Legal Assistant (CA FGIII)

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), based in Brussels, Belgium, is looking to establish a reserve list for the post of Legal Assistant (Contract Agent, Grade FGIII).

About CBE

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), a €2 billion partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), funds projects advancing competitive circular bio-based industries in Europe. The partnership is building on the success of its predecessor, the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), while addressing the current challenges facing the industry.

Shifting from non-renewable fossil raw materials and minerals to circular bio-based production processes is essential to reach the EU’s climate targets as set out in the European Green Deal. Strong, resource-efficient and competitive bio-based industries are important drivers of this change. By producing renewable bio-based products and materials from waste and biomass in an innovative, sustainable and circular way, they can contribute significantly to the EU’s climate neutrality target by 2050 while creating jobs and economic growth in regions across Europe. The role of CBE JU is to bring together various actors from bio-based industries, ranging from farmers to scientists, to solve the technological, regulatory and market challenges of the sector. Its public-private funding scheme boosts innovation and market deployment and paves the way for future investments.

The CBE JU Programme Office is implementing the CBE JU’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) under the leadership of its Executive Director and following the rules of Horizon Europe, EU’s research and innovation programme. Tasks of the Programme Office include management of calls for project proposals, programme monitoring to administration, financial management, legal control, human resources, and communication.

CBE JU has been established for the 2021-2031 period. The CBE JU’s working language is English.

Job Description

The Legal Assistant will work in the Administration and Finance Unit, providing administrative and legal support to the Head of Unit and specifically to the Legal Manager. The Legal Assistant’s duties will include:

• Provide legal advice on files managed by the CBE JU programme office, under the supervision of the Legal Manager;
• Support in giving legal review of and advice on Horizon Europe grants, in particular during grant agreement preparations and for amendments during grants implementation;
• Support in carrying out public procurement procedures for goods or services (including operational studies) and review and follow up during implementation of public procurement contracts in line with the EU financial regulation;
• Contribute to the drafting of legally sound decisions (of the Executive Director or of the Governing Board), and other related acts;
• Provide legal advice on various requests (letters of support, Memorandum of Understanding, implementing rules, staff regulations etc);
• Draft guidelines and procedures related to best practices relevant to the activities of the Joint Undertaking;
• Support the Legal Manager with requests related to access to documents;
• Support the Legal Manager in liaising with other implementing EU Institutions and bodies of Horizon Europe programmes by participating to dedicated working groups;
• Support the Legal Manager in implementing the data protection framework within the Joint Undertaking;
• Support the Legal Manager in implementing the document management framework within the Joint Undertaking;
• Act as Operational Initiating Agent in files falling in the area of his/her responsibility;
• Undertake additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates will be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following criteria to be fulfilled by the closing date for applications.

General conditions

• Be a national of a Member State of the European Union;
• Be entitled to his or her full rights as a citizen;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws concerning military service;
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge of another of these languages to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties (candidates are invited to specify in their CV any language certificates they have obtained which can demonstrate their language skills);
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

Education

• Have a level of postsecondary education attested by a diploma; OR
• Have a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, and appropriate professional experience of at least three years.

Eligibility criteria must be fulfilled by the deadline for applications and maintained throughout the selection procedure and appointment.

Selection Criteria

Candidates selected based on the above eligibility criteria will then be evaluated according to the following selection criteria:

Essential qualifications and experience

• A postsecondary education in law;
• Professional experience of at least two (2) years (acquired after the education referred to in the Education section) in a field relevant to this position;
• Proven experience in supporting the implementation of European funding programmes (e.g.: Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe);
• Proven experience in drafting legal correspondence and other documentation for internal and/or external stakeholders;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English (native English speakers will be required to demonstrate the ability to work in a second language at the interview stage);

Advantageous qualifications and experience

• Work experience in a field related to the duties in an international and multicultural environment;
• Work experience in implementation of data protection regulations;
• Work experience in public procurement;

Behavioural competences

• High motivation – open and positive attitude;
• Ability to establish and develop good inter-personal relations with a broad range of stakeholders in cross-cultural environments;
• Excellent analytical, planning and organisational skills;
• Ability to work under pressure, deliver results, and respect deadlines;
• Sense of initiative, responsibility, commitment and team spirit.