Head of Operations

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)[1] is organising a call for applications with a view to establishing a reserve list for Temporary Agents for the post of Head of Operations.

 The registration of applications will begin on 5 June 2012 and will close on 16 July 2012 at 23:00 Eastern European Time (EET). The deadline has been extended until 30 September 2012 at 23:00 EET.

 

1.      The role of the Institute

Based in Vilnius, Lithuania, EIGE is a regulatory agency of the European Union (EU) entrusted with specific objectives related to the contribution and strengthening of gender equality promotion.

To achieve its goals, the Institute shall collect and analyse objective, comparable and reliable information at EU level and develop appropriate methodological tools for the integration of gender equality into all EU policies. EIGE shall equally foster the exchange of good practices and dialogue between stakeholders and raise EU citizen awareness of this policy area by providing technical assistance to the EU institutions, in particular the European Commission, as well as the authorities of the Member States.

In the course of its work to promote and strengthen gender equality EIGE will strive to eliminate gender discrimination.

 

2.      The Job

2.1  Profile

Reporting to the Director, the Head of Operations will lead and manage the Operations Unit by defining and monitoring progress in reaching the expected results, ensuring the delivery of outputs and outcomes agreed upon in the Institute’s work programme.

The Operations Unit consists of gender experts, statisticians and analysts, communications and stakeholder networking officers in addition to staff of the Resource and Documentation Centre.

2.2  Duties

The jobholder will perform the following tasks and activities:

• define policy and strategic objectives and develop the Unit’s contribution to the planning and implementation of EIGE’s work programme in line with its mandate;
• coordinate and supervise timely and high quality contribution of the Unit to the reporting on the achievements of the Institute;
• manage and lead the Unit’s staff by ensuring an effective distribution of duties and responsibilities and support the development of the staff’s potential to contribute to EIGE’s mission and objectives;
• ensure effective personnel management by maintaining interactive communication so that staff is informed on relevant policy and strategic aspects affecting the Unit’s work and through the annual performance appraisal process;
• ensure the quality of documents and publications produced by the Institute;
• monitor and analyse policy development in the EU so as to develop and propose relevant measures and action to the Institute’s management;
• liaise with relevant bodies and institutions to ensure an adequate response to key stakeholders’ needs and with a view to exchange experience and good practice;
• plan and present budget estimations for the activities of the Unit, to the Institute’s management and monitor/follow-up budget execution;
• ensure the quality assurance of the public procurement carried out by the Unit;
• plan and organise communication activities promoting gender equality;
• develop co-operation with non-governmental and equal opportunities organisations, research centres, social partners in the EU Member States and third countries.

 

3.      Qualifications and experience required

3.1  Formal requirements

To be considered eligible for selection, applicants must meet, the following formal requirements by the closing date of this call: 

• completed post-secondary education attested by a diploma[2] or a secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education and appropriate professional experience[3] of at least three years;
• nationality of a Member State of the EU;
• a good command, both spoken and written, of at least two official EU languages;
• entitlement to full rights as a citizen;
• have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the national laws concerning military service;
• be physically fit to perform duties linked to the post.[4]

3.2  Selection Criteria

Essential:

• a minimum of 12 years professional experience obtained after the award of diploma;
• proven knowledge of gender-equality and anti-discrimination issues;
• knowledge of the EU, its institutional framework and its policies;
• notable communication and negotiation abilities;
• excellent English, the predominant working language at the Institute;
• leadership qualities including excellent organisational, administrative and problem solving skills;
• experience of budget planning, monitoring and executing;
• the ability to manage priorities, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
• the ability to draft reader-friendly documents by simplifying research reports for different audiences including the general public;
• a constructive, service oriented and results oriented outlook;
• a track record of successfully managing projects.

Advantageous:

• a Master’s degree;
• a good knowledge of EU procurement rules and procedures;
• work experience in a multicultural work environment or an EU organisation;
• a proven record of successful work with wide range of target groups.

 

4.     Selection procedure and application

The selection procedure includes the following steps:

• Only duly completed applications submitted electronically within the deadline will be taken into consideration.
• Each duly completed application will be examined with a view to establishing that the candidate meets all eligibility criteria.
• Eligible applications will be evaluated by the appointed Selection Committee based on selection criteria defined in this vacancy notice. Depending on the number of applications received, the Selection Committee may apply stricter requirements within the selection criteria noted above.
• The best-admissible candidates will be short-listed for interview.
• Due to large volume of applications, only candidates selected for the interviews will be contacted.
• Interviews will be held in English.
• During the interview session, the Selection Committee will examine the candidates' profiles and assess their relevance for the post in question. On the day of the interview, candidates may also be required to undergo a competency assessment exercise.
• On the day of interview candidates will be requested to present, originals and copies of documents detailing citizenship, studies and professional experience, in particular:
  • a copy of identity card, passport or other official document specifying citizenship;
  • a copy of diploma certifying a required level of academic qualifications;
  • documented evidence of professional experience, clearly indicating starting and finishing dates.

Copies of these documents will be retained by the Institute.

• If at any stage of the procedure, it were established that information in the application has been knowingly falsified, the candidate shall be disqualified from the selection process.
• Successful candidates will be included in a reserve list which will be valid for 12 months. The validity of this list may be extended. Each candidate will be informed by letter whether or not s/he has been placed on the reserve list. However inclusion of candidates on the reserve list does not guarantee recruitment.
• The Director of the Institute will appoint the selected jobholder from the reserve list, taking into account the establishment of a gender balanced, geographically diverse organisation.

The internal proceedings of the Selection Committee are strictly confidential and any contact with its members is strictly forbidden. Soliciting on behalf of a candidate can lead to immediate disqualification.

 For applications to be valid, candidates must complete an EIGE application form. 

EIGE application form (.doc 195KB)

It is to be forwarded electronically to eige.hr@eige.europa.eu . The subject title should include the vacancy reference number.

Applicants are requested not to attach any supporting documents at this stage (e.g. copies of ID cards, diplomas, evidence of previous professional experience, etc.). Only candidates invited to an interview will be asked to present copies of these documents for verification. Applications will not be returned to candidates but will be kept on the file by the Institute in line with its data protection guidelines.

 Please note that the time period between the closing date for the submission of applications and the end of the process to short list candidates for the interview may take several weeks.

Due to the large volume of applications, the Institute regrets that only candidates selected for the interviews will be contacted.

 

5.      Appointment and conditions of employment

The place of employment shall be Vilnius, Lithuania. For reasons related to the Institute’s operational requirements, the chosen candidate will be expected to be available to take up employment on 1 April 2013. A Temporary Agent contract at an AD10 grade under Article 2 (a) pursuant to the conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities shall be offered, subject to a period of probation. The duration of the initial contract will be five years and the initial contract may be renewed.

The pay of the EU temporary agents consists of the basic remuneration as well as various allowances[5] depending on personal situation of the jobholder. For information, the current gross basic salary of the first step in the applicable grade, before deductions and the correction coefficient weighting of 72.5% for Lithuania, is €8,064.86. The salary will be paid in the local currency: LTL. All remuneration is subject to an EU tax at source. Deductions are also made for medical insurance, pension and unemployment insurance. Salaries are exempt from national taxation.

 

6.      Independence and declarations of interest

The job holder will be required to enter into a commitment to act independently in the public interest and to make complete declarations of any direct or indirect interests that might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. Candidates must confirm their willingness to do so in their application.

 

7.      Equal opportunities

The Institute applies a policy of equal opportunities and accepts applications without distinction on any grounds.

 

8.      Appeal procedures

If a candidate considers that s/he has been adversely affected by a particular decision, s/he can lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities and Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities, by writing to The Director, European Institute for Gender Equality, Svitrigailos g. 11m, Vilnius, Lithuania LT-03228.

The complaint must be lodged within three months. The time limit for initiating this type of procedure (see Staff Regulations as modified by Council Regulation No 723/2004 of 22nd March 2004 published in the Official Journal of the European Union L 124 of 27th April 2004 – http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex ) starts to run from the time the candidate is notified of the act adversely affecting him/her.

 

9.      Protection of personal data

As the body responsible for organising the competition, the EIGE ensures that applicants’ 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 Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (Official Journal of the European Communities, L 8 of 12 January 2001). This applies in particular to the confidentiality and security of such data.

Personal data shall thus be processed solely for the purpose of the selection procedure.

 

10.     Lithuania and life in Vilnius

 Lithuania is a member of the Schengen Area and it borders Latvia, Belarus, Poland and the Kaliningrad region of Russia. Its western coastline - noted for its fine beaches, dunes and majestic pines - straddles the Baltic Sea. Lithuanian summers are sunny and warm with an average temperature of +17 C. Winter is white and generally cold with average temperatures that hover around – 4 C.

Vilnius is Lithuania's capital with an estimated population of just over half a million citizens. It has impressive Baroque and Gothic architecture as well as one of Europe's largest medieval old towns, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994.  A university city since the Middle Ages, Vilnius is the centre of the country's politics, business, science, culture and entertainment and it attracts an increasingly varied assortment of local and international events. In addition to hosting a number of international schools, it has a well developed infrastructure and ambitious future plans.