205a - Project Officer Collaborative Procurement of Equipment and Supplies

Contract type: Seconded National Expert

Directorate: Procurement, Support, Industry & Interoperability Directorate (PSII)

Group: N.A.

Grade: AD9/AD10

Level of Security Clearance: SECRET UE/EU SECRET

Management of staff: N.A.

Location: Brussels

Indicative starting date: 01/03/2027

Closing date for applications: 12/01/2027

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  • BACKGROUND THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING THE PROCUREMENT, SUPPORT, INDUSTRY & INTEROPERABILITY DIRECTORATE (PSII) DUTIES CONDITIONS FOR SECONDMENT SELECTION CRITERIA INDEPENDENCE AND DECLARATION OF INTEREST APPOINTMENT AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SECONDED NATIONAL EXPERTS (SNE) AT EDA EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES APPLICATION PROCEDURE FOR SECONDED NATIONAL EXPERTS (SNE) DATA PROTECTION

1. BACKGROUND

The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established on 12 July 2004, and is governed by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835 defining the statute, seat and operational rules of the European Defence Agency. The Agency has its headquarters in Brussels.

The main task of EDA is to support the Council and the Member States in their effort to improve the Union's defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) as it currently stands and as it develops in the future.

The Agency is structured into four directorates. The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) and three operational directorates: Capability, Armament & Planning (CAP); Procurement, Support, Industry & Interoperability (PSII); Research, Technology & Innovation (RTI).

2. THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING

The Agency is an “outward-facing” organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the Member States, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders. It works in an integrated way, with multi-disciplinary teams representing all of the Agency’s functional areas, to realise its objectives. Its business processes are flexible and oriented towards achieving results. Staff at all levels need to demonstrate the corresponding qualities of commitment, flexibility, innovation, and team-working; to work effectively with shareholders and stakeholder groups, formal and informal; and to operate without the need for detailed direction.

3. THE PROCUREMENT, SUPPORT, INDUSTRY & INTEROPERABILITY DIRECTORATE (PSII)

The Procurement, Support, Industry & Interoperability Directorate (PSII) supports a range of activities critical to collaborative defence capability development in Europe and the strengthening of its EDTIB.

The PSII Directorate supports Member States by conducting collaborative procurement of off-the-shelf defence equipment and services for their benefit. It also supports Member States in addressing the implications of EU legislation and policies for the defence sector, including REACH, Single European Sky (SES), funding instruments, and procurement legislation and policy. It also analyses developments influencing the European defence industry and security of supply. The Directorate is also responsible for activities supporting defence cooperation and interoperability, including airworthiness, standardisation, certification, test and evaluation, and education and training. It also supports CSDP operations, missions and EU Battlegroups.

The PSII Directorate comprises:

  • PSII Coordination and Management Office supports Member States in the adoption of new legislation and policies and supports internal coordination within and between the Directorate and the Agency's other directorates;
  • Collaborative Defence Procurement Centre (CDPC) manages the collaborative procurement of off-the shelf defence equipment and services for the benefit of Member States and EU operations and missions, and provides procurement management and regulatory expertise to the Agency and Member States;
  • Wider EU Policies Support Unit engages industry in the activities of the Agency, performs strategic analyses of the defence industry and supply chains, and monitors the impact of EU policies on the defence sector, ranging from legislation (REACH, single European Sky) to funding instruments;
  • Interoperability Support Unit supports defence cooperation and enhances interoperability through the development of harmonised safety and certification requirements, identification of best practice standards, networking of test and evaluation capabilities, and facilitation of common training initiatives.

4. DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Head of the Collaborative Defence Procurement Centre, the jobholder will primary responsibility for the preparation, establishment and implementation of collaborative procurement activities for equipment and supplies, in particular loitering munitions, on behalf of participating EU Member States.

The jobholder will be responsible for/contribute to the following activities:

  • manage or support the governance of relevant EDA ad hoc projects or programmes, including meetings, coordination of national positions, monitoring of decisions, risks, schedules, budgets and actions, and preparation of related records and reports;
  • coordinate with participating Member States the harmonisation of technical requirements and the preparation, validation and maintenance of common technical specifications, including requirements related to performance, safety, airworthiness, communications, command-and-control integration, interoperability, cybersecurity, training, logistics, maintenance, certification and applicable defence standards;
  • support EDA in its role as Contracting Authority and/or Procurement Agent, including market analysis and consultation, procurement planning, preparation of tender documentation, clarification and evaluation activities, contract award and implementation;
  • develop, in cooperation with the relevant EDA services, procurement strategies, implementation arrangements, project documentation and decision papers required to launch and govern collaborative procurement activities;
  • coordinate contract implementation across participating Member States, including order planning, configuration management, production and delivery monitoring, acceptance, quality assurance, testing, training, in-service support, financial matters and the resolution of contractual or performance issues;
  • engage with industry to assess market capacity, supply-chain resilience, technological maturity, production lead times and opportunities for standardisation, while safeguarding equal treatment, transparency, confidentiality and the integrity of procurement procedures;
  • identify and manage programme, technical, legal, financial, security, safety, industrial and schedule risks, and propose appropriate mitigation measures and decision options to participating Member States and EDA management;
  • seek coherence and synergies with relevant EU, EDA, NATO and national capability-development, industrial and procurement initiatives, including European Commission activities and relevant PESCO projects;
  • liaise, as appropriate, with the European External Action Service, EU Military Staff, European Commission, NATO, participating Member States, industry and other relevant institutions, bodies and agencies;
  • provide subject-matter advice on loitering munitions, collaborative procurement and related land-based precision-engagement capabilities, and contribute to relevant policy initiatives, conferences and seminars;
  • undertake additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

Duties may evolve according to the development of EDA’s structure and activities, and the decisions of EDA management

5. CONDITIONS FOR SECONDMENT

In accordance with the Rules applicable to national experts and military staff on secondment to the European Defence Agency (Council Decision (EU) 2016/1352), Seconded National Experts are seconded to the Agency while remaining in the service of their national employer and continue being paid their national salary by that employer.

Therefore, to be considered in the selection process, candidates for SNE posts must be sponsored by their national authorities. Confirmation is required in the form of a letter of sponsorship addressed to the Agency as far as possible by the closing date for the receipt of applications and in any case before a decision is taken by EDA on the candidate to be selected for a secondment.

The Rules are available on the EDA website http://www.eda.europa.eu - vacancies.

To qualify for secondment to the Agency, experts shall:

  • have worked for their employer on a permanent or contract basis for at least 12 months before their secondment;
  • remain in the service of their employer throughout the period of secondment and continue to be paid by that employer;
  • have at least three years' full-time experience in defence, administrative, scientific, technical, operational, advisory or supervisory functions relevant to the performance of the duties assigned to them. Before the secondment, the employer shall supply the Agency with a statement of the expert's employment covering the previous 12 months;
  • be nationals of a participating Member State or falling within the provisions of the second paragraph of Article 1 of Council Decision (EU) 2016/1352 of 4 August 2016;
  • have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1 oral and written) of one official language of one of the participating Member States and a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2 oral and written) of another of these languages for the performance of their duties.

For native English speakers, your ability to communicate in another EU language will be tested during the selection process. To assess your foreign language levels, see: https://europa.eu/europass/en/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills

6. SELECTION CRITERIA

IMPORTANT: Confirmation of sponsorship is required at the latest by the deadline for applications and in any case before a decision on a candidate selected for secondment is taken by EDA.

A. Essential

Only applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.

(1) Professional

The candidate will be required to demonstrate that he/she has:

  • a university degree (or equivalent academic degree) in a field relevant to the post (e.g. Engineering, Defence and Security, etc.);
  • at least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience;
  • proven experience in the preparation and management of defence procurement/acquisition programmes in a governmental defence organisation and/or an international organisation, including knowledge of the applicable EU regulatory framework, in particular Directive 2009/81/EC;
  • proven experience in translating technical requirements, defence standards and specifications into procurement documentation for collaborative procurement/acquisition programmes;
  • good knowledge of the defence equipment and armaments market, particularly loitering munitions and related land-based precision-engagement capabilities;
  • good understanding of EU institutions, EDA and NATO, their functions and Defence related initiatives, in particular related to Defence Procurement;
  • very good command of written and spoken English.

(2) Personal

All staff must be able to fit into the Agency's way of working (see para. 2). Other attributes important for this post include:

  • ability to work in a team and independently in his/her area of responsibility;
  • ability to work effectively in a multinational environment;
  • reliability and capacity to work under pressure with little supervision;
  • good communication, coordination and organisational skills;
  • strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
  • excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills;
  • results-orientation and strong motivation;
  • flexibility and innovativeness;
  • genuine commitment to the Agency's objectives.

B. Desirable

The following will be considered an advantage:

  • hold a recognised project management qualification;
  • familiarity with the defence international environment;
  • experience of supporting organisational and process change.

7. INDEPENDENCE AND DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The selected candidate will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act independently in the Agency’s interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests that might be considered prejudicial to their independence.

8. APPOINTMENT AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR SECONDED NATIONAL EXPERTS (SNE) AT EDA

The Project Officer Collaborative Procurement of Equipment and Supplies will be appointed by the Chief Executive.

Secondment will be as a member of the Seconded National Expert staff of the Agency for a three-year period. Renewal is possible within the limits set out in the EDA SNE Rules. The successful candidate will be seconded as AD9/AD10 equivalent.

Applications are invited with a view to establish a reserve list for the post of Project Officer Collaborative procurement of equipment and supplies at EDA. This list will be valid until 31/12/2028, and may be extended by decision of the Chief Executive. During the validity of the reserve list, successful candidates may be offered a secondment in EDA according to their competences in relation to the specific requirements of the vacant post. Inclusion on the reserve list does not imply any entitlement of secondment to the Agency.

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Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.