Electronic Components and Systems for European Leadership (ECSEL) Joint Undertaking – Publication of a vacancy for the function of Executive Director (Temporary Agent – Grade AD 14) COM/2021/20067
Date: 2021-09-10
Institutions: Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security, European Commission
Subjects: European Joint Undertaking, administrator, competition (EU), electronic component, job vacancy, managing director, recruitment, servant (EU)








CA2021365EN.01000101.xml










10.9.2021   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


CA 365/1






Electronic Components and Systems for European Leadership (ECSEL) Joint Undertaking
Publication of a vacancy for the function of Executive Director
(Temporary Agent – Grade AD 14)
COM/2021/20067
(2021/C 365 A/01)
 

We are


Electronic Components and Systems for European Leadership Joint Undertaking (ECSEL Joint Undertaking) is a public-private partnership aimed at leveraging investments in the electronics sector in Europe. The ECSEL Joint Undertaking fosters Research and Innovation (R&I) collaboration between all stakeholders such as industry, public authorities, academia and research and technology organisations, pulling together and focusing efforts. The ECSEL Joint Undertaking’s strategy is aligned with the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme and the programmes of Participating States to attract private investments and contribute to the effectiveness of public support by avoiding unnecessary duplication and fragmentation of efforts, thus contributing to the development of a strong and globally competitive electronics components and systems industry in the European Union. The ECSEL Joint Undertaking is based in Brussels, Belgium.
The ECSEL Joint Undertaking is set up for a period up to 31 December 2024 by Council Regulation (EU) No 561/2014 (1). The total costs of the R&I activities of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking have been in the range of 5 billion euro.
The ECSEL Joint Undertaking is currently composed of 30 staff.
For further information, please consult the following website: http://www.ecsel.eu/
As part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for 2021-27, the ECSEL Joint Undertaking is expected to be replaced and succeeded by the Key Digital Technologies Joint Undertaking (KDT Joint Undertaking). The KDT Joint Undertaking is expected to be one of the nine Joint Undertakings established under the proposed Council Regulation establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe (Single Basic Act) (2). The KDT Joint Undertaking would be the legal and universal successor in respect of all contracts, including employment contracts and grant agreements, liabilities and acquired property of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking. This transition from the ECSEL Joint Undertaking to the KDT Joint Undertaking is expected to take place in the second half of 2021.
The proposed KDT Joint Undertaking builds on the ECSEL Joint Undertaking. The KDT Joint Undertaking will address clearly defined topics that will reinforce the Union’s technological autonomy in electronic components and systems, establish the Union’s scientific excellence and innovation leadership in emerging components and systems technologies and ensure that components and systems will address Europe’s societal and environmental challenges.
During the lifetime of the KDT Joint Undertaking, from 2021 to 2031, the maximum financial contribution from the European Union to the KDT Joint Undertaking, is expected to be of around EUR 1,8 billion. At the same time, it is envisaged that the KDT Participating States will make a contribution of at least equal to the amount of the Union contribution. The private members of the KDT Joint Undertaking, which are expected to be the same as in the ECSEL Joint Undertaking (the industrial associations ‘AENEAS’, ‘ARTEMISIA’ and ‘EPoSS’ representing their constituent and affiliated entities), are envisaged to make a contribution of at least EUR 2,5 billion. The administrative costs of the KDT Joint Undertaking’s Office during its lifetime will be in the range of EUR 50 million. These costs will be divided equally between the Union and the private members.

We propose

The Executive Director is the legal representative of the Joint Undertaking. S/he represents the Joint Undertaking towards the ECSEL/KDT community. S/he shall perform her/his tasks with independence and shall be accountable to the Governing Board.
The Executive Director will lead and manage the Joint Undertaking and take overall responsibility for its operations including budget implementation, as well as ensure the achievement of its objectives. As such, s/he will play an important role in the implementation of the Joint Undertaking.
Based on Article 9 of the Statutes of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking annexed to the Council Regulation, the Executive Director’s responsibilities and tasks will include:






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Act as the chief executive responsible for the day-to-day management of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking in accordance with the decisions of the Governing Board.










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Act as the legal representative of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking. The Executive Director shall be accountable to the Governing Board.










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Implement the budget of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking.










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Carry out, in particular, the following tasks in an independent manner:






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consolidate and submit for adoption to the Governing Board the draft multiannual strategic plan composed of the multiannual strategic research and innovation agenda as proposed by the Private Members Board and the multiannual financial perspectives from the public authorities;










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prepare and submit for adoption to the Governing Board the draft annual budget, including the corresponding staff establishment plan indicating the number of temporary posts in each grade and function group and the number of contract staff and seconded national experts expressed in full-time equivalents;










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prepare and submit for adoption to the Governing Board the draft work plan including the scope of the calls for proposals needed to implement the research and innovation activities plan as proposed by the Private Members Board and the corresponding expenditure estimates as proposed by the public authorities;










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submit for opinion to the Governing Board the annual accounts;










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prepare and submit for approval to the Governing Board the annual activity report, including the information on corresponding expenditure;










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sign individual grant agreements and decisions;










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sign procurement contracts;










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implement the ECSEL Joint Undertaking’s communication policy;










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organise, direct and supervise the operations and the staff of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking within the limits of the delegation by the Governing Board as provided for in Article 6(2) of the ECSEL Council Regulation;










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establish and ensure the functioning of an effective and efficient internal control system and reporting any significant change to it to the Governing Board;










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ensure that risk assessment and risk management are performed;










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take any other measures needed to assess the progress of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking towards its objectives as set out in Article 2 of the ECSEL Council Regulation;










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perform any other tasks entrusted or delegated to the Executive Director by the Governing Board.














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Set up a Programme Office for the execution, under her or his responsibility, of all support tasks arising from the ECSEL Council Regulation. The Programme Office shall be composed of the staff of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking and shall in particular carry out the following tasks:






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provide support in establishing and managing an appropriate accounting system in accordance with the financial rules of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking;










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manage the calls for proposals as provided for in the work plan and administer the grant agreements and decisions;










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provide the members and the other bodies of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking with all relevant information and support necessary for them to perform their duties as well as responding to their specific requests;










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act as the secretariat of the bodies of the ECSEL Joint Undertaking and provide support to advisory groups set up by the Governing Board.








At the point of entry into force of the proposed Single Basic Act (including the KDT Joint Undertaking), the tasks of the Executive Director will be in accordance with what is set out in this Council Regulation, in particular, in Article 18.
Based on Article 18 of the proposed Single Basic Act, the Executive Director’s responsibilities and tasks will include:






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Act as the chief executive responsible for the day-to-day management of the Joint Undertaking in accordance with the decisions of the Governing Board. S/he shall provide the Governing Board with all information necessary for the performance of its functions. Without prejudice to the respective competencies of the Union institutions and the Governing Board, the Executive Director shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government or from any other body.










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Act as the legal representative of the Joint Undertaking. S/he shall be accountable to the Governing Board of the Joint Undertaking.










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Implement the budget of the Joint Undertaking.










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Carry out the following tasks for the Joint Undertaking:






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ensure sustainable and efficient management of the Joint Undertaking;










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prepare and submit for adoption to the Governing Board the draft annual budget and the staff establishment plan;










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prepare and submit for adoption to the Governing Board the work programme and the corresponding expenditure estimates for the Joint Undertaking, to implement the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda;










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submit for opinion to the Governing Board the annual accounts for the Joint Undertaking;










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prepare and submit for assessment and approval to the Governing Board the consolidated annual activity report;










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monitoring the contributions referred to in point (a) of Article 11(1) of the proposed Single Basic Act, report to the Governing Board regularly on the progress in achieving the targets and propose remedial or corrective measures, where necessary;










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establish a formal and regular collaboration with the European partnerships identified in the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and in accordance with the strategic orientation provided by the Governing Board;










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represent the Joint Undertaking in meetings within the scope of the Horizon Europe governance;










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submit for approval to the Public Authorities Board the list of actions to be selected for funding by the Joint Undertaking;










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assess applications for associated members to the Joint Undertaking following an open call for expression of interest and submitting proposals for associated members to the Governing Board;










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inform regularly the other bodies of the Joint Undertaking on all matters relevant to their role;










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sign individual grant agreements and decisions in her or his remit on behalf of the Joint Undertaking;










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sign procurement contracts on behalf of the Joint Undertaking;










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implement the communications policy of the Joint Undertaking;










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organise, direct and supervise the operations and the staff of the Joint Undertaking within the limits of the delegations by the Governing Board;










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establish and ensure the functioning of an effective and efficient internal control system and report any significant change to it to the Governing Board;










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protect the financial interests of the Union by applying preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities by means of effective checks and, if irregularities are detected, by recovering amounts that were wrongly paid and, where appropriate, imposing effective, proportionate and dissuasive administrative and financial penalties;










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ensure the carrying out of risk assessments and risk management for the Joint Undertaking;










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take any other measures necessary for assessing the progress of the Joint Undertaking towards achieving its objectives;










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prepare and submit for adoption to the Governing Board a plan for the phasing out of the Joint Undertaking from Horizon Europe funding;










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perform any other tasks entrusted or delegated to her or him by the Governing Board or as may be required by the proposed Single Basic Act;










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have the power to delegate her or his powers to other staff members subject to rules to be adopted in accordance with the last paragraph of Article 16(4) of the proposed Single Basic Act.














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Set up a programme office for the execution under her or his responsibility, of all support tasks of the Joint Undertaking deriving from the proposed Single Basic Act. The programme office shall be composed of the staff of the Joint Undertaking and shall in particular carry out the following tasks:






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provide support in establishing and managing an appropriate accounting system in accordance with the financial rules for the joint undertaking;










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manage the implementation of the work programme of the Joint Undertaking throughout the implementation cycle;










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provide to the members and the bodies of the Joint Undertaking all relevant information and support necessary for them to perform their duties;










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act as the secretariat of the bodies of the Joint Undertaking and providing support to advisory groups set up by the Governing Board.








The Executive Director may also be subject to any specific rules set out in the specific part of the proposed Single Basic Act concerning the KDT Joint Undertaking (Articles 124-141).

We look for (selection criteria)

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

Management skills







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Ability to lead and motivate a team including administrative, financial and technical staff, in a European, multicultural and multilingual environment.










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Sound experience in the management of significant financial resources in a national, European and/or international environment and involving funding from public sources.










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Sound experience in the implementation and management of Quality Assurance and Control procedures as well as risk management methodologies.










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Demonstrated affinity with managing research and technology development projects and innovation in a European or international environment.





Specialist skills and experience







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Very good knowledge of the European Union political priorities and policies.










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Very good knowledge of national, intergovernmental and European research and development programmes.










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Good understanding of the evolution of the industrial landscape and technical trends and challenges of relevance to the area of electronic components and systems.










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Thorough understanding of the EU Institutions, their functioning and interaction as well as international activities of relevance to the activities of the Joint Undertaking.





Personal qualities







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Excellent communication skills in order to liaise, communicate and collaborate effectively, efficiently and fluently in writing and orally with internal and external international stakeholders and to represent the Joint Undertaking in external fora.










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Ability to build effective working relations with all relevant stakeholders, to ensure that the activities of the Joint Undertaking form a coherent part of the industrial strategy for electronics components and systems.










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Team player.





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 (3): candidates must have at least 15 years postgraduate professional experience at a level to which the qualifications referred to above give admission. At least 5 years of that professional experience must be in the area of the activities of the Joint Undertaking.










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Management experience: at least 5 years of the post-graduate professional experience must have been gained in a high-level management function (4) 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 (5) 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 be able to complete, at the deadline for application, the full mandate of 3 years before reaching the retirement age. For temporary staff of the European Union, the retirement age is defined as being the end of the month in which the person reaches the age of 66 years (see Article 47 of the Conditions of Employment of other Servants of the European Union (6)).





Selection and appointment

This selection procedure is launched based on the conditions for recruitment and employment as laid down by the ECSEL Council Regulation, in particular, Article 8 of the Statutes of this Regulation. If and when the proposed Single Basic Act (which includes the KDT Joint Undertaking) has entered into force, the selection and appointment will follow the conditions laid down in the latter regulation, in particular, those laid down in Article 17 (‘Appointment, dismissal and extension of the term of office of the executive director’).
The Executive Director will be appointed by the Governing Board of the Joint Undertaking on the basis of a shortlist provided by the European Commission. The proposed Single Basic Act highlights that the selection procedure shall respect the principle of gender balance.
To establish this shortlist, the European Commission organises a selection in accordance with its selection and recruitment procedures (see the Document on Senior Officials Policy (7)).
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. In accordance with both the Council Regulation establishing the ECSEL Joint Undertaking and the proposed Single Basic Act, this pre-selection panel will include a representative and an observer appointed by the Governing Board.
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 Executive Director of the Joint Undertaking.
Candidates on the CCA shortlist will be interviewed by the Member(s) of the Commission responsible for the Directorate-General in charge of the relations with the Joint Undertaking (8).
Following these interviews, the European Commission adopts a shortlist of the most suitable candidates, which will be communicated to the Governing Board of the Joint Undertaking. The latter may decide to interview the candidates before appointing the Executive Director from among the candidates on the Commission shortlist. Inclusion on this shortlist does not guarantee appointment.
Candidates may be required to undergo further interviews and/or tests in addition to those indicated above. They could also be required to deliver a statement before the relevant committee(s) of the European Parliament.
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.

Equal opportunities

The European Commission and the Joint Undertaking apply a policy of equal opportunities and non-discrimination in accordance with Article 1d of the Staff Regulations (9).

Conditions of employment

The salaries and conditions of employment are laid down in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants.
The successful candidate will be engaged by the Joint Undertaking as a Temporary Agent at grade AD 14. S/he will be classified depending on the length of her/his previous professional experience in step 1 or step 2 within that grade.
S/he will be appointed for an initial mandate of up to 3 years, with a possible prolongation for a maximum of 4 years according to Council Regulation establishing the ECSEL Joint Undertaking as applicable at the time of the publication of the vacancy notice.
However, if the KDT Joint Undertaking is established by the time of the signature of the contract, the successful candidate will be appointed according to the rules set out by its founding regulation. In particular, the proposed Single Basic Act (which includes the KDT Joint Undertaking) establishes that the term of office of the Executive Director shall be 4 years, with the possibility to extend it once, for a period of not more than 3 years.
Applicants should note the requirement under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants for all new staff to complete successfully a 9-month probationary period.
The place of employment is Brussels, Belgium, where the Joint Undertaking is based.
The post is available from 1 January 2022.

Independence and declaration of interests

Before taking up her/his duties, the Executive Director 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 her/his 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.
If you want to apply, you must register via the Internet on the following website and follow the instructions concerning the various stages of the procedure: https://ec.europa.eu/dgs/human-resources/seniormanagementvacancies/CV_Encadext/index.cfm?fuseaction=premierAcces&langue=EN
You must have a valid e-mail 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 e-mail address.
To complete your application, you need to upload a CV in PDF format, preferably using the Europass CV format (10), and to fill out, online, a letter of motivation (maximum 8 000 characters). Your CV and your letter of motivation 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 e-mail to: HR-MANAGEMENT-ONLINE@ec.europa.eu

Closing date

The closing date for registration is 7 October 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.

Important information for candidates

Candidates are reminded that the work of the different selection panels 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. All queries must be addressed to the secretariat of the relevant panel.

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 (11). This applies in particular to the confidentiality and security of such data.


(1)  Council Regulation (EU) No 561/2014 of 6 May 2014 establishing the ECSEL Joint Undertaking (OJ L 169, 7.6.2014, p. 152) (ECSEL Council Regulation), https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/561/oj

(2)  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:52021PC0087

(3)  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.

(4)  In their curriculum vitae, candidates should clearly indicate for all years during which management experience has been acquired: (1) title and role of management positions held; (2) numbers of staff overseen in these positions; (3) the size of budgets managed; (4) numbers of hierarchical layers above and below; and (5) number of peers.

(5)  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A01958R0001-20130701

(6)  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A01962R0031-20140701

(7)  https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/compilation-of-the-senior-official-policy-at-the-european-commission_en.pdf (only exists in English).

(8)  Unless the Member of the Commission concerned, in line with the Commission Decision of 5 December 2007 (PV(2007)1811) and 30 September 2020 (PV(2020) 2351), has delegated this task.

(9)  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A01962R0031-20140701

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

(11)  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).