Recruitment of Temporary Agents

THE COMMUNITY FISHERIES CONTROL AGENCY - CFCA - IS A EUROPEAN UNION BODY ESTABLISHED IN 2005 TO ORGANISE OPERATIONAL COORDINATION OF FISHERIES CONTROL AND INSPECTION ACTIVITIES BY THE MEMBER STATES AND TO ASSIST THEM TO COOPERATE SO AS TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES OF THE COMMON FISHERIES POLICY IN ORDER TO ENSURE ITS EFFECTIVE AND UNIFORM APPLICATION.

The Agency follows the personnel policy of the Staff Regulations applicable to European Institutions and Bodies. The Council has adopted new Staff Regulations on 22 March 2004. The successful candidates will, therefore, be offered a post on the basis of these new Staff Regulations.

The CFCA is organising selection procedures with a view to drawing up reserve lists for the following positions:

CFCA-TA-AST5-0811 – ICT PROJECT MANAGER
CFCA-TA-AD9-0817 – HEAD OF SECTOR MONITORING CENTRE FOR ASSESSMENT
CFCA-TA-AD8-0818 – SENIOR ADMINISTRATOR OF FISHNET
CFCA-TA-AST5-0820 – COORDINATOR OF CONTROL INSPECTIONS
CFCA-TA-AST8-0821 – SENIOR COORDINATOR OF CONTROL INSPECTIONS

The Agency will welcome applications from highly motivated candidates to participate in the development of CFCA.

There is no national quota system in operation but the Staff Regulations require striving for a broad balance among nationalities.

Candidates are recruited on the condition they have full rights as a citizen. Candidates must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on them by laws concerning military service and meet the character requirements for the duties involved.

The CFCA has an independent and separate recruitment process from other EU institutions or other EU agencies.

In its recruitment, the CFCA only considers applications relating to positions which have been advertised, which means that unsolicited applications are not processed, with a view to maintain equal treatment of applicants.

1. Conditions of employment

The successful applicants will be appointed as Temporary Staff members of CFCA, according to the provisions of Article 2 (a), title I of the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Communities (CEOS).

The successful candidates will be recruited in the grade mentioned in the titles of offered positions.

Recruitment follows the rules and practices of EU Institutions and bodies and successful candidates are offered:

• three-years renewable contracts as temporary agents

The place of employment is Vigo, Spain.

2. General conditions for applications

Candidates may apply only where meeting the following criteria for consideration of their application:

A. Common conditions to all positions

• You must be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union or of Iceland or Norway.
• You must be entitled to your full rights as a citizen.
• You must have fulfilled the obligations imposed on you by the laws concerning military service.
• You must meet the character requirements relating to the position you apply for.
• You must submit a completed application for each post applied for.
• Candidates may apply in any of the official languages of the European Community, but it would be helpful to apply in English in order to facilitate the selection process, when the Agency follows a practise of using English as working language. However candidates are also requested to state their educational qualifications and positions held in the language of origin.
• The Agency is an equal opportunity employer and accepts applications without discrimination on the grounds of age, race, political and/or religious beliefs, sex or sexual orientation, marital and/or family status and regardless any kind of disability.
• If you are invited to an interview, you will be asked to submit supporting documents to prove the information provided in your application.

B. Submission of applications

Each application shall contain the following documents:

• A detailed curriculum vitae in European format (that can be obtained at the following address
  http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/vernav/Europasss+Documents/Europass+CV.csp
  or downloaded from the Agency's website
  
• A duly completed and signed declaration of honour ( ~87 Kb),
• A motivation letter of 2 pages maximum including a clear mention of the post applied for and of your address for correspondence and for invitation to interview.

These three documents should be sent by electronic mail only to:

cfca-vacancies-ta@cfca.europa.eu

Please mention in the subject line your last name followed by the position reference: FAMILY NAME – CFCA-TA-XX-XXX

Please, note that only complete applications containing the above mentioned documents and information required will be taken into account.

Deadline for sending your application is: Monday 8 December 2008

3. Selection procedure

A. Selection

A selection board is set up for the selection procedure. The principle of confidentiality is enshrined in Article 6 of Annex III to the Staff Regulations, which states that the proceedings of the selection board must be secret. It works in two ways: first, it imposes obligations to ensure equal treatment for candidates; and second, it seeks to protect the selection board to ensure that its decisions are totally impartial.

The selection board adheres strictly to the conditions of admissions laid down in the publication notice when deciding whether or not candidates are to be admitted. Candidates admitted to a previous selection procedure will not be automatically eligible.

Candidates are strictly forbidden to make any contact with the members of the selection board, either directly or indirectly. Any infringement of this rule will lead to disqualification from the selection procedure.

Should the selection board discover at any stage in the procedure that the candidate does not meet one or more of the general or special conditions for admission to the selection procedure or that the information on the application form does not correspond with the supporting documents, the candidate will be disqualified.

The selection board decides on those candidates who are admitted to the selection procedure in accordance with the requirements as specified in the publication notice. The applications of the candidates admitted to the selection procedure are reviewed and the selection board decides on those candidates who are invited to attend for interview. The selection board may decide on the need for interviewees to undergo one or more written tests related to the nature of the duties in order to facilitate the selection process. Following the interviews, which are conducted by the selection board, the selection board decides which candidates will be placed on the reserve list.

B. Reserve list and recruitment

Each candidate will be informed by letter whether or not he/she has been placed on the reserve list. The validity of the reserve list is 2 years from the date of the letter informing the candidate that his/her name is placed on the reserve list. Therefore candidates whose name will be put on a reserve list could be offered a contract during this period of time. Candidates should note that inclusion on the reserve list does not guarantee appointment. The recruitment procedure is as follows: as and when funds become available, candidates on the reserve list will be considered and the reserve list will be drawn on to fill vacancies. If a letter of intention is issued, the candidate must undergo a compulsory medical examination to establish that he/she meets the standard of physical fitness necessary to perform the duties involved and the candidate must provide original or certified copies of all relevant documents.

It should be noted that the retirement age for staff is:

• either automatically at the age of 65 years;
• or, at the staff member’s own request, at the age of 63 years or where the staff member is between 55 and 63 years of age and satisfies, as specified in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants, the requirements for immediate payment of a pension.

Selected candidates will be offered a three-year renewable contract in accordance with the Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities (Official Journal of the European Communities No L 56 of 4 March 1968 and successive amendments).

Successful candidates who are recruited undergo an initial probation period of 6 months.

C. Pay and welfare benefits

The pay of staff members consists of a basic salary, to be weighted to compensate the Vigo cost of living and of additional allowances and deductions.

Basic Salary: There is a basic salary scale for each grade, divided into a number of steps. Staff members progress automatically to the next step every two years until they reach the top of the scale for that grade. The basic monthly starting salary for the first and second steps in the grade published in recent selection procedures are as follows (figures valid as of 1 July 2007 do not include any allowances).

Temporary Agents at CFCA shall be appointed to grade set out in the notice of the selection procedure they have passed. According to Art. 32 of the Staff Regulations a Temporary Agent shall be recruited at the first step in his grade. CFCA may allow additional seniority up to a maximum of 24 months (which corresponds to one additional step above step 1) to take account of professional experience and not of additional education qualifications. Any duly certified professional activity connected with one of CFCA’s areas of activity shall be taken into account. Any given period may be counted only once.

Allowances: In addition to their basic salary, staff members may be entitled to various allowances, in particular an expatriation or foreign residence allowance (depending whether the candidate has left his/her Member State to take up employment with the CFCA), and family allowances (depending on personal circumstances): household allowance, dependent child allowance, preschool allowance, education allowance.

Deductions: Staff pay a Community tax at source and deductions are also made for medical insurance, pensions and unemployment insurance. Salaries are exempt from national tax.

Under certain circumstances, in particular where staff members are obliged to change their place of residence in order to take up employment, the Agency may also reimburse various expenses incurred on recruitment, notably removal expenses.

Additional information can be obtained from the web site of the CFCA Agency. Additional information can be obtained from the web site of the CFCA Agency. Furthermore, the following link gives you direct access to the Staff Regulations: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/personnel_administration/statut/tocen100.pdf. 

Important

Please, take note that a binding commitment can only be made after verification of all conditions and will take the form of a contract signed by the Executive Director.

Please note that the selection process may take some time to be completed and that no information will be released during this period. Once a selection process has been completed, its status will be displayed on the web site of CFCA.

D. Data Protectiont

Any personal data provided by the Applicant shall be processed pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movements of such data. It shall be processed solely for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. The Applicant shall have the right of access to his/her personal data and the right to rectify data relating to the contact details contained in his/her application that is inaccurate or incomplete at any time during the selection procedure. However, the Applicant can rectify data relating to admissibility criteria only until the closing date of the submission of applications. Should the Applicant have any queries concerning the processing of his/her personal data, (s)he shall address them to the Controller of the data, Head of Unit Resources.

The Applicant shall have right of recourse at any time to the European Data Protection Supervisor (www.edps.europa.eu).

4. Specific requirements and details of positions offered

Job description

Overall purpose:

The ICT Project Manager will be responsible for defining and implementing the CFCA ICT architecture and the related hardware/software solutions.

Functions and Duties:

Under the Head of Unit "Resources", within the ICT Sector, the ICT Project Manager will be responsible for:

• scouting, identification and analysis of off-the-shelf hardware and software products capable to provide efficient and cost effective solutions to support the Agency’s internal and external business processes;
• overall planning, coordination, prioritisation, scheduling, and quality control of the ICT projects and operational activities;
• planning and supervising the ICT integration, acceptance testing, roll-out phases and activities;
• ensuring a proper training to end users on ICT products and services;
• supporting the planning and implementation of measures to safeguard the security, resilience and continuity of the ICT services;
• supporting the planning, procurement, installation and maintenance of the technical infrastructure.

Qualifications and experience required

A. Eligibility criteria

• A level of post secondary education of at least 3 years attested by a diploma and at least 6 years of professional experience after that diploma, or,
  A level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post secondary education and at least 9 years of professional experience after that diploma;
• Have a minimum of six years of experience in software development or integration projects, and a minimum of two years in a similar position;
• Have a thorough knowledge of English and at least another official language of the European Union.

B. Selection criteria

Essential:

• extensive working experience in software development or system integration projects through all phases of the lifecycle;
• excellent working experience in database design and architecture (Oracle and/or Microsoft SQL server);
• good knowledge of the Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory and Sharepoint software components;
• good knowledge of multi-tier web-based applications and Intranet/Website design and implementation;
• good knowledge of IT security and business continuity standards;
• good communication, documentation, and presentation skills.

Advantageous:

• Experience with IT budget planning and budget monitoring;
• Working experience in EU Institutions and/or bodies;
• Ability to effectively train and communicate complex technical matters to non-technical audiences;
`
• Good knowledge of Spanish.

Job description

Overall purpose:

To develop and administer the Monitoring Centre for assessment (MCA) within the Capacity Building Unit of the Agency. This involves a monitoring centre for assessment of control, inspection and surveillance methodologies and strategies; setting of performance indicators and validation of methodologies and evaluation of the effectiveness of the activities implemented by each of the actors involved in the joint operations.

Functions and Duties:

Reporting to the Head of Unit “Capacity Building”, the Head of Sector Monitoring Centre for Assessment will be responsible for:

• Conducting assessment of methodologies and quality of inspections;
• Developing procedures for the collection of data relating to the operations of the Agency
• Issuing guidelines and recommendations on methodologies;
• Providing assistance and support to the management of the Agency for the validation of guidelines and manuals;
• Carrying out analysis for supporting quantitative risk assessments.

Qualifications and experience required

A. Eligibility criteria

• University degree relating to the field;
• At least 12 years of professional experience acquired after the award of university diploma;
• Excellent command of spoken and written English, together with a good knowledge of at least another official language;
• Proven abilities to use electronic office equipment.

B. Selection criteria

Essential:

• Excellent knowledge of risk assessment approaches;
• Excellent knowledge of collection, collation, analysis and assessment of data in the field of inspections;
• Multidisciplinary experience acquired from international or national scientific work;
• Excellent organisational, administrative and problem solving skills;
• Excellent communication skills and ability to explain complex quantitative issues to non quantitative people.

Advantageous:

• Good knowledge of the Common Fisheries Policy and Legislation;
• Management experience acquired from international or national public administrations or research institutes;
• Ability to work under conditions that require considerable flexibility.

Job description

Overall purpose:

To develop and administer the FISHNET network within the Capacity Building Unit of the Agency. FISHNET has to ensure an efficient communication in a secure environment between all actors concerned from national services, the Commission and the CFCA and provide for joint working places where coordinators and Working Parties can remotely work together and meet in video conferences.

Functions and Duties:

Reporting to the Head of Unit “Capacity Building”, the Senior Administrator of FISHNET will be responsible for:

• Defining and implementing technical solutions for providing the Agency and its stakeholders with an integrated web platform for data exchange;
• Setting up a network of focal points in the Member States for data exchange with the Agency;
• Developing methods and procedures for ensuring transparency and security of data exchange in the field of operations of the Agency;
• Drafting and consolidating comprehensive analysis reports, synthesis reports on progress made in the development of FISHNET, the relations with the national focal points and stakeholders;
• Taking full responsibility for defined tasks and in contributing to overall planning, coordination and management of resources dedicated to FISHNET.

Qualifications and experience required

A. Eligibility criteria

• University degree relating to the field;
• At least 12 years of professional experience acquired after the award of university diploma;
• Excellent command of spoken and written English, together with a good knowledge of at least another official language;
• Proven abilities to use electronic office equipment.

B. Selection criteria

Essential:

• Excellent knowledge of EU policies and legislation in the field of fisheries,
• Very good organisational skills,
• Experience in building and maintaining networks, and in project management,
• Strong interpersonal skills and sense of initiative and responsibility,
• Excellent drafting and communication skills.

Advantageous:

• Experience in working in a multicultural environments, preferably with a multidisciplinary approach;
• Experience in cooperation with the EU/national administrations;
• Masters degree of PND in ICT networks.

Job description

Overall purpose:

To coordinate inspections and control activities in accordance with the mandate of the Agency.
To define and implement quality standards and timelines according to programmes and plans of the Agency.

Functions and Duties:

Under the responsibility of the Head of Unit C – Operational Coordination – the successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Planning and coordination of control and inspection activities by Member States in Community waters and beyond, with a view to ensure uniform and effective implementation of Community legislation and to assess the effectiveness of arrangements in place with regard to fisheries control and inspection;
• Assisting in developing methodologies for planning and coordination of control and inspection activities by the Member States;
• Analysing fishing patterns and in particular risks that certain activities may not be compliant with the applicable provisions laid down in Community legislation.

Qualifications and experience required

A. Eligibility criteria

• A level of education which corresponds to successful completion of advanced level of secondary education and at least 15 years of professional experience after that diploma
• A certified course in the field of marine biology, fisheries, vessel construction or other maritime studies;
• Have a minimum of 9 years of professional experience as manager or master of a vessel in the fisheries sector, including sea going experience, or/and as official or agent of a public administration with duties in fisheries management, inspection/control;
• Have a thorough knowledge of English and at least another official language of the European Union.

B. Selection criteria

Essential:

• Good sense of initiative and responsibility,
• Excellent communication skills,
• Ability to draft clear and concise reports,
• Good experience of main office software, internet, email,
• Good knowledge of Community fisheries legislation,
• Ability to undertake missions of several weeks duration,
• Ability to cooperate and work in a team.

Advantageous:

• Knowledge of EU Institutions and of their working procedures,
• Experience in computer applications, including satellite monitoring systems.

Job description

Overall purpose:

To coordinate inspections and control activities in accordance with the mandate of the Agency.
To define and implement quality standards and timelines according to programmes and plans of the Agency.

Functions and Duties:

Under the responsibility of the Head of Unit C – Operational Coordination – the successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Planning and coordination of control and inspection activities by Member States in Community waters and beyond, with a view to ensure uniform and effective implementation of Community legislation and to assess the effectiveness of arrangements in place with regard to fisheries control and inspection;
• Assisting in developing methodologies for planning and coordination of control and inspection activities by the Member States;
• Analysing fishing patterns and in particular risks that certain activities may not be compliant with the applicable provisions laid down in Community legislation.

Qualifications and experience required

A. Eligibility criteria

• A level of education which corresponds to successful completion of advanced level of secondary education and at least 21 years of professional experience after that diploma;
• A certified course in the field of marine biology, fisheries, vessel construction or other maritime studies;
• Have a minimum of 15 years of professional experience as manager or master of a vessel in the fisheries sector, including sea going experience, or/and as official or agent of a public administration with duties in fisheries management, inspection/control;
• Have a thorough knowledge of English and at least another official language of the European Union.

B. Selection criteria

Essential:

• Good sense of initiative and responsibility;
• Excellent communication skills,
• Ability to draft clear and concise reports,
• Good experience of main office software, internet, email,
• Thorough knowledge of Community fisheries legislation,
• Ability to undertake missions of several weeks duration,
• Ability to cooperate and work in a team.

Advantageous:

• Knowledge of EU Institutions and of their working procedures,
• Experience in computer applications, including satellite monitoring systems,
• Qualified as ISO 9001 lead auditor.