VACANCY NOTICE FOR TEMPORARY AGENT SELECTION

About us (“We are”)

The Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA) was established to strengthen the European Union's partnerships with countries in the Mediterranean and the Gulf. As the Commission's focal point for these regions, DG MENA promotes mutually beneficial partnerships that foster sustainable prosperity, resilience and stability. It brings together different strands of the Commission's external engagement and mobilises the EU's policy, technical and financial instruments in support of partner countries, working closely with the European External Action Service (EEAS) and thematic Commission services. Unit MENA.A2 is responsible for Egypt and for the implementation of the Pact for the Mediterranean. It manages both bilateral and regional cooperation, working closely with EU Delegations across the Southern Neighbourhood and serving as the main headquarters counterpart for the EU Delegation in Egypt. The unit coordinates closely with other Commission services, the EEAS, Member States, partner governments and international organisations to ensure coherent policy development and effective implementation of EU programmes. The unit is organised into four teams covering: (i) Egypt; (ii) the Pact for the Mediterranean; (iii) Good Governance; and (iv) Migration, Security and Regional Skills Policy. The Egypt team leads the implementation of the EU-Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership and manages a broad portfolio of political dialogue, development cooperation and investment initiatives. It coordinates the

Commission's work on EU-Egypt relations, works closely with colleagues across the institution on cross-cutting policy issues, and supports the Commissioner for the Mediterranean through strategic policy advice, high-level briefings and engagement with the European Parliament. The team's working language is English.

About the role ("We propose")

A challenging position in a friendly, diverse and dynamic team, offering excellent opportunities to work on one of the EU's most strategic partnerships in the Southern Mediterranean. The post combines bilateral policy work with regional policy development under the Pact for the Mediterranean, providing exposure to high-level political dialogue, inter-service coordination and cooperation with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate will join the Egypt team as Desk Officer for Egypt and Policy Focal Point for Skills, and will be responsible for:

• coordinating the implementation of the EU-Egypt Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership, including bilateral political dialogue and cooperation with Egyptian authorities and other stakeholders, with a particular focus on rule of law, governance, human capital development and human rights;
• contributing to the design, programming and implementation of EU cooperation, including the preparation of multiannual programming documents in close coordination with the EU Delegation, other Commission services and the EEAS;
• monitoring political and policy developments, preparing briefings, speeches, correspondence and policy notes for senior management and the Commissioner, and supporting engagement with the European Parliament;
• acting as the DG MENA focal point on skills, coordinating policy development and initiatives under the Pact for the Mediterranean, and working closely with relevant Commission services, Member States, partner countries and international organisations to advance the regional skills agenda.

The position offers a multifaceted and fast-paced working environment requiring sound judgement, political awareness, responsiveness, initiative and a strong capacity to coordinate across policy areas and institutional actors. It also includes regular missions to Egypt.

Qualifications, experience and skills ("We look for")

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced colleague with a strong interest in EU external relations and international affairs, who can combine country-specific expertise, policy analysis, programme management and effective institutional coordination. The successful candidate must be able to operate autonomously in a politically sensitive, fast-paced and multicultural environment, while ensuring high-quality and timely delivery.

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• proven professional experience in EU external relations, with a strong knowledge of the political, economic and institutional context of Egypt and, more broadly, the Southern Neighbourhood/MENA region;
• hands-on experience in coordinating EU external cooperation, including the programming, implementation and monitoring of EU-funded actions, and a sound understanding of EU cooperation instruments and implementation modalities (including macrofinancial assistance, investment and other financial instruments);
• experience in desk coordination functions, including inter-service coordination, preparation of policy and decision-making documents, and interaction with EU Delegations, the EEAS, Member States and external stakeholders;
• professional experience in skills, human capital development, education, vocational training or labour market policies, including policy analysis, coordination or programme implementation;
• excellent analytical skills and sound political judgement, including the ability to assess political, economic, sectoral and human rights developments and translate them into operational policy advice;
• excellent drafting and communication skills in English, with the ability to prepare high-quality briefings, speeches and policy advice for senior management and the political level;
• strong organisational and coordination skills, sound judgement, attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines;
• excellent interpersonal and representational skills, with the ability to build constructive working relationships and represent the Commission in meetings with a wide range of interlocutors;
• a proactive, solution-oriented mindset, resilience under pressure and the ability to work both autonomously and as part of a team. Experience acquired in an EU Delegation, particularly in Egypt or the MENA region, would be a strong advantage. Excellent command of English is essential as well as a good knowledge of French. A working knowledge of Arabic would be considered an asset.

How to express your interest?

You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order:

1. your CV
2. completed application form.

Please send these documents by the publication deadline to MENA-A2-RECRUITMENT@ec.europa.eu indicating the selection reference MENA/COM/2026/1706 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline.

Eligibility

For eligibility please consult this page with all the information needed.