7.2.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 33/1

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NOTICE OF OPEN COMPETITION: DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Reference: EF/TA/07/03

(2008/C 33 A/01)

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in Dublin is an autonomous body established by a regulation of the Council of Ministers of the European Communities. The European Foundation is organising an open competition to fill a vacancy and to form a reserve list for the recruitment of a:

Deputy Director

Candidates are asked to give careful attention to this notice of competition and to use only the official application form.

I.   WE ARE

The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions was established by Council Regulation (EEC) No 1365/75 of 26 May 1975, as amended.

The aim of the Foundation is to contribute to the planning and establishment of better living and working conditions through action designed to increase and disseminate knowledge likely to assist in this development.

Its tasks are to develop and pursue ideas on the medium and long-term improvement of living and working conditions in the light of practical experience and to identify factors leading to change. The Foundation is required to take the relevant Community policies into account when carrying out its tasks. It advises the Community Institutions on foreseeable objectives and guidelines by forwarding in particular scientific information and technical data. The social partners are associated in the actions it undertakes.

The Foundation's core business is both research and communicating the results of that research. It carries out research and development projects, to provide data and analysis for informing and supporting the formulation of EU policy on working and living conditions. The Foundation has a network of experts throughout Europe who conduct research on its behalf including assessing the current national situations, the preparation of case studies and national reports and the conducting of surveys. As part of its research base, the Foundation maintains a number of monitoring tools: the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO); the European Working Conditions Observatory (EWCO) including regular surveys on working conditions; Quality of Life in Europe surveys; European Monitoring Centre on Change (EMCC); European Restructuring Monitor (ERM). National Outreach Centres (NOCs) have been set up in 10 countries as communication relays for the Foundation.

The Foundation has a Governing Board with representatives of the Governments, Employers' and Employees' organisations of all EU Member States, and the European Commission. It has its seat in Dublin and currently has a budget of approximately EUR 20 million and an authorised staffing level of 94 people. The staff of the Foundation are recruited from the EU Member States and have a wide range of professional experience and background. The Foundation also maintains a Brussels Liaison Office, with the dual role of strengthening the visibility and impact of Foundation research at EU level, and monitoring developments in policy-making.

II.   WE PROPOSE

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The Deputy Director assists the Director in the following functions: — directing and managing the Foundation and in implementing the decisions of the Governing Board, — ensuring the effective representation and public relations of the Foundation at the most senior level in its dealings with the European Institutions and bodies throughout the European Union, including representation of the Foundation at conferences, seminars, and media events, — exercising authority over the staff of the Foundation, including their recruitment, stipulation of the qualifications required of them and their dismissal, — preparing the activities of the Governing Board and accounting to the Governing Board for the running of the Foundation, — drawing up an annual programme of work, and a Four-Year programme, for the approval of the Governing Board, taking account of the opinions of the Community Institutions and the Economic and Social Committee, — ensuring the quality of the Foundation's work and the development of its reputation as an acknowledged leader in its field of expertise.

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Subject to the authority of the Director, the Deputy Director will assume responsibility for certain functions of the Foundation, which will be defined in the detailed job description. The Deputy Director deputises for the Director when the Director is absent or otherwise unable to perform his duties.

III.   WE LOOK FOR

Candidates should preferably fulfil the following conditions:

—	have relevant professional experience in the field of living and working conditions,

—	have a good scientific reputation, documented by publications and/or research work,

—	have well-developed management and leadership skills, preferably in an international environment,

—	have advanced interpersonal and presentation skills,

—	have the ability to interact and negotiate at a senior management level with the European Union Institutions, public authorities and a range of social partners, preferably with experience in this area,

—	have a good knowledge of other languages of the European Union in order to be able to work effectively in the Foundation and with its institutional and personal associates,

—	be able to carry out the entire five-year mandate before reaching retirement age, which is defined as being the end of the month in which the person reaches the age of 65 years for temporary agents.

IV.   APPLICANTS MUST

The competition is open to candidates who, by the closing date for applications, fulfil the following conditions:

—	are nationals of one of the Member States of the European Union with full rights as a citizen,

—	have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the laws concerning military service,

—	have a university degree that gives access to postgraduate studies or equivalent professional experience,

—	have minimum 15 years relevant postgraduate professional experience, including five years senior management experience involving responsibility for the management of staff and finance, and including at least five years in the area of work covered by the Foundation,

—	have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Communities and a satisfactory knowledge of another official language of the Communities. A good command of English is required, as it is the working language of the Foundation,

—	are able to produce character references as to suitability for performance of the duties of the post.

Independence and declaration of interest

The Deputy Director will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act independently in the public interest and to make a declaration in relation to any interest which might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. Candidates must confirm their willingness to do so in their application.

V.   SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT

The competition will be based on an examination of application forms followed by a series of interviews and tests, as outlined below.

A.   EXAMINATION OF APPLICATIONS

1.

A list of candidates who have submitted their applications (using the official application form and by the closing date specified — see Section VII) and who fulfil the general conditions set out in Section IV, will be drawn up. The list and the application forms will be forwarded to the Pre-Selection Committee. To assist in the administration of applications, candidates are requested to submit a letter of motivation and curriculum vitae in English, together with their application.

2.

The Pre-Selection Committee will examine the applications and draw up a draft list of best-qualified candidates who fulfil the eligibility criteria (section IV) and most closely meet the selection criteria (section III) for the post. It will base its decision exclusively on the information given on the application form and backed up by supporting documents. Candidates who do not fulfil the requisite conditions for admission under Section IV or who have not provided relevant documentary evidence in support of their claims by the closing date will be eliminated at this stage. A curriculum vitae will not be regarded as a supporting document.

3.

The most suitable candidates will be invited to an interview with the Pre-Selection Committee which will establish a draft list of proposed candidates. Candidates will be tested on their oral and written proficiency in some or all of the languages listed in their application. The draft list of proposed candidates from this stage will be submitted to the Foundation's Governing Board for approval. The Governing Board will submit the list to the Commission, which will manage the next stage of the competition.

4.

The draft list will be submitted for approval to the European Commission's Consultative Committee on Appointments (CCA), by way of written procedure. Candidates may be invited for interview and testing by the CCA. The next stage is an interview of approved candidates with the relevant Commissioners.

B.   APPOINTMENT

The Deputy Director is appointed by the European Commission from a list of candidates submitted by the Foundation's Governing Board.

While the Appointing Authority is the European Commission, the Director of the Foundation will be the Deputy Director's immediate manager. In this context the Deputy Director will report to the Director and be subject to the Foundation's policy on objectives-setting and performance management.

Equal opportunities

The Foundation applies a policy of equal opportunities and accepts applications without distinction on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.

VI.   CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The Deputy Director will be appointed as a member of the temporary agents at AD 13 grade pursuant to Article 2a of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities, for a maximum period of five years or for a shorter period ending at the end of the month in which he/she reaches the age of 65 years. The term of office may be renewed following a new selection procedure.

Place of employment

Dublin, Ireland. Residence within reasonable distance of the Foundation's offices will be required.

Remuneration

Remuneration will be based on the Community scale of salaries. Pay is subject to Community tax and other deductions laid down in the Staff Regulations. It is, however, exempt from any national taxation.

The pay is subject to the Irish weighting factor, which is currently 121,8 %.

VII.   APPLICATIONS

Interested persons must use the form contained in this issue of the Official Journal for their applications, or downloaded from the Foundation's website at www.eurofound.europa.eu. Having completed and signed it, they must post it, together with a letter of motivation, a curriculum vitae in English and photocopies of any supporting documents (diplomas, employment certificates or any other documents to support claims made on the application form), preferably by registered post, not later than 25 March 2008, as attested by the postmark, to:

Chairperson of the Governing Board

(Reference EF/TA/07/03)

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living

and Working Conditions

Wyattville Road

Loughlinstown

Dublin 18

Ireland

e-mail: recruit@eurofound.europa.eu

The successful candidate will be expected to take up the post within three months of nomination by the Commission.

VIII.   IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

Important information for candidates:

—	candidates should use the official application form as contained in this notice, or downloaded from the Foundation's website at www.eurofound.europa.eu,

—	in preparing their applications, candidates may in no event refer to documents, applications or other forms submitted in connection with previous applications,

—	successful candidates who receive an offer of employment will be required to produce the originals of their diplomas, academic qualifications or employment certificates,

—	supporting documents will not be returned to candidates,

—	candidates are asked to report any change of address in writing without delay, mentioning the competition number,

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candidates are reminded that the selection procedures and deliberations are confidential. It is forbidden for candidates to make direct or indirect contact with any individuals involved in the selection process or for anybody to do so on their behalf. All enquiries or requests for information or documentation in relation to the competition should be addressed to the Secretary to the Pre-Selection Committee: Raymond Comerford (e-mail: recruit@eurofound.europa.eu),

—	electronic applications will not be accepted.

IX.   DATA PROTECTION

Any personal data provided by the candidate shall be processed pursuant to European Regulation related to personal data protection, in particular Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movements of such data. It shall be processed solely for the purposes of the performance, management and follow-up of information requested by the candidate. The candidate shall have the right of access to his personal data and the right to rectify any such data that is inaccurate or incomplete. Should the candidate have any queries concerning the processing of his/her personal data, he shall address them to the Data Protection Officer, European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, Wyattville Road, Dublin 18, Ireland.

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