Senior Capability Officer

While Frontex selects its new staff based on their merits and without distinction as to race, political, philosophical or religious beliefs, sex or sexual orientation and without reference to their marital status or family situation, Frontex is a very inclusive workplace that strives to improve the gender and geographical balance5 among its staff to the widest possible extent, as well striving to foster diversity, amongst others, in terms of race, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, disability, age, etc. Therefore, female candidates as well as candidates with any diverse background that are fulfilling the selection criteria are strongly encouraged to apply. Frontex is looking for talented women and men to establish a reserve list of experienced professionals with high level of personal integrity, responsibility, confidentiality, adhering to EU values, the principles of equal opportunities and equal treatment as well as fundamental rights. 

1. BACKGROUND

The European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has been established under the European Border and Coast Guard Regulation6. The agency was created on the foundations of the European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (established under Council Regulation (EC) No 2007/2004), which has been coordinating operational activities at the EU external border since 2005.

Frontex is located in Warsaw, Poland, and is in the process of significantly increasing the size of its staff to 2,500 to meet its expanding tasks.

The European Border and Coast Guard Regulation provides for the establishment of a European Border and Coast Guard Standing Corps, which will consist of up to 10,000 operational staff by 2027, and will be deployed along the external land, sea and air borders of the European Union and the Schengen Area.

With the establishment of the Standing Corps - the first European law enforcement uniformed corps - Frontex offers a unique, pioneering opportunity to form part of the EU’s operational arm for European integrated border management. The establishment and operations of the Standing Corps gives raise to various novel legal challenges and risks. The selected candidate will have a chance to significantly contribute to the application of the EU law in this area by developing creative legal solutions in cooperation with internal and external partners.

The Agency’s key tasks include:

• Operational and technical assistance to the EU member states at their external borders by coordinating joint border control operations including deployment of vessels, aircraft and other equipment and border and coast guards from EU countries; 

• Coordination of border surveillance and law enforcement activities being part of maritime security in cooperation with national authorities and EU agencies such as Europol, EMSA and EFCA;

• Situation monitoring of EU’s external borders and risk analysis of all aspects of border and coast guard management, including assessment of the EU Member States’ border control authorities’ ability to face migratory pressure and different challenges at their external borders;

• Assisting Member States in returning nationals of non-EU countries who do not have the right to remain on the territory of the EU; • Development of training programmes for European border and coast guards;

• Monitoring new technological developments in the field of border control and acting as an interface between research institutions, industry and national border and coast guard authorities;

• Cooperation with EU and international organisations in the area of border and coast guard management, security, and prevention of cross-border crime (including terrorism);

• Assist non-EU countries in the context of technical and operational cooperation on border management including return of non-EU nationals, in the framework of the EU external relations policy.

In all its activities, Frontex enforces actions which are respecting fundamental rights as an overarching component of the European Integrated Border Management. Frontex and its staff are committed to the values of Professionalism, Respect, Cooperation.

Accountability and Care. For more information, please refer to our website: http://www.frontex.europa.eu

2. THE CAPABILITY STRATEGY, PLANNING AND COORDINATION UNIT

Organisation The Capability Strategy, Planning and Coordination Unit (PLAN) led by the Head of Unit who reports directly to the Deputy Executive Director for Capabilities.

The main tasks and responsibilities of the Unit are as follows:

(a) managing processes related to the strategic frameworks for the Multiannual Strategic Policy Cycle for European Integrated Border Management as well as Integrated Planning, with a particular focus on planning of capability development and capability availability;

(b) assuming the custodianship of the establishment and implementation of the Technical and Operational Strategy for European Integrated Border Management, the Capability Roadmap for the European Border and Coast Guard, and the Agency’s Multiannual Plans for developing its own capabilities.

(c) supporting the preparation, coordination and follow-up of Management Board decisions related to European Integrated Border Management and capabilities;

(d) ensuring reporting related to European Integrated Border Management and capabilities in line with the Regulation;

(e) assuming the function of the safety and health authority for the Agency’s operational capabilities, mandated to ensure comprehensive and well-functioning operating and working conditions in compliance with applicable European Union legislation drawing on established international standards and best practices;

(f) supporting the Deputy Executive Director for Capabilities in providing strategic advice on policy, governance, strategy and planning matters related to European Integrated Border Management and capabilities;

(g) providing direct support to the Deputy Executive Director in the day-to-day business;

(h) providing direct support to the Deputy Executive Director in the management of the Capabilities Directorate, by providing timely advice, and by coordinating internal affairs of the Directorate including task management and reporting;

(i) strengthening the overall sustainability of the Agency’s through-life management of capabilities;

(j) ensuring coherent internal and external positioning of the Agency within the remit of the Capabilities Directorate;

(k) ensuring coherent management of internal and external stakeholders within the remit of the Capabilities Directorate.

3. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES LINKED TO THE POSTS

Duties and responsibilities of the Senior Capability Officers

Reporting to the respective Head of Unit, the appointed officers will be responsible for the following tasks:

(a) Contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the Strategy, Planning and Coordination Unit.

(b) Support the implementation of the Technical and Operational Strategy for European Integrated Border Management (TO-EIBM). (c) Prepare reports, briefings, policy papers and strategic documents for senior management.

(d) Liaise with Member States, EU institutions and relevant stakeholders.

(e) Represent the Agency in meetings, workshops and working groups as required.

(f) Contribute to continuous improvement of planning, governance and quality management processes.

Additional areas of responsibility specific for the Capability Planning profile:

(a) Contribute to the development, implementation and review of the Agency’s strategic planning and capability development frameworks, including the Technical and Operational Strategy for European Integrated Border Management, the Capability Roadmap and related multiannual planning processes.

(b) Support the preparation, coordination and monitoring of strategic planning documents related to capability development, including multiannual capability plans and programming documents.

(c) Identify, analyse and assess capability requirements and planning priorities together with Member States and Agency stakeholders.

(d) Contribute to Capability Development Planning (CDP), National Capability Development Plans (NCDPs) and related capability planning processes.

(e) Provide analytical inputs supporting capability development, sustainability and through-life capability management.

(f) Provide expertise on planning methodologies, capability development processes and quality management.

Additional areas of responsibility specific for the Legal and Governance profile:

(a) Provide legal advice to the Capabilities Directorate on the interpretation and application of the Agency’s legal framework and other relevant EU legislation affecting the Directorate’s activities.

(b) Analyse legal risks and identify legally sound solutions to support strategic, operational and organisational decision-making within the Directorate.

(c) Interpret and advise on key legislative and regulatory frameworks, including the EBCG Regulation, Staff Regulations, Financial Regulation, Data Protection legislation, Public Access to Documents rules, and other relevant areas of EU law.

(d) Draft, review and provide legal quality assurance for Executive Director Decisions, Management Board documents, internal policies, implementing rules, administrative arrangements and other legal or governance instruments.

(e) Ensure the legal consistency and robustness of strategic, operational and organisational documents prepared within the Directorate.

f) Provide legal support on specialised matters relevant to the Directorate’s activities, including, where applicable, the law of the sea, aviation law, space-related legislation, artificial intelligence and other emerging legal fields.

(g) Prepare legal opinions, briefing notes, speaking points and legal assessments for senior management.

(h) Liaise with the Legal Affairs Unit, Human Resources and other Agency entities to ensure coherent legal interpretation and consistent application of the Agency’s legal framework.

(i) Contribute to the development and review of internal policies, governance frameworks and organisational procedures from a legal perspective.

(j) Represent the Directorate in internal and external meetings, working groups and expert networks dealing with legal and regulatory matters.

4. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In order to be declared eligible, the applicant must:

4.1. General/common criteria

1. Be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union or the Schengen Associated Countries and enjoy full rights as its citizen.

2. Have fulfilled any obligations imposed on him/her by the laws of the country of citizenship concerning military service.

3. Produce the appropriate character references as to his/her suitability for the performance of his/her duties.

4. Be physically fit to perform his/her duties.

5. Produce evidence of thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the European Union and of satisfactory knowledge of another language of the European Union to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: B2 level). 

4.2. External applicants

Minimum qualifications (university diploma)

1. Possess a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years9 or more

or

Possess a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma followed by at least one year full-time professional experience, when the normal period of university education is at least three years.

Required professional experience

2. Possess (by the closing date for applications) at least 9 years of proven full-time professional experience acquired after the diploma was awarded and (at the same time) after the condition(s) described in the criterion above are fulfilled.

ANY GIVEN PERIOD OF STUDIES OR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE MAY BE COUNTED ONLY ONCE. In order to be calculated as eligible, years of studies or professional experience to be taken into account shall not overlap with other periods of studies or professional experience (e.g. if the applicant had a full-time job and did freelance consultancy work in the evenings and weekends, the days spent on the latter will not be added to the period). In case of part-time work, the professional experience will be calculated pro-rata in line with the workload stated by the applicant. Compulsory military service or equivalent civilian service accomplished before or after achieving the minimum qualification shall be taken into consideration as professional experience subject to provided evidence.

4.3 Internal applicants

On the closing date for applications and on the day of filling the post, be a member of temporary staff engaged under Article 2(f) of CEOS at Frontex in grade AD8 - AD12.

4.4 Inter-agency applicants

1. On the closing date for applications and on the day of filling the vacant post, be engaged as temporary staff under Article 2(f) of CEOS12 within their agency in a grade and function group corresponding to the published grade bracket.

2. Have at least two years’ service within their agency before moving,

3. Have successfully completed the probationary period as provided for in Article 14 of the CEOS in the relevant function group.

Read full vacancy notice here