Assistants – Competition & State Aid Directorate and Internal Market Affairs Directorate

Assistants – Competition & State Aid Directorate and Internal Market Affairs Directorate

EFTA Surveillance Authority

Brussels, Belgium

The EFTA Surveillance Authority:

The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) monitors compliance with the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, enabling those States to participate in the Internal Market of the European Union.

ESA is an international organisation, independent of the States, which safeguards the rights of individuals and undertakings under the EEA Agreement, ensuring free movement, fair competition and control of state aid. ESA’s work helps remove barriers to trade and open up new opportunities to over 450 million Europeans, creating jobs and growth and adding to the international competitiveness of the States.

ESA is based in Brussels. It currently employs staff members of 19 nationalities. ESA is led by a College consisting of three members, each appointed for a period of four years by the three participating EFTA States.

Job Reference 09/2021

Role Description:

ESA is recruiting Assistants to join its Competition & State Aid Directorate (CSA) and its Internal Market Affairs Directorate (IMA).

Competition & State Aid Directorate:

CSA, a multi-disciplinary team comprising both economists and lawyers, enforces the competition and state aid rules of the EEA Agreement.

The successful candidate will provide administrative support to the management and staff of the CSA Directorate in a dynamic and international working environment. This includes monitoring and updating databases and portals used by both EFTA national authorities and the EU Commission, updating webpages, and efficient use of IT systems to handle data. The role also involves undertaking other general administrative tasks, including travel arrangements as well as organising meetings and smaller events, as assigned by the Director and Deputy Directors.

Internal Market Affairs Directorate:

IMA is responsible for monitoring the EEA EFTA States to ensure that they comply with their obligations in the field of internal market law.

The successful candidate will join a team of 2 other Assistants to provide administrative support to the management and staff of the IMA Directorate (approximately 35 staff) in a dynamic and international working environment. This includes monitoring deadlines and efficient use of IT systems to generate legal documents, reports and statistics. The intention is for the successful candidate to receive training to become a ‘super-user’ of our internal document archive and case-management system. The role also involves organising meetings in the EEA EFTA Member States and undertaking other general administrative tasks as assigned by the Director.

We are looking for highly motivated and well-qualified individuals, who have the confidence and initiative to take on a variety of tasks and ensure timely compliance with procedures.

Essential Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelors degree, diploma or certificate of higher education within a relevant field;
• Minimum 3-5 years’ relevant professional experience in an administrative position;
• Strong computer literacy, in particular with MS Office;
• Experience of and comfortable with handling large amounts of data and spreadsheets;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English (the working language of ESA);
• A meticulous approach with a keen eye for detail;
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal and communication skills;
• Initiative and the ability to work both independently and in a team in an international environment;
• A flexible approach and the enthusiasm for taking on a range of varying tasks and providing back-up for colleagues, sometimes in other departments, as and when required.

The following are desirable:

• Experience of developing and providing training on IT systems (IMA Assistant);
• Knowledge or experience of legal procedures within an EU/EEA context in the public or private sector;
• Experience of working in an international environment;
• Knowledge of one or more of the EEA EFTA languages (Norwegian, Icelandic and German);
• Knowledge of French or Dutch.

Candidates will be selected for the role for which they are considered to be most suitable. Should you have a strong preference for either of the Directorates, this should be indicated in the Personal Statement section of the application form and Cover Letter.

Conditions:

These positions will be filled in accordance with ESA’s Recruitment Policy available at: https://jobs.eftasurv.int. Former ESA staff members are eligible to apply provided the closing date is at least three years after their departure date. In exceptional circumstances, this requirement may be waived. The three-year requirement does not apply in the case of applications from current or former ESA temporary staff, trainees and seconded national experts.

These positions are placed at grade B5 of ESA’s salary scale, the precise step being determined depending on the relevant experience of the successful candidates, with a likely starting salary of between €54 400 and €57 900 per annum. Depending on personal situation and family status, additional allowances and benefits may apply. Tax conditions are favourable.

Type and duration of appointment: fixed-term contract of three years, renewable for a further three years if desirable and in the interest of ESA. Candidates must be nationals of the States party to the EEA Agreement (EU + EEA EFTA) at the point of application and the time of any offer being made.

ESA actively seeks to promote a healthy work/life balance and a working environment allowing its staff members to develop their professional skills and interests.

Application process:

• All applications must be made online at: https://jobs.eftasurv.int;
• Deadline for applications: 24 May 2021 (midnight CET);
• Interviews: June 2021;
• Start date: Autumn 2021.

Applications submitted in response to this vacancy notice may also be taken into account for the purpose of filling other vacancies arising for similar positions within ESA.

Questions regarding the CSA Assistant post may be addressed to Gjermund Mathisen, Director on +32 (0)2 286 1860/[email protected].

Questions regarding the IMA Assistant post may be addressed to Gabrielle Somers, Deputy Director on +32 (0)2 286 1876/[email protected].

Questions regarding the recruitment process may be addressed to Emma Thomas, HR Officer on +32 (0)2 286 1870/[email protected].