Directorate-General for Budget – Publication of a vacancy for the function of Hors Classe Adviser (grade AD 15) (Article 29(2) of the Staff Regulations) – COM/2021/10404
Date: 2021-07-28
Institutions: Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security, European Commission
Subjects: EU budget, administrator, competition (EU), consultancy, economic recovery, epidemic, job vacancy








CA2021301EN.01000601.xml










28.7.2021   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


CA 301/6






Directorate-General for Budget
Publication of a vacancy for the function of Hors Classe Adviser (grade AD 15)
(Article 29(2) of the Staff Regulations)
COM/2021/10404
(2021/C 301 A/02)
 

We are

The Directorate-General for Budget (DG BUDG) consists of around 530 staff and is made up of six directorates, five of which are based in Brussels, and one of which has staff based in both Brussels and Luxembourg.
DG BUDG is the central service of the Commission responsible for the preparation and implementation of the EU budget throughout the annual and multiannual cycles, ensuring that the budget is executed effectively in full compliance with the Financial Regulation. DG BUDG is also responsible for the legal framework applicable to the implementation of the EU budget by the different Institutions, agencies and Member States, and plays a key role in promoting sound financial management and a strong performance culture. In this context, DG BUDG aims at ensuring that the EU budget delivers concrete results and added-value across the EU policies. More generally, DG BUDG’s responsibilities and political priorities are guided by the Treaty and further defined on the basis of President von der Leyen’s political guidelines set for the Commission 2019-2024.
In relation to the vacancy to be filled, DG BUDG plays a key role in financing the Union’s budgetary support for the Union recovery plan in the context of the COVID-19 crisis through borrowing and lending operations, notably under Next Generation EU where the EU will raise up to EUR 800 billion on the capital markets to finance different EU policies to assist the repair and recovery phase. The increase in the scale, complexity and policy importance of DG BUDG’s borrowing activities (financial operations are broader and include asset management activities) have led the Commission to put in place a new diversified and pooled funding strategy which will allow the EU to raise the necessary funds on time and at minimum cost. The increase in the scale, complexity and policy importance of DG BUDG’s funding portfolio call for a commensurate enhancement of the strategic vision and implementation on a diversified funding strategy.
In this context, and in light of the increasingly complex and challenging nature of the tasks, including the need to respond appropriately to the changing outlook in the financial markets and the challenges encountered in the actual execution of transactions, DG BUDG needs to appoint a senior adviser with significant experience in funding strategies, investor outreach and with in-depth knowledge of the financial markets, particularly during more turbulent times, in order to provide high level advice, at the most senior strategic level possible.

We propose

The post of Hors Classe Adviser to serve as the focal point for providing strategic advice on the implementation and possible evolution of the EU’s diversified funding strategy, which is used to finance the expenditure under Next Generation EU. He/she will also, on request, engage in investor outreach, and assist with the development of ‘road shows’.
The Hors Classe Adviser will have a direct reporting line to the Director-General of DG BUDG.
Moreover, the Hors Classe Adviser will represent the Commission at senior management level in relevant fora.
The responsibilities should be centred on a senior management figure with a clear mandate to provide strategic vision on a diversified funding strategy to internal and external stakeholders, who has strong communication and presentational skills.
This senior management figure should work in close cooperation with the executive management of the Directorate-General:






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Providing strategic advice on the evolution of the Commission’s diversified and pooled funding strategy; notably with regard to approaches to be followed in times of market turbulence.










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Serving as focal point for the outreach to the Investor Community and advising on monthly funding in respect of all key issues.










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Engaging in investor outreach.










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Representing the Commission at senior level and external fora.




In the furtherance of these tasks, the Hors Classe Adviser shall be supported by the following function:






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Directorate E, which undertakes all market operations on behalf of the Union budget including for the EU Recovery Plan. This includes debt issuance and loan administration (for SURE, NextGenerationEU), asset management and risk management for the EU budget guarantees (EFSI/InvestEU, External Action Guarantee).





We look for (selection criteria)

The ideal candidate will be an outstanding and dynamic professional who should fulfil the following selection criteria:






a)



Advisory skills:







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A demonstrated capacity to work in a senior advisory role with regard to SSA (Sovereign, supra-nationals and agencies) funding operations.










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Ability to identify key issues, take initiative and think strategically in view of new financial and political developments including new Commission policy priorities.










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Ability to build institutional capacity to protect and expand financial resources.










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Forward-looking and dynamic approach to new challenges, coupled with high motivation and resilience to work on different issues simultaneously.










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Ability to steer and motivate highly qualified teams to delivery high quality output.














b)



Specialist skills and experience:







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A solid background in public banking, notably financial markets, with a particular emphasis on international debt markets, preferably within international organisations.










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Concrete experience in developing funding strategies of SSA entities and devising approaches for dealing with turbulent market conditions.










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Extensive experience with and responsibility at a senior level for SSA funding policies and operations at an international level, including market outreach and investor relations.










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Excellent economic and analytical skills.










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Sound understanding of internal control requirements in such an environment.














c)



Personal qualities:







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Excellent networking, public speaking and interpersonal skills, including active listening skills.










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Excellent communication skills, with a proven ability to develop and maintain excellent relationships with stakeholders inside or outside the Commission and to represent the Commission at senior management level.










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Excellent negotiation skills and in particular, decision-making, problem-solving and rapport building skills.









Candidates must (eligibility requirements)

Candidates will only be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following formal requirements to be fulfilled by the deadline for applications:






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Nationality: candidates must be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union.










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University degree or diploma: candidates must have:






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either a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is 4 years or more;










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or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least 1 year when the normal period of university education is at least 3 years (this 1 year’s professional experience cannot be included in the postgraduate professional experience required below).














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Professional experience: candidates must have at least 15 years postgraduate professional experience (1) at a level to which the qualifications referred to above give admission.










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Advisory experience: at least 5 years of the post-graduate professional experience must have been gained in a high–level advisory function (2) in a field relevant for this position.










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Languages: candidates must have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union (3) and a satisfactory knowledge of another of these official languages. Selection panels will verify during the interview(s) whether candidates comply with the requirement of a satisfactory knowledge of another official EU language. This may include (part of) the interview being conducted in this other language.










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Age limit: candidates must not have reached regular retirement age, which for officials of the European Union is defined as being the end of the month in which the person reaches the age of 66 years (see Article 52(a) of the Staff Regulations (4)).





Selection and appointment

The European Commission will select and appoint the Hors Classe Adviser according to its selection and recruitment procedures (see: Document on Senior Officials Policy (5)).
As part of this selection procedure, the European Commission sets up a pre-selection panel. This panel analyses all applications, proceeds with a first eligibility verification and identifies candidates having the best profile in view of the selection criteria mentioned above, and who may be invited for an interview with the pre-selection panel.
Following these interviews, the pre-selection panel draws up its conclusions and proposes a list of candidates for further interviews with the European Commission’s Consultative Committee on Appointments (CCA). The CCA, taking into consideration the conclusions of the pre-selection panel, will decide on the candidates to be invited for an interview.
Candidates who are called for an interview with the CCA participate in a full-day management assessment centre run by external recruitment consultants. Taking account of the results of the interview and the report of the assessment centre, the CCA establishes a shortlist of candidates it considers suitable to exercise the function of Hors Classe Adviser.
Candidates on the CCA shortlist will be interviewed by the Member of the Commission responsible for DG Budget (6).
Following these interviews, the European Commission takes the appointment decision.
The selected candidate must have fulfilled any obligations imposed by law concerning military service, produce appropriate character references as to their suitability for the performance of their duties and be physically fit to perform their duties.
The selected candidate should hold, or be in the position to obtain, a valid security clearance certificate from his/her national security authority. A personal security clearance is an administrative decision following completion of a security screening conducted by the individual’s competent national security authority in accordance with applicable national security laws and regulations, and certifying that an individual may be allowed to access classified information up to a specified level. (Note that the necessary procedure for obtaining a security clearance can be initiated on request of the employer only, and not by the individual candidate).
Until the personal security clearance has been granted by the Member State concerned and the clearance procedure completed with the legally required briefing from the European Commission’s Security Directorate, the candidate will not be able to access EU classified information (EUCI) at the level of CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL or above, nor attend any meetings at which such EUCI is discussed.
For functional reasons and in order to complete the selection procedure as quickly as possible in the interest of the candidates as well as that of the institution, the selection procedure will be carried out in English and/or French only (7).

Equal opportunities

In accordance with Article 1d of the Staff Regulations, the Commission pursues a strategic objective of achieving gender equality at all management levels by the end of its current mandate and applies an equal opportunities policy encouraging applications that could contribute towards more diversity, gender equality and overall geographical balance.

Conditions of employment

The salaries and conditions of employment are laid down in the Staff Regulations.
The successful candidate will be recruited as an official at grade AD 15. He/she will be classified depending on the length of his/her previous professional experience in step 1 or step 2 within that grade.
Applicants should note the requirement under the Staff Regulations for all new staff to complete successfully a 9-month probationary period.
The place of employment is Brussels, where DG BUDG is based.

Independence and declaration of interests

Before taking up his/her duties, the Hors Classe Adviser will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act independently in the public interest and to declare any interests, which might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence.

Application procedure

Before submitting your application, you should carefully check whether you meet all eligibility requirements (‘Candidates must’), particularly concerning the types of diploma, high-level professional experience as well as linguistic capacity required. Failure to meet any of the eligibility requirements means an automatic exclusion from the selection procedure.
To apply, please register via internet on the following website and follow the instructions concerning the various stages of the procedure:
https://ec.europa.eu/dgs/human-resources/seniormanagementvacancies/
You must have a valid email address. This will be used to confirm your registration as well as to remain in contact with you during the different stages of the procedure. Therefore, please keep the European Commission informed about any change in your email address.
To complete your application, you will need to upload a CV in PDF format, preferably using the Europass CV format (8). Your CV and your motivation letter may be submitted in any of the official languages of the European Union.
Once you have finished your online registration, you will receive an electronic mail confirming that your application has been registered. If you do not receive a confirmation mail, your application has not been registered!

Please note that it is not possible to monitor the progress of your application online. You will be contacted directly by the European Commission regarding the status of your application.
If you require more information and/or encounter technical problems, please send an email to: HR-MANAGEMENT-ONLINE@ec.europa.eu

Closing date

The closing date for registration is 24 September 2021, 12.00 noon Brussels time, following which registration is no longer possible.
It is your responsibility to complete your online registration in time. We strongly advise you not to wait until the last few days before applying, since heavy internet traffic or a fault with your internet connection could lead to the online registration being terminated before you complete it, thereby obliging you to repeat the whole process. Once the deadline for the submission of registrations has passed, you will no longer be able to introduce any data. Late registrations are not accepted.
If you require more information and/or encounter technical problems, please send an email to: HR-MANAGEMENT-ONLINE@ec.europa.eu

Important information for candidates

Candidates are reminded that the work of the different selection committees is confidential. It is forbidden for candidates to make direct or indirect contact with their individual members or for anybody to do so on their behalf. Any query has to be addressed to the secretariat of the respective panels.

Protection of personal data

The Commission will ensure that candidates’ personal data are processed as required by Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9). This applies in particular to the confidentiality and security of such data.


(1)  Professional experience is only taken into consideration if it represents an actual work relationship defined as real, genuine work, on a paid basis and as employee (any type of contract) or provider of a service. Professional activities pursued part-time shall be calculated pro rata, on the basis of the certified percentage of full-time hours worked. Maternity leave/parental leave/leave for adoption is taken into consideration if it is in the framework of a work contract. PhDs are assimilated to professional experience, even when unpaid, but for a duration of 3 years maximum, provided that the PhD has been successfully completed. A given period may be counted only once.

(2)  In their curriculum vitae, candidates should clearly indicate for all years during which advisory experience has been acquired: (1) title and role of positions held; (2) the exact subject area as well as at which level in the organisation the position was based (numbers of hierarchical layers above and below); (3) the reporting lines for each position held.

(3)  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:01958R0001-20130701

(4)  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20210101

(5)  https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/compilation-of-the-senior-official-policy-at-the-european-commission_en.pdf

(6)  Unless the Member of the Commission concerned, in line with the Commission Decision of 5 December 2007 (PV(2007)1811), has delegated this task to another Member of the Commission.

(7)  Selection panels will ensure that no undue advantage is given to native speakers of these languages.

(8)  You can find information on how to create your Europass CV online at: https://europa.eu/europass/en/create-europass-cv

(9)  Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39).