Share Vacancy notice : Contract Agent FG IV post within EU INTCEN/Hybrid Fusion Cell EEAS Headquarters

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The closing date for the submission of applications is 1st February 2019 at 18.00 (CET). Late applications will not be accepted.

The European External Action Service (EEAS) supports the work of the High Representative in her tasks of conducting the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy and chairing the Foreign Affairs Council. It also supports the High Representative in her capacity as Vice President of the Commission with regard to her responsibilities within the Commission in the external relations field including the coordination of other aspects of the EU’s external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with Member States, the Council and relevant services of the European Commission.

The EU Hybrid Fusion Cell was established in 2016 as an initiative of the Joint Communication on Countering Hybrid threats. It is incorporated into the analysis division of EU INTCEN, which, along with the EU Military Staff Intelligence Directorate and under the framework of the Single Intelligence Analysis Capacity (SIAC), provides analysis and early warning to the EEAS, the Commission, the Council and Member States. The primary aim of the EU Hybrid Fusion Cell is to analyse, share and exchange information on hybrid threats within multiple networks across the EU institutions and the Member States. Supported by the geographical and thematic sections of SIAC, the Hybrid Fusion Cell analyses a wide range of hybrid threats and their originators. Disinformation campaigns are one area of focus of the dedicated team.

On 5 December 2018 the College of the European Commission adopted an Action Plan against disinformation (JOIN(2018) 36 final), which was presented jointly by the Commission and the High Representative. The plan outlines concrete actions to bolster EU capabilities to detect, analyse and expose disinformation and strengthen coordinated and joint responses between the Union and Member States. In this context, EEAS will strengthen its Strategic Communications capacity, and in particular the Stratcom Task Forces for East, South and Western Balkans and EU's Hybrid Fusion Cell. This will be done bearing in mind the growing scale and importance of disinformation activities in those regions and the need to raise awareness about the adverse impact of disinformation. The Task Forces will also step up proactive strategic communications in the EU's neighborhood and continue supporting independent media in cooperation with the relevant Commission services.

WE PROPOSE:

One Contract Agent FG IV position for a political analyst to be based within Hybrid Fusion Cell, INTCEN. The Contract Agent work will focus on the analysis of hybrid threats, with particular focus on the disinformation campaigns. He/she will: (a) closely cooperate with dedicated Task Forces for EU's Eastern Neighborhood, Middle East and Northern Africa and Western Balkans in the EEAS Strategic Communications Division when preparing regular assessment and situational reports on hostile disinformation campaigns based on variety of sources (b) coordinate activities of INTCEN with the EU Member States contact points within Rapid Alert System and other European networks (e.g. Election cooperation network) dealing with the analysis of disinformation campaigns, (c) contribute to awareness-raising and advocacy activities to address adverse impact of disinformation, including with international partners.

The expert will be required to work closely with the relevant policy divisions of the EEAS, notably with the divisions dealing with EU neighborhood countries, relevant European Commission services and with EU Delegations in their respective regions.

Functions and Duties:

He/she will assist/contribute to:

• Research using automatized open-source research/IT tools; 

• in-depth assessments on hostile disinformation activities; 

• INTCEN's hybrid threat assessments on information operations/disinformation activities;

• Preparing analysis reports for the Hybrid Fusion Cell and EEAS Strategic Communications Division;

• Coordination of counter hostile disinformation activities;

• Building/maintaining an effective network across institutions, MS, partner states and partner organizations and agencies; 

• Analysis of the perception of the EU in the Eastern Neighborhood, the Middle East and Northern Africa and Western Balkans regions, monitoring of reporting on EU policies and values/interests in these regions, detection and exposure of hostile disinformation activities and campaigns;

• Promotion of closer cooperation and synergies between the EEAS and the European Commission in their efforts towards an effective and coordinated response to disinformation campaigns and towards impactful EU strategic communications in the EU's Eastern Neighborhood, the Middle East and Northern Africa and Western Balkans;

• Work with relevant EU Institutions and bodies on strategic medium-long term activities, including region-wide and individual country communication campaigns, including awareness raising campaigns on disinformation;

• Supporting EEAS Strategic Communications Division assisting EU Delegations in the neighbourhood developing coherent strategic communications action plans based on information environment assessment and targeted to priority audiences, addressing local perceptions or perception gaps and taking into account vulnerability to disinformation activities;

• Support to other tasks of the Strategic Communications Division.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Knowledge and Experience:

• Candidates should be able to demonstrate good knowledge and experience in the following areas: 
• political analysis and awareness of informational environment in the respective regions; knowledge of the EU's policies and positions towards the countries in the respective regions; 
• strategic communications and public diplomacy; 
• sound background on security in organizations. 
• Knowledge of EU institutions and decision-making processes, the EU's external action and EU enlargement policies would be an asset.

Skills:

Linguistic skills: Knowledge of English and French would be an asset.

Knowledge of languages in the respective regions (e.g. Russian, Arabic or one of the languages of the Western Balkans) is an asset.

Communication skills: Capacity to work and communicate (both orally and written) under time constraints in a multilingual international diplomatic environment. Creativity and flexibility.

Interpersonal skills: Teamwork and capacity to coordinate with other teams and multiple stakeholders. Able to proactively establish and maintain an effective network/community of interest.

Intellectual skills: Solid analytical capability as well as excellent drafting and reporting skills. Rapid grasp of problems and capacity to identify issues and solutions.

Computer skills: Microsoft Office software (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required. Understanding of data mining and knowledge of automatized research tools.

Social media skills: Knowledge of Twitter and Facebook, and social media analytics is a key asset.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Candidates for a contract agent FG IV post should:

- (i) have passed a valid EPSO CAST in FG IV ; or

• - (ii) be registered in the EPSO Permanent CAST in FG IV https://epso.europa.eu/apply/job-offers_en?keyword=&contract=37&grade=All&institution=101&location=All
• have completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma;
• have the capacity to work in languages of CFSP and external relations necessary for the performance of their duties. Knowledge of other EU languages would be an asset;
• Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• have technical knowledge on how to use open-source and social media research tools;
• have a valid security clearance.

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT:

Brussels, Belgium

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

The successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting if they do not already hold security clearance to an appropriate level (EU SECRET), in accordance with the relevant security provisions.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

Contract agent position (Function group IV); renewable contract for a maximum duration of 6 years (with a valid CAST exam). Initial contract: 1 year.

Posted within EU INTCEN, embedded in the EU Hybrid Fusion Cell.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE[1]:

Candidates should send their applications (CV and motivation letter - in English or French) to the mailbox: EEAS-EU-INTCEN-ADMINISTRATION@eeas.europa.eu.

The closing date for the submission of applications is 1st February 2019 at 18.00 (CET). Late applications will not be accepted.

The selection panel will make a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and professional experience described in the CV and motivational letter, and will produce a shortlist of eligible candidates who best meet the selection criteria for the post.

The candidate who have been preselected will be invited for an interview by a selection panel. The panel will recommend a shortlist of candidates for a final decision by the Authority Empowered to Conclude Contracts of Employment. The Authority may decide to interview the candidates on the final shortlist before taking this decision.

Indicative starting date: April 2019 in EEAS HQ (Brussels).


[1] Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) 45/2001b, as implemented by Decision of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy of 8 December 2001. The privacy statement is available on EEAS zone (http://intragate.ec.europa.eu/eeas/eeaszone/?q=node/26891 ) and on the EEAS website

( http://eeas.europa.eu/jobs/contract_agents_hq/index_en.htm).