8.7.2016   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 248/1

Publication of a vacancy for the Executive Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF)

(Temporary Agent — Grade AD 14)

COM/2016/20014

(2016/C 248 A/01)

 

We are

The European Training Foundation (ETF) is a European Union agency, established through Council Regulation (EEC) No 1360/90 of 7 May 1990 recast in 2008 (Regulation (EC) No 1339/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008). It provides information, advice and support on vocational education and training systems to the EU Member States and partner countries, as well as the European Commission, in the framework of the Union’s external policy instruments.

Since 1994, the ETF has become a centre of expertise in the development and reform of vocational education and training systems in the candidate and partner countries of the EU, promoting the development of human capital and, thus, fostering sustainable growth and social inclusion in such countries.

Specific details on the objectives and functions of the ETF are set out in the abovementioned Regulation and more information can be found on the following web site: http://www.etf.europa.eu/

The ETF is located in Turin, Italy, and has a staff of around 130.

We propose

The Director is the legal representative and public face of the ETF and is accountable to the Governing Board. His/her duties and responsibilities include:

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Development and achievement of strategic objectives in the area of ETF responsibilities and in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Regulation;

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Preparation and implementation of annual and multiannual work programmes;

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Day-to-day management of ETF staff, including recruitment;

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Preparation and organisation of Governing Board meetings and implementation of Governing Board decisions;

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Preparation and execution of ETF budget, ensuring that it is managed efficiently and according to the principles of sound financial management;

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Facilitating cooperation between ETF, the European institutions, Member States and other stakeholders;

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Communication with the public in relation to all matters within ETF mission.

These tasks are described in the abovementioned Regulation, in particular article 10.

Selection criteria

The successful candidate should have:

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Proven capacity to lead an organisation, at both strategic and management level;

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Excellent capacity to develop, communicate and implement a strategy for the ETF, ensuring a successful delivery of the mandate of the agency;

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Proven track record of leading and managing change in a large organisation, in a context of stable or diminishing resources;

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Ability to lead and motivate large teams in a European, multicultural and multilingual environment;

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Proven track record in financial and human resources management in a national, European and/or international context;

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Knowledge of the EU Staff and Financial Regulations or experience with similar legal frameworks within national or international organisations;

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Knowledge and experience in policy development and ability to take a holistic approach concerning vocational education and training, skills and qualifications, labour market and/or external relations with EU partner countries (Candidate countries, European Neighbourhood, Central Asia);

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Ability to communicate to the public and cooperate with various stakeholders (European, International, National and Local Authorities, international organisations, social partners, etc.);

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Knowledge of the rules and functioning of EU Institutions, as well as of EU policies and international activities of relevance to the activities of the ETF.

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Very good knowledge of English would be an advantage; knowledge of French would be an asset.

Candidates must (eligibility requirements)

Candidates will be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following formal requirements to be fulfilled by the deadline for applications:

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Nationality: candidates must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union.

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University degree or diploma: candidates must have:

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either a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is 4 years or more;

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or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least 1 year when the normal period of university education is at least 3 years (this 1 year’s professional experience cannot be included in the postgraduate professional experience required below).

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Professional experience: candidates must have at least 15 years’ postgraduate professional experience at a level to which the qualifications referred to above give admission. At least 5 years of that professional experience should be in direct relation to a field relevant for this position.

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Management Experience: at least 5 years of the post-graduate professional experience must have been gained in a high-level management function (1). Management experience in direct relation to vocational education and training would be an asset.

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Languages: thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union (2) and adequate knowledge of another of these official languages.

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Age limit: candidates must be able to complete the full 5-year mandate before reaching retirement age. For temporary staff of the EU entering the service as from 1 January 2014, retirement age is defined as being the end of the month in which the person reaches the age of 66 (3).

Independence and declaration of interests

Before taking up his/her duties, the 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 interests which might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence.

Selection and appointment

The European Commission will organise the selection of the Director of the ETF in accordance with its selection and recruitment procedures (see also the Document on Senior Officials Policy (4)). To this end, the Commission will set up a pre-selection panel which will invite for an interview the candidates fulfilling the eligibility requirements listed above and having the best profile with regards to the selection criteria listed above.

The pre-selection panel will propose the candidates best matching the above listed criteria for further interviews with the Commission’s Consultative Committee on Appointments (CCA). They will have to undergo testing by an assessment centre run by external recruitment consultants. Candidates who are short-listed by the CCA, will afterwards be interviewed by the Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.

Following these interviews, the European Commission will adopt a short list of the most suitable candidates, which will be communicated to the Governing Board of the ETF. The latter will interview the candidates before appointing the Director from among the candidates short-listed by the Commission. Inclusion on the shortlist does not guarantee appointment.

Candidates may be required to undergo further interviews and/or tests in addition to those indicated above. There will be a statement before the relevant committee(s) of the European Parliament.

For practical reasons and in order to complete the selection procedure as quickly as possible in the interest of the candidates as well as that of ETF, the selection procedure will be carried out in English and/or French only (5). Nevertheless, selection panels will verify during the interview(s) whether candidates comply with the requirement of a satisfactory knowledge of another official EU language.

Salaries and conditions of employment are laid down in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants for temporary agents occupying a function corresponding to the basic post of Director at grade AD 14 of the European Union (6). The selected candidate will be classified depending on the length of his/her experience in step 1 or step 2 within the grade. He/she will be appointed for 5 years with a possible prolongation for maximum 3 years.

Applicants should note the requirement under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants for all new staff to complete successfully a 9-month probationary period.

The place of employment is Turin (Italy), where the ETF is based.

The post is available from 1 July 2017.

Equal opportunities

The European Commission and the ETF apply a policy of equal opportunities and non-discrimination in accordance with Article 1(d) of the Staff Regulations.

Application procedure

Before submitting your application, you should carefully check whether you meet all eligibility requirements (‘Candidates must’), particularly concerning the types of diploma, high-level professional experience as well as linguistic capacity required. Failure to meet any of the eligibility requirements means an automatic exclusion from the selection procedure.

If you want to apply, you must register via the internet on the following website:

https://ec.europa.eu/dgs/human-resources/seniormanagementvacancies/

and follow the instructions concerning the various stages of the procedure.

You must have a valid email address. This will be used to confirm your registration as well as to remain in contact with you during the different stages of the procedure. Therefore, please keep the European Commission informed about any change in your email address.

To complete your application, you need to upload a CV in PDF format and to fill out, online, a letter of motivation (maximum 8 000 characters).

Once you have finished your online registration, you will receive an electronic mail confirming that your application has been registered. The mail also contains a registration number which will be your reference number in all matters concerning your application. If you do not receive a confirmation mail, your application has not been registered!

Please note that it is not possible to monitor the progress of your application online. You will be contacted directly by the European Commission regarding the status of your application.

If you have a disability that prevents you from registering online, you may submit your application (CV and letter of motivation) on paper by registered mail to the following address: European Commission, Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security, Unit for Senior Management & CCA, SC11 8/59, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË, indicating clearly as a reference: Vacancy for Executive Director of the European Training Foundation (ETF) (COM/2016/20014), and postmarked no later than the closing date for registration.

All subsequent communication between the Commission and you will be by post. In this case, you must enclose with your application a certificate attesting your disability, issued by a recognised body. You should also set out on a separate sheet of paper any special arrangements you think are needed to make it easier for you to take part in the procedure.

If you require more information and/or encounter technical problems, please send an email to: HR-MANAGEMENT-ONLINE@ec.europa.eu

Closing date

The closing date for registration is 8 September 2016, 12.00 noon Brussels time, following which registration is no longer possible.

It is your responsibility to complete your online registration in time. Once the deadline for the submission of registrations has passed, you will no longer be able to introduce any data. Late registrations will not be accepted, whatever the reason.

Important information for candidates

Candidates are reminded that the work of the different selection committees is confidential. It is forbidden for candidates to make direct or indirect contact with their members or for anybody to do so on their behalf.

Protection of personal data

The Commission will ensure that candidates’ personal data are processed as required by Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the EU institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (7). This applies in particular to the confidentiality and security of such data.

(1)  In their curriculum vitae (CV) candidates should indicate at least for these 5 years during which management experience has been acquired: (1) title and role of management positions held; (2) numbers of staff overseen in these positions; (3) the size of budgets managed; (4) numbers of hierarchical layers above and below; and (5) number of peers.

(2)  http://ec.europa.eu/languages/policy/language-policy/official_languages_en.htm

(3)  http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20140701&from=EN

(4)  http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/docs/official_policy_en.pdf

(5)  The selection panel will ensure that no undue advantage is given to native speakers of these languages.

(6)  See footnote 3.

(7)  OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.