023g - Project Officer Cyber Defence Workforce Development

Contract type: Seconded National Expert

Directorate: Capability, Armament and Planning Directorate (CAP)

Group: N.A.

Grade: AD9/AD10

Level of Security Clearance: SECRET UE/EU SECRET

Management of staff: N.A.

Location: Brussels

Indicative starting date: 01/04/2027

Closing date for applications: 11/02/2027

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  • BACKGROUND THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING THE CAPABILITY, ARMAMENT AND PLANNING DIRECTORATE (CAP) 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: Industry, Synergies and Enablers (ISE); Capability, Armament & Planning (CAP); Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI).

2. THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING

The Agency is an “outward-facing” organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the participating 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 CAPABILITY, ARMAMENT AND PLANNING DIRECTORATE (CAP)

The Capability, Armament & Planning Directorate (CAP) supports Member States in collaboratively planning, developing and acquiring defence capabilities that meet their needs as well as EU priorities. This implies supporting Member States in identifying, preparing and supporting the execution of possible cooperation projects and programmes ranging from long term military capability development to short term armament procurement. This includes obtaining agreement on shared needs and related priorities, harmonising capability requirements and conducting capability development preparatory activities across all dimensions of capabilities (concept & doctrine, organisation, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, and interoperability). It also includes aggregating demand towards joint procurement of defence products and services.

The Directorate, together with Member States and with the support of other competent EU institutions and bodies, operates the intergovernmental EU Capability Development Planning System (EU-CDPS) comprising several EU tools. The Capability Development Plan (CDP), managed with the EU Military Committee (EUMC) and EU Military Staff (EUMS) contributions, leads to the identification of Capability Development Priorities agreed at EU level as a reference for all EU initiatives on Defence. The Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), conducted  with the contribution of EUMS, enables the analysis of the “State of the Union on Defence” and to identify opportunities for cooperation. The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), conducted together with the European External Action Service (EEAS), including EUMS, coordinates the analysis of the annual PESCO National Implementation Plans to assess the participating Member States’ fulfilment of the PESCO commitments, assesses Member States' PESCO project proposals and monitors their progress.

Within EU-CDPS, the Directorate engages with Member States’ capability planners and experts to implement the EU Capability Development Priorities based on agreed collaborative roadmaps. When preparatory activities enable the identification of a possible cooperation project, the Directorate supports Member States interested in the project by elaborating a business case with them.

The CAP Directorate comprises:

  • Air & Space Domain Unit: Air Combat, Airborne Command and Inform Capabilities, Integrated Air and Missile Defence, Air Transport, Space Operations and Space Services;
  • Maritime Domain Unit: Naval Combat and Maritime Interdiction, Underwater and Seabed Warfare, Maritime Domain Awareness;
  • Land Domain Unit: Ground Combat Capabilities, Land-Based Precision Engagement, Future Soldier Systems;
  • Strategic Enablers & Cyber Unit: Cyber Warfare & Operations, Electro Magnetic Spectrum Operations & Electronic Warfare, Command / Control / Communications / Computers / Information Systems / Surveillance / Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance (C4ISTAR), Special Operation Forces;
  • Resilience & Support Unit: Military Mobility, Logistics, CBRN Defence, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Medical Support, Energy;
  • Capability Development Coordination and Strategic Analysis Unit;
  • Cooperation and Planning Unit: Management of EU-CDPS, including the conduct of the Capability Development Plan, CARD and PESCO.

Based on this organization, in coordination with other Directorates, CAP supports Member States with concrete proposals for cooperation at levels ranging from the technical to the political, while actively contributing to various capability-related initiatives launched by Member States at EU level, such as the EU Defence Readiness objective and associated Priority Capability Areas.

4. DUTIES

Under the direction and supervision of the Head of Strategic Enablers and Cyber Unit, the jobholder will be responsible for the following activities:

  • contribute to updating and implementing the Priority Implementation Roadmap (PIR) “Cyber Warfare Advantage and Readiness”, particularly in relation to Cyber Defence workforce development, human factors and relevant hybrid threat activities;
  • develop proposals to meet the Cyber Defence workforce development objectives defined in the Capability Development Plan and relevant EU Cyber Defence and Security Policy documents (e.g. EU Policy on Cyber Defence);
  • proactively monitor national and multinational Cyber Defence capability development particularly workforce development, training, exercises and relevant hybrid threats initiatives, to identify capability gaps;
  • contribute to the development and harmonisation of military Cyber Defence requirements and identify opportunities for cooperation;
  • foster the development of collaborative Cyber Defence activities and projects in accordance with the (PIR) “Cyber Warfare Advantage and Readiness”, including the harmonisation of Cyber Defence exercises, and support participating Member States (pMS) in preparing and implementing related capabilities, including by acting as a Project Manager when required;
  • propose and develop initiatives and projects addressing Cyber Defence workforce development and human factors, in close cooperation with pMS  through the Capability Expert Group (CEG) Cyber Defence and other relevant EDA fora;
  • support the CEG Cyber Defence and other relevant EDA initiatives, workshops and seminars contributing to the objectives of the Cyber Defence Programme;
  • develop and manage Cyber Defence workforce development related studies and other projects resourced from EDA’s operational budget, including the preparation of relevant calls and the management of external contractors as appropriate;
  • liaise and cooperate with relevant EU actors on Cyber Defence talent identification, workforce development and talent retention;
  • provide input and support to relevant PESCO projects in the areas of Cyber Defence workforce development and hybrid threats, in coordination with the PESCO Office;
  • contribute to the annual review of the EDA budget plan (3-Year Planning Framework);
  • establish and maintain close relationships with communities of experts in Cyber Defence workforce development, including through the use of the EDA’s Collaborative Platform, and facilitate the secure exchange of information in accordance with the Agency’s responsibilities in this domain;
  • take on additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

Duties may evolve depending on the development of the EDA's structure and activities and 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

(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;
  • at least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in Cyber Defence, defence capability development or another field directly relevant to the duties of the post;
  • proven experience in Cyber Defence workforce development, including competency development, competency frameworks, skills assessment, human factors and workforce development strategies;
  • proven experience in Cyber Defence training and exercise design, including scenario development;
  • good knowledge of the European and international Cyber Defence environment, including relevant hybrid-threat developments, together with a good understanding of EDA’s role, main tasks and functions in defence capability development and the Cyber Defence domain;
  • proven experience in project and/or programme management, including the development and management of collaborative projects, studies or related activities;
  • a 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 minimal supervision;
  • good communication 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:

  • good knowledge of the CSDP Capability Development Mechanism and relevant EU defence planning processes;
  • professional experience in information security, information technology and/or operational Cyber Defence;
  • a recognised project and/or programme management qualification.

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 Cyber Defence Workforce Development 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 Cyber Defence Workforce Developmentat 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.