Research Officer

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

The registration of applications will begin on 31 October 2015 and will close on 30 November 2015 at 13:00 Eastern European Time.

The deadline for registration has been extended to 29 January 2016 at 13:00 Eastern European Time.

1. The Institute

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

To achieve its goals, the Institute collects and analyses comparable and reliable information at EU level and develops appropriate methodological tools for the integration of gender equality into all EU policies. It fosters the exchange of good practices and dialogue between stakeholders and raises EU citizen awareness of this policy area by providing technical assistance to 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 strives to eliminate gender discrimination.

2. The post

2.1 Profile

Under the supervision of the Head of the Operations Unit and working in close collaboration with other colleagues, the jobholder will enhance the research and analytical capacity of the Unit.

The post requires good understanding of relevant gender equality issues, experience in applying quantitative and qualitative research methods, analytical skills, excellent drafting skills and very good communication skills.

The post demands a team player who is self-critical towards her/his own performance and shares learning and information as part of a multicultural and multidisciplinary team.

2.2 Duties

The responsibilities of the post include the following tasks and activities:

• Collect, analyse and disseminate relevant objective and reliable statistical and research data and information related to the critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), gender-based violence, gender mainstreaming and the Gender Equality Index;
• Develop and co-ordinate studies and gender equality research projects related to any of the selected areas of the Institute’s work, including the BPfA, gender-based violence, gender mainstreaming and the Gender Equality Index ensuring the highest written standards as well as content quality and consistency;
• Support the development of new methodologies for the improvement of the consistency and reliability of gender-sensitive data/indicators and for the promotion of further disaggregation of data according to gender and other social characteristics (e.g. age, ethnicity, education, etc.);
• Support joint research projects together with other EU agencies, reputable gender equality institutions and researchers in the EU, focusing in particular on socio-economic, legal and political aspects of gender equality;
• Build and maintain an exchange of statistical and research information with relevant national, international and EU institutions;
• Engage in drafting policy oriented research reports and other publications in cooperation with the Institute's research and communications teams
• Initiate and organise ad-hoc expert meetings to support the Institute’s work, particularly in the areas of BPfA, gender-based violence and the Gender Equality Index;
• Initiate and draft technical specifications for procurement of studies/surveys/events and participate in the evaluation and selection of proposals.

3. Qualifications & experience required

3.1 Formal requirements

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

• completed a university education attested by a diploma[2];
• nationality of an EU Member State;
• 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 national laws concerning military service;   
• be physically fit to perform duties linked to the post.[3]

3.2 Selection criteria

Essential:

• At least three years professional experience gained after the award of the relevant qualification and at a suitable level corresponding to performance of the duties as defined in Section 2.
• Experience in policy relevant research on gender equality, in particular in the priority areas of the EU.
• Good understanding of EU policies and priorities related to gender equality.
• Proven record of work with statistical data, gender statistics and/or gender sensitive indicators at a national, EU or international level and experience with using quantitative data analysis software, e.g. Excel, SPSS and/or Stata.
• Evidence of ability to draft high quality research reports and/or policy papers in excellent English, which should be substantiated by a list in the applicant’s CV of publications and/or reports/policy papers that she /he has written.
• Experience of coordinating or conducting international research.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills, including the ability to manage priorities, work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.

Advantageous:

• Knowledge and professional experience relating to the development of indicators, including composite indicators (indices).
• Work experience in EU or international organisations.
• Knowledge of financial and procurement rules and procedures applicable to EU institutions and bodies.
• Previous exposure to international and/or multicultural /multilingual environment.

4. Selection procedure

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.
• Interviews and written tests will be in English.
• During the interview, the Selection Committee will examine the candidates' profiles and assess their relevancy 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;
  • documentary 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 available at the top of the page. 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 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 only candidates selected for the interviews will be contacted.

5. 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 at short notice. A contract in Function Group IV under Article 3a pursuant to the conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities shall be offered, subject to a nine month probation period. The duration of the contract will be three years and may be renewed for not more than once for a fixed period. Any further renewal shall be for an indefinite period.

The pay of a Contract Agent consists of the basic remuneration as well as various allowances[4] depending on personal situation of the jobholder. For information, the current gross basic salary before deductions and the correction coefficient weighting of 71.4% for Lithuania, starts at approximately €3,170. Remuneration will be paid in € (Euro). Salaries are subject to tax at source but are exempt from national taxation. Deductions are also made for medical insurance, pension and unemployment insurance.

The job holder shall work in a multicultural environment where social dialogue between management and staff, including representatives of the staff, is regarded as vital. The Institute is fully computerised and working time is based around flexitime and core working hours.

6. Independence & 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, Gedimino Prospektas 16, Vilnius, Lithuania LT01103.

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 her/him.

Pursuant to Article 195(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community and in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Decision of the European Parliament of 9 March 1994 on the Staff Regulations and the general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman’s duties, published in Official Journal of the European Union L 113 of 4 May 1994, it is also possible to write to: The European Ombudsman, 1 Avenue du Président Robert Schuman, CS 30403 67001 Strasbourg Cedex, France.

Further details on appeals.

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 & 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. Vilnius is Lithuania's capital with an estimated population of just over half a million citizens. 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.

In addition to ample green spaces, Vilnius is beautifully situated on the banks of the river Neris. The city has impressive Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance and Russian architecture as well as one of Europe's largest medieval old towns, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994.  Vilnius has been a university city since the Middle Ages. Today it 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.

Further information is available here: http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/en/tourism.

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[1] Established by the European Parliament: the Council Regulation (EC) No 1922/2006 of 20 December 2006 (OJ L 403/9 of 30.12.2006).

[2] Only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities and qualifications recognised as equivalent by the relevant Member States authorities will be accepted.

[3] Prior to recruitment, the successful candidate will be medically examined for the purposes of Article 12(2) (d) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities.

[4] For example: expatriation allowance, household allowance, education allowance, dependent child allowance etc.