Legal & Policy Officer

Legal & Policy Officer – International Human Rights Law

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is organising a selection procedure to draw up a reserve list for the profile of Legal and Policy Officer – International Human Rights Law and to fill one vacant post.

Background

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) provides independent, evidence-based advice to policy-makers, to help ensure full respect for fundamental rights across the EU, for everyone. To this end, FRA collects and analyses information and data on a range of fundamental rights issues, provides assistance and expertise to EU institutions and to EU Member States’ governments, raises rights awareness, communicates its findings and strengthens cooperation and ties between fundamental rights actors.

Equality, Inclusion and Sustainability (EIS) Unit

The work of the EIS unit covers the full range of EU equality law issues, including on the grounds of racial and ethnic origin, LGBTIQ, Roma, age, Anti-Semitism and Anti-Muslim hatred as well as disabilities. The unit also leads on social rights, poverty, housing, climate and environment and business and human rights. Responsibility for coordination of the FRA Legal Task Force lies with the Head of Unit of EIS.

Duties

The Legal and Policy Officer will:

• Provide legal analysis and draft position papers, reports, guidelines, briefing notes, speeches and opinions on equality and non-discrimination and disability topics as well as other matters falling within the work of the unit;
• Deliver legal review of (internally-drafted or contracted) deliverables, manuals and recommendations for best practices dedicated to practitioners on various issues related to fundamental rights protection;
• Pro-actively follow the developments of EU legislative and policy issues in the field of equality and non-discrimination, disability and social rights (including the European Pillar of Social Rights), poverty and other issues covered by the unit;
• Lead and implement assigned activities falling within the work programme while ensuring their coherence and compatibility with the policies of the EU and consistency with EU law, especially the Charter;
• Participate, on behalf of FRA, in external meetings, working groups, conferences, seminars, and networks;
• Establish and maintain regular contacts with other European Institutions, Member States, civil society organisations and other partners in the assigned policy area.

Duties applicable to all staff:

• Perform any other related duties assigned by the manager.

Eligibility requirements

Only candidates who meet all of the following eligibility criteria by the deadline for submission of applications will be marked as eligible. Candidates who do not meet one or more criteria will not be considered further:

General conditions

• Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and be entitled to full rights as a citizen;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the laws concerning military service;
• Meet the character requirements as to suitability for the performance of the duties involved;
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

Education

A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years in law, attested by a diploma.

Language skills

• Have a thorough knowledge (level C1) of English, as this is the working language of FRA, and
• Have a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2) of another language of the EU.

The levels indicated correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Selection criteria

In order to select the best-qualified candidates for the test and interview phase, FRA will assess the following essential and advantageous criteria.

Please note that all essential criteria are mandatory. If a candidate scores zero on any individual essential criterion, their application will not be assessed further.

Essential

• At least 5 years of proven experience in analysing and providing advice on EU fundamental rights law questions as well as relevant international human rights law;
• Demonstrated experience applying EU equality law;
• Excellent knowledge of EU legislation regarding rights of persons with disabilities;
• Excellent legal drafting skills in English, the working language of FRA.

Advantageous

• Knowledge of social rights, in particular employment law;
• Demonstrated knowledge of European Convention on Human Rights caselaw, work of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights in the areas of equality and non-discrimination;
• A specialisation in EU fundamental rights law or international human rights law as part of the candidate’s law degree.

In addition to the essential and advantageous criteria, candidates invited to the interview and test phase will also be assessed on behavioural competencies relevant for the position. In particular, the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate:

• Ability to work in teams
• Capacity for analytical thinking
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written
• Results orientation
• Flexibility and adaptability

Engagement and conditions of employment

A contract as a member of the temporary staff will be offered pursuant to Article 2(f) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union for 3 years.

The successful candidate will be recruited in the grade AD5.

In addition to the basic salary, staff members may be entitled to various allowances, in particular a household allowance, expatriation allowance (16% of basic salary + household allowance), dependent child allowance and education allowance. The salary is subject to a Union tax deducted at source and it is exempt of national taxation.

FRA also offers a comprehensive welfare package including pension scheme, medical, accident and occupational disease insurance coverage, unemployment and invalidity allowance and travel insurance.

Moreover, FRA has policies on teleworking and flexitime in its attempt to reconcile work and private life.

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.