Temporary Officer – Internal Market Division (IMD)

Position description

This position is currently open internally only. All EFTA House staff members and Junior Professionals with an EFTA nationality are entitled to apply.  

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental organisation set up for the promotion of free trade and economic integration to the benefit of its four Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The EFTA Secretariat provides services to the EFTA States. In Brussels this entails support in the management of the EEA Agreement, in particular in ongoing decision making for the continuing evolution of the EEA Agreement.

The Internal Market Division (IMD) of the Secretariat is responsible for serving the EEA EFTA States in their work related to the EEA Agreement.  This entails both monitoring and influencing legislation in process on the EU side and facilitating timely incorporation of adopted EEA relevant legislation into the EEA Agreement. The scope of responsibility covers all policy areas of the EEA Agreement and includes free movement of goods, services, capital and persons, as well as horizontal areas relevant to the four freedoms. Furthermore, IMD services the Member States in relation to their participation in EU programmes, as well as standardisation and mutual recognition agreements.

We are looking for a highly motivated and qualified candidate who is willing to take on the challenging post as Temporary Officer in this dynamic environment.

Qualifications

To be a temporary Officer in IMD entails on one hand taking on responsibility for certain files within policy sectors with particular high activity and working independently on them, and on the other helping out across the division as needed.  The Temporary Officer may therefore be asked to take on assignments within all the policy fields covered by the EEA Agreement.

The main tasks and responsibilities of the post:

• Close cooperation with colleagues in the Internal Market Division
• Preparation and facilitation of meetings of EFTA expert and working groups
• Monitor policy developments of the EU and their relevance and impact for the EEA EFTA States
• Day-to-day case handling as regards the incorporation of EU acts into the EEA Agreement
• Draft memos and notes and provide input to reports and briefings for working groups and the Subcommittees
• Liaise with EFTA Member State and EU experts on specific files
• Coordinate and contribute to drafting EEA EFTA comments and position papers
• Give briefings both internally and to external stakeholders on developments of the EEA and the EU

Essential Skills

Qualifications

• Higher university degree in European studies, International Relations, Political Science, Economics, Law or equivalent

Experience

• Relevant work experience, preferably in a national administration, parliament, social partner organisation or international organisation (a traineeship also counts)
• Excellent ability to draft policy papers, agendas and reports concisely in English
• Solid knowledge of the substance and functioning of the EEA Agreement and EU policies and institutional structure
• Agile use of standard office software and case handling systems

Ideal Skills

• Result-oriented and proactive
• Good diplomatic, communication and social skills
• Excellent organisational ability with facility for teamwork
• Self-reliance and autonomy
• Enthusiasm and positive attitude
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Knowledge of French and/or another language of the EFTA member states would be an asset

Employment Terms

Grade: A2

Annual starting salary: EUR 74,418.96

Appointments are normally made at the first step of the grade. The Secretary-General reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level different from that advertised. Through its recruitment policy, the EFTA Secretariat wants to ensure diversity in terms of gender, age and culture.

EFTA is an international organisation, and the salaries and related payments are normally exempt from income taxation by the EFTA States and the host states of the EFTA duty stations.

Application instructions

Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on tendersglobal.net