Head of Group – Biodiversity and Nature – Temporary Agent

Under the responsibility of the Head of Natural Capital and Ecosystems Programme, reporting to the Executive Director, the Head of Group shall be responsible for leading/coordinating EEA-Eionet activities to support and inform the development and implementation of nature and biodiversity policies in Europe, in relevant consideration of global policy processes and interactions –as articulated in EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030- by means of data and expert information services, indicators-based assessments in accordance with EEA product and service types. This entails: definition of operational objectives and performance indicators in the area of Nature and Biodiversity for the group staff and European Topic Centre in the working area, on the basis of the EEA strategy and annual work programmes (AWP), including relevant coordination with EEA groups related to wider aspects of natural capital, external networking and partnership activities at European Commission and countries level; follow-up and progress reporting of operational objectives in the AWP, including quality assurance and control of products and services; coaching and support to staff in the group; support to Programme managers and active contribution to the strategic planning for the programme.

The position will entail the following tasks:

Group management

• Lead and manage the group (currently 11 staff members) to achieve EEA’s operational and strategic objectives regarding Biodiversity and Nature files;
• Plan and manage the group’s human and financial resources;
• Ensure that time and financial resources allocated to the group are used in the most efficient and effective manner (e.g. including missions, trainings and budgets for contracts);
• Develop core, technical and leadership competencies of the group members;
• Define and regularly update job descriptions, career development plans and appraisals, including the identification of training and development requirements;
• Initiate actions to continuously improve processes, human interrelations and staff well-being in the group;
• Participate in selections for recruitment of new staff to the group;

Strategic planning and management

• Define operational objectives and performance indicators for the group on the basis of EEA strategic objectives and work programme (planning processes and procedures); 
• Support the Head of Programme by actively contributing to the strategic planning for the programme;
• Define quality standards, anticipate and resolve organisational issues, engage in the solving of complex issues across the EEA;
• Encourage and implement new ways of working to drive efficiency and effectiveness;
• Provide direction to- and monitor the work of relevant partners and contractors;

Communication and networking

• Represent the EEA at institutional for and work closely with key EEA institutional stakeholders;
• Maintain contacts and develop cooperation with EU and international knowledge institutes to co-create solutions and deliver value-adding outcomes;
• Organise external communication, networking and promotion of EEA’s work;
• Promote a collaborative working environment across EEA and networks, seeking opportunities for knowledge and practice sharing between key stakeholders, internally and externally.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Candidates applying must satisfy the following eligibility criteria on the closing date for the submission of applications:

a)     Successful completion of university studies attested by a degree where the normal duration of university education is 4 years or more OR successful completion of university studies attested by a degree relevant to the field concerned where the normal duration of university education is at least 3 years;                                   

b)    A minimum of 6 years (with a 4 year diploma) OR 7 years (with a 3 year diploma) of relevant professional experience after award of the university degree. Please note that professional experience pursued on a part-time basis shall be calculated pro rata. A given period may only be counted once.

Please note that only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities or EEA authorities and qualifications recognised as equivalent by the relevant EU or EEA Member State authorities will be accepted.

In addition, in order to be eligible a candidate must:

• Be a national of one of the member countries of the EEA (Member States of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey);
• Enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by law concerning military service;
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the EEA member countries, and a satisfactory knowledge of another of these languages corresponding to level B.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages CEFR;
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

Candidates should assess carefully and check before submitting their application whether they fulfil all the conditions for admission laid down in the vacancy notice, particularly in terms of qualifications and relevant professional experience.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

Please demonstrate the requested knowledge and understanding of below criteria in your CV and/or motivation letter.

Essential:

• Experience in people management (if this is the first position where people management is an integral part of the job please specify people related aspects of project management experience);
• Demonstrated knowledge of at least 3 years of biodiversity and nature matters at science-policy interfacing level, and the integration of these with other policies;
• Knowledge of and experience in relevant data, indicators and assessments activities, in the context of broader sustainability aspects;
• Excellent project management skills and experience, including delivery of complex projects involving a variety of stakeholders;
• Experience in contract management;
• Very good communication skills (verbal and written) for contacts with senior managers, staff and service providers;
• Proven communication and interpersonal skills, with a demonstrable ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural environment*;
• Excellent command of written and spoken* English language, at least at level C1 in all categories according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language;
• Highly professional, creative and motivated by environmental sustainability matters at large, with the view on professional development at EEA to embrace operational and strategic leadership roles*.

* Will only be tested at the stage of interview/written test.

Advantageous:

• Proven experience working with European Union and/or international institutions with good knowledge of their roles and responsibilities;
• Completed training in leadership and management.

CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS:

The successful candidate will be offered a Temporary Agent contract in accordance with Article 2f) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities. The selected candidate will be employed for an initial time period of four years, renewable.

Successful candidates who are recruited undergo an initial probation period of 9 months.

Please note that recruitment is done in the first or second step of the grade published, depending on the duration of the acquired professional experience.

For information on salary, please see information published under Temporary Agents.

Should the successful candidate currently hold a Temporary Agent 2(f) contract and qualify for a transfer under the terms of the CEOS, the band width for this position which can be accommodated is in accordance with Annex I of the Staff Regulations.

The place of work will be Copenhagen, Denmark.

It is brought to the particular attention of candidates that the provisions of Articles 11 to 26 of the Staff Regulations, concerning the rights and obligations of officials, shall apply by analogy to Temporary Agents. These rules specify that:

“An official shall carry out his duties and conduct himself solely with the interests of the Union in mind. He shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government, authority, organization or person outside his institution. He shall carry out the duties assigned to him objectively, impartially and in keeping with his duty of loyalty to the Union.

An official shall not without the permission of the appointing authority accept from any government or from any other source outside the institution to which he belongs any honour, decoration, favour, gift or payment of any kind whatever, except for services rendered either before his appointment or during special leave for military or other national service and in respect of such service.

Before recruiting an official, the appointing authority shall examine whether the candidate has any personal interest such as to impair his independence or any other conflict of interest. To that end, the candidate, using a specific form, shall inform the appointing authority of any actual or potential conflict of interest. In such cases, the appointing authority shall take this into account in a duly reasoned opinion. If necessary, the appointing authority shall take the measures referred to in Article 11a(2).”

For further information on the Staff Regulations and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union see: