Candidates admitted to a previous selection procedure will not be automatically eligible.

Candidates are strictly forbidden to make any contact with the members of the selection board, either directly or indirectly. Any infringement of this rule will lead to disqualification from the selection procedure.

Should the selection board discover at any stage in the procedure that the candidate does not meet one or more of the general or special conditions for admission to the selection procedure or that the information on the application form does not correspond with the supporting documents, the candidate will be disqualified.

The selection board decides on those candidates who are admitted to the selection procedure in accordance with the requirements as specified in the publication notice. The applications of the candidates admitted to the selection procedure are reviewed and the selection board decides on those candidates who are invited to attend for interview. The selection board may decide on the need for interviewees to undergo one or more written tests related to the nature of the duties in order to facilitate the selection process. Following the interviews, which are conducted by the selection board, the selection board decides which candidates will be placed on the reserve list.

B. Reserve list and recruitment

Each candidate will be informed by mail whether or not he/she has been placed on the reserve list. Candidates should note that inclusion on the reserve list does not guarantee appointment. The recruitment procedure is as follows: as and when funds become available, candidates on the reserve list will be considered and the reserve list will be drawn on to fill vacancies. If a letter of intention is issued, the candidate must undergo a compulsory medical examination to establish that he/she meets the standard of physical fitness necessary to perform the duties involved and the candidate must provide original or certified copies of all relevant documents.

Successful candidates who are recruited undergo an initial probation period of 6 months.

C. Pay and welfare benefits

The pay of staff members consists of a basic salary supplemented with various allowances, including family allowances.

Basic salary: there is a basic salary scale for each grade, divided into a number of steps. Staff members progress automatically to the next step every two years until they reach the top of the scale for that grade.

Allowances: in addition to their basic salary, staff members may be entitled to various allowances, in particular an expatriation or foreign residence allowance, and family allowances, including household allowance, dependent child allowance, pre-school allowance and an education allowance.

Under certain circumstances, in particular where staff members are obliged to change their place of residence in order to take up employment, the Agency may also reimburse various expenses incurred on recruitment, notably removal expenses.

Additional information can be obtained from the web site of the CFCA Agency.

Furthermore, the following link gives you direct access to the Staff Regulations: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/personnel_administration/statut/tocen100.pdf. 

D. Important

Please, take note that a binding commitment can only be made after verification of all conditions and will take the form of a contract signed by the Executive Director.

Note that this call may be used for the recruitment of a similar post, for a period of 2 years following the closing date stipulated. Therefore candidates whose name will be put on a reserve list could be offered a contract during this period of time.

Please note that the selection process may take some time to be completed and that no information will be released during this period. Once a selection process has been completed, its status will be displayed on the web site of CFCA.

4. Specific requirements and details of positions offered

Job description

Overall purpose:

To provide legal advice for the preparation and implementation of legal commitments of the Agency

Functions and Duties:

Reporting to the Executive Director and the Secretary General the Legal Officer will be responsible for:

• Preparing legal advice to the Executive Director, in particular for the preparation and follow up of the Administrative Board decisions
• Providing legal advice to all Units of CFCA in their field of competence
• Providing legal support in protocol and inter-institutional issues
• Providing Legal advice concerning  the verification of procurement procedures, contracts and other legal commitments
• Contribute to the preparation, development and implementation of internal guidelines and procedures
• Ensuring sound management of applicable rules on access to documents and protection of personal data

Qualifications and experience required

A. Eligibility criteria

• University degree relating to the field covered by the duties concerned
• At least 3 years proven professional experience acquired after the award of university diploma when the normal duration of university education is four years
• To have a thorough knowledge of Spanish and at least two other official languages of the European Union

B. Selection criteria

Essential:

• Knowledge of EU institutional legal framework
• Knowledge of the principles of public procurement
• Ability to draft clear and concise documents
• Negotiation skills
• Sense of responsibility and attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure
• Organisational and planning skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Motivation and initiative
• Excellent ability to establish and maintain effective communication with colleagues

Advantageous

• Knowledge of EU legislation concerning procurement and procurement procedures in EU institutions
• Experience in a procurement related function
• Litigation experience
• Working experience in EU Institutions and/or bodies

Job description

Overall purpose:

To design and implement the Staff policy of the Agency in accordance with the applicable legislation and rules.

Functions and Duties:

Reporting to the Head of Unit A -Resources-, the Human Resources officer will be responsible for:

• Organisation and management of recruitment procedures
• Determination of Individual Rights of Staff, management of leave and absences
• Establishing, updating and maintaining personnel files according to statutory provisions
• Advising on general HR policy aspects, in respect with the applicable Staff Regulations and rules, following-up of the Personnel Budget (Title I)
• Establishing, a training plan and organising trainings for the agency staff
• Salaries administration
• Relations with the different Social Securities Schemes (EU-25 and Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme)
• Providing guidance to the Agency’s management team in job and career development, being the help desk for staff regarding their rights and obligations
• Managing all other HR daily management issues.

Qualifications and experience required
A. Eligibility criteria

• University degree relating to the field covered by the duties concerned
• At least 3 years proven professional experience acquired after the award of university diploma
• To have a thorough knowledge of English and at least another official language of the European Union
• To have proven abilities to use electronic office equipment (word processing, spreadsheets, email, internet, etc.)

B.Selection criteria
Essential:

• Good knowledge of the Institutional Framework and functioning of the European Union
• Thorough knowledge of EU Staff Regulations and rules
• Good organisational skills
• Excellent social skills and ability to establish and maintain effective communication with colleagues
• Excellent sense of responsibility and initiative
• Good knowledge of English and French
• High sense of discretion and confidentiality

Advantageous

• Working experience in EU Institutions and/or bodies
• Good knowledge of Spanish

Job description

Overall purpose:

To prepare and implement the budget of the Agency in accordance with Regulations and rules applicable to the Agency.

Functions and Duties:

Reporting to the Head of Unit A – Resources - the Finance and Budget Officer will be responsible for:

• Assisting the Executive Director in the preparation, presentation and follow-up of the budget of the Agency
• Advising the Executive Director on budgetary, financial and procurement issues
• Assisting the Executive Director in the development of reporting in the field of Finance and Budgetary Affairs
• Defining budgetary and financial procedures in accordance with applicable regulations and internal control procedures
• Maintaining financial control of appropriations and expense appropriations
• Co-ordinating the ex-ante and ex-post control and supervising verification of financial transactions
• Developing user manuals and providing support with regard to the budget & financial procedures
• Organising training for the Agency’s users on all financial matters

Qualifications and experience required

A. Eligibility criteria

• University degree relating to the field covered by the duties concerned
• At least 6 years proven professional experience acquired after the award of a university diploma when the normal duration of university education is four year, or
  at least 7 years of proven professional experience acquired after the award of university diploma, when the normal duration of university education is three years
• To have a thorough knowledge of English and at least another official language of the European Union
• To have proven abilities to use electronic office equipment (word processing, spreadsheets, email, internet, etc.)

B. Selection criteria

Essential:

• In-depth knowledge of EU Financial Regulations and EU Public Procurement Rules and Regulations as well as EU Budgetary Rules
• Excellent sense of initiative and responsibility
• Good organisational skills
• Capacity to make sound, logical and well-argued judgements
• Excellent analytical capacities
• Good inter-personal skills
• Honesty and integrity

Advantageous

• Good knowledge of financial software like Sincom2, ABAC and Business Objects
• Good knowledge of French

• Working experience in EU Institutions and/or bodies

Job description

Overall purpose:

The four Desk Managers will be in charge of coordinating activities of the respective Desks in the framework of the plans for joint deployment of pooled national means of control and inspection of fishing activities in the following areas:

• North Sea
• Baltic Sea
• Mediterranean and Black Seas
• IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing)

Functions and Duties:

Under the Head of Unit "Operational Coordination", the Desk Manager will be responsible for:

• Planning and follow-up of the activities and staff of the Desk in charge of operations in the field of competence or geographical area
• Developing methodologies for planning and coordination of control and inspection activities by the Member States
• Reporting on fishing matters and in particular risks that certain activities may not comply with Community legislation in force
• Reporting on the general performance of the Desk in relation with plans and programmes

Qualifications and experience required

A. Eligibility criteria

• University degree relating to the field covered by the duties concerned
• At least 6 years proven professional experience acquired after the award of a university diploma when the normal duration of university education is four year, or
  at least 7 years of proven professional experience acquired after the award of university diploma, when the normal duration of university education is three years
• At least 2 years of professional experience of strategic advice and coordination of questions in areas relating to the implementation and compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy
• To have a proven experience of negotiations at international level
• To have a thorough knowledge of English and at least another official language of the European Union

B. Selection criteria

Essential:

• Good sense of initiative and responsibility
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to draft clear and concise reports
• Good experience of main office software, internet, email
• Thorough knowledge of Community fisheries legislation
• Ability to undertake missions of several weeks duration
• Ability to cooperate and work in a team
• Experience in leading teams for logistic operations at sea or in the fisheries sector

Advantageous

• Knowledge of EU Institutions and of their working procedures
• Experience in computer applications, including satellite monitoring systems
• Qualified as ISO 9001 lead auditor

Job description

Overall purpose:

To assist the sector of the Agency in charge of planning and programming the operations of control and inspection.

Functions and Duties:

Under the Head of Unit "Operational Coordination" and the Head of Programmes, the Assistant for coordination of operations will be responsible for:

• Assisting the Head of Programmes for ensuring internal coordination between the different desks (C2 to C8) of Unit "operational coordination"
• Ensuring full implementation of procedures and internal rules to be applied in accordance to agreed plans and programmes
• Monitoring the budget execution of projects and operations of the Unit
• Reporting on timelines and follow up of missions and meetings with the Unit involved
• Monitoring reports and archives of operations of the Unit

Qualifications and experience required

A. Eligibility criteria

• A level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education or a level of post secondary education of an official duration of three years attested by a diploma
• At least 6 years of professional experience in a domain relevant to the abovementioned duties
• To have a thorough knowledge of English and at least another official language of the European Union

B. Selection criteria

Essential:

• Excellent coordination and organisational skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Commitment to demonstrate and promote high quality service standards
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office software, internet
• Ability to draft notes and reports

Advantageous

• Sound knowledge of a third EU language, preferably Spanish
• Sound knowledge or willingness to learn financial procedures applicable in the Agency
• Knowledge of the Common Fisheries Policy
• Working experience in EU Institutions and/or bodies