Vacancy notice CONS/AD/180/22

• Jurisdiction: European Union
• Published date: 28 July 2022
• Celex Number: C2022/287A/01

28.7.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union CA 287/1

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Vacancy notice CONS/AD/180/22

(2022/C 287 A/01)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Department	COMPET.3
Place of work	Brussels, Justus Lipsius Building
Title of post	Director
Function group and grade	AD 14
Security clearance required	SECRET UE/EU SECRET
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS	5 September 2022 — 12:00 noon (Brussels time)

We are

The General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) assists the European Council and the Council of the EU and their preparatory bodies in all fields of their activities. Under the authority of the Secretary-General, it provides advice and support to the European Council, the Council and their Presidencies in all areas of activity, including policy and legal advice, coordination with other institutions, elaboration of compromises, supervising as well as attending to all the practicalities that are necessary for the good preparation and running of the European Council and the Council.

Directorate-General ‘Competitiveness and Trade’ (DG COMPET), comprises three directorates: COMPET.1, dealing with Internal Market, Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property; COMPET.2, dealing with Competition, Industry, Research and Space; COMPET.3, dealing with Trade. All of them report to the Director-General.

The Directorate-General ‘Competitiveness and Trade’ (DG COMPET) coordinates the organisation of the Competitiveness and Foreign Affairs-Trade Council configurations (FAC-Trade), each of them meeting, respectively, at least four times and twice per year.

Directorate COMPET.3 (Trade) deals with trade and investment policy. The Directorate advises the Council presidency and the President of the European Council and helps prepare and assists the FAC-Trade Council and the relevant COREPER and working groups, such as the Trade Policy Committee, that handle both legislative and non legislative files. On the non-legislative side, the Council also plays a central role when it comes to the negotiations and management of trade agreements as it mandates the Commission to open negotiations and gives negotiating directives to the Commission. The Directorate also helps prepare EU positions to be taken in relevant international organisations, such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

We propose

The post of the Director in COMPET.3 is a challenging position in a politically interesting environment, with a variety of stakeholders and highly qualified staff.

Under the authority of the Director-General you will manage and coordinate your Directorate and its resources in a professional manner, organise its activities and support and motivate staff in their work. You will ensure the quality of the services and products delivered by the Directorate, as well as effective communication and cooperation within the Directorate, across the Directorate-General and with other GSC services.

You will provide high-level policy and procedural advice to the European Council, the Council, Coreper and their Presidencies, and to the Secretary-General, on all aspects of dossiers falling within the Directorate’s remit. You will take part in meetings and, where appropriate, in briefings and/or negotiations with a view to reaching compromises and finding solutions. In this context, you will assist the presidencies in negotiations and ensure effective communication and cooperation with EU institutions, agencies and other bodies in the areas within the Directorate’s remit.

You will define the objectives to be met and contribute to meeting them by establishing the Directorate's work programme and ensuring the appropriate monitoring of its implementation.

You will also be responsible for initiating and supervising policy-analysis activities with a view to providing advice for decision making in the areas within the Directorate’s remit.

You will be able to plan and organise work in a flexible manner, subject to working hours and to the schedule of meetings in the Directorate's field of activity. You and your staff will be able to benefit from the GSC's working arrangements, including teleworking.

Occasional missions abroad (approximately five times per year), usually within the EU, are required.

We look for

We are looking for a manager with experience in EU policy-making and the EU legislative process, and an extensive knowledge of EU institutional issues. Knowledge of the areas covered by the directorate is an asset.

All GSC managers are expected to advise their hierarchy and stakeholders, manage their staff and financial resources, and represent the GSC. These expectations are set out in the GSC horizontal manager's profile (1).

Furthermore, the jobholder will need to possess:

— the ability to think and plan strategically, to anticipate and identify potential problems and to propose workable solutions and compromises;

— leadership skills and the ability to promote a strong team spirit and to guide, motivate and empower staff in a multicultural and diverse environment, with a strong emphasis on staff development;

— a sense of diplomacy, knowing when to be flexible and when to be firm and maintaining attention to detail without losing sight of the overall picture;

— the ability to promote and maintain good working relationships with a range of internal and external interlocutors;

— the ability to reach common agreements or goals by providing targeted advice to stakeholders and by effectively and constructively facilitating...