Statistics 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 Statistics Officer.

The registration of applications will begin on 27 November 2015 and will close on 15 January 2016 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 also supports policy makers with high quality data relevant to their work. 

2. The post

2.1 Profile

Under the supervision of the Head of the Operations Unit and in close collaboration with other colleagues, the jobholder will support the Unit’s quantitative research and analytical capacity primarily by working with the collection and analysis of quantitative data and the development of gender equality indicators in different fields. 

In particular the jobholder will be responsible for the methodological development and update of the Gender Equality Index and will support the research on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in the EU.  She/he will also play an important role in the development of EIGE’s future surveys. 

The post demands a team player who 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:

• Lead the design and implementation of the research projects, including activities ranging from project management and implementation to the collection, quality control and in-depth analysis of data in various areas of gender equality;
• Apply different methods of statistical analysis from descriptive statistics to complex multivariate analyses, required to build composite indicators (e.g. cross-correlations analysis and principal component analysis, different methods of weighting, aggregation and imputation, robustness analysis);  
• Perform complex data analysis by using different statistical methods and report on the main research findings in a way that is accessible and understandable to non-experts and diverse groups of EIGE’s stakeholders;
• Enhance EIGE’s role in developing gender equality indicators and provide comparative data analysis on gender equality in the EU; 
• Support activities in relation to the maintenance and update of EIGE’s statistics database;
• Investigate new research methodologies for data analysis and reconcile national, EU and international approaches and processes, in particular in relation to the Gender Equality Index and the Beijing Indicators;
• Draft policy oriented research reports and other publications incorporating quantitative data analysis, indicators or references to EIGE’s research methodologies, in cooperation with the Institute's research and communications teams;
• Build and maintain an exchange of statistical information with relevant national, international and EU services;  
• Initiate and organise experts’ meetings as well as represent EIGE at different meetings and promote the exchange of relevant data and information;  
• Initiate and draft technical specifications for procurement of studies/surveys/events and participate in the evaluation and selection of proposals;
• Update EIGE's staff and management on statistical developments/activities and provide replies to internal and external requests for information on related statistical matters;
• Support other related task assigned by Management.

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 six years of professional experience gained after the award of the relevant qualification and at a suitable level corresponding to performance of tasks as defined in section 2.2;
• Practical experience in the design of methodology, collection and analysis of primary data, involving large-scale surveys in more than one country;
• Experience in analysis of quantitative data coming from secondary sources, including EU-wide statistical databases, administrative data or other research datasets, covering more than one country;     
• Proven knowledge and practical experience in application of various quantitative research methodologies, sampling methods and diverse methods of analysis of primary and secondary quantitative data;  
• Proven experience and excellence with the use of Excel and SPSS or equivalent software, on a regular basis for analysis of large datasets;
• Evidence of the ability to draft quality research reports and/or policy papers, based on quantitative data analysis, in excellent English, substantiated by a list of publications and/or reports/policy papers that she/he has written in English;
• Experience of coordinating or conducting international quantitative research;
• An excellent command of English, the predominant working language at the Institute.

Advantageous

• Affinity with gender equality issues.
• Knowledge and professional experience relating to the development of composite indicators (indices);
• Work experience in EU or international organisations;
• Knowledge of financial and procurement rules and procedures applicable to EU institutions and bodies.

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.
• EIGE’s Director will appoint the selected jobholder from the reserve list, taking into account 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 is Vilnius, Lithuania. For reasons related to the Institute’s operational requirements, the chosen candidate will be expected to be available at short notice. An AD 6 Temporary Agent contract under Article 2(f) pursuant to the conditions of employment of other servants of the European Union shall be offered, subject to a nine month probation period. The duration of the contract will be three years and may be renewed.

The pay of the Temporary Agents consists of the basic remuneration as well as various allowances[4] depending on personal situation of the jobholder. The current gross basic salary of the first step in the applicable first grade, before deductions and the current correction coefficient weighting of 71.4% for Lithuania, is approximately €4,960. The applicable step in grade could be higher depending on the length of experience of the chosen candidate. The salary will be paid in Euros. Remuneration is subject to tax at source. Deductions are also made for medical insurance, pension and unemployment insurance. Salaries are exempt from national taxation.

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.

[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.