EXTERNAL NOTICE OF VACANCY TO CONSTITUTE A LIST OF
SUITABLE CANDIDATES
EXPERT IN LABOUR MARKET INTELLIGENCE AND SKILL NEEDS
Deadline for applications:
Reference
Type of contract
Function group/grade
Initial contract duration
Place of employment
22 October 2015
Cedefop/2015/04/AD_external
Temporary agent 2f
AD 5
5 years renewable
Greece-Thessaloniki
Cedefop is organising a selection procedure to draw up a list of suitable
candidates for the position of an Expert in labour market intelligence and skill
needs.
1.
AGENCY INFORMATION
Cedefop is the European Agency to promote the development of vocational
education and training (VET) in the European Union. It is a forum for policy
analysis and research and is a recognised partner in the policy and scientific
debates on VET.
Its strategic objective is to enhance European cooperation in VET through
evidence and expertise. Cedefop provides advice, research, analysis, information
and stimulates European cooperation and mutual learning. It supports the
development of VET and evidence-based policy-making in areas such as
anticipation of skill needs, improving understanding about qualifications and skills
to support mobility across borders and investing in VET.
Cedefop works closely with the European Commission, governments,
representatives of employers and trade unions, as well as with researchers and
practitioners.
Cedefop’s medium-term priorities for 2012-16 are the following
1.
2.
3.
supporting the modernisation of VET systems;
career and transitions – Continuing VET, adult learning and work-based
learning;
analysing skills and competence needs to inform VET provision.
Cedefop offers a challenging environment with flexible work organisation and
individual responsibility. As a learning and knowledge-development and sharing
organisation, Cedefop provides good opportunities for continued professional
development.
For more information, please consult our website: http://www.cedefop.europa.eu
Europe 123, 570 01 Thessaloniki (Pylea), GREECE | Postal address: PO Box 22427, 551 02 Thessaloniki, GREECE
Τel. +30 2310490146 | Fax +30 2310490049 | E-mail: hr-recruitment@cedefop.europa.eu | www.cedefop.europa.eu
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2.
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
Cedefop employs approximately 130 persons. The working language is English.
In line with Cedefop’s mission, medium-term priorities and annual work
programme, the successful candidate will be appointed in the Department for
Skills and Labour Market, as expert in labour market intelligence and skill needs.
The Department for Skills and Labour Market provides labour market intelligence
and evidence on changes in skills needs, jobs and employment. Work also
includes assessing the benefits of VET and skills for individuals, enterprises, the
economy and society as positive returns are a strong indicator of a better skill
match. Finally, the analysis of public and private skills policies and strategies and
the development of methods and tools for labour market and skill needs
anticipation are part of the portfolio of activities and support policy learning
among stakeholders.
3.
JOB DESCRIPTION (DUTIES, TASKS, RESPONSIBILITIES)
Cedefop develops and maintains the EU Skills Panorama
(http://euskillspanorama.cedefop.europa.eu/), a central access point for data,
information and intelligence on trends in jobs and skills across Europe. An aim is
to develop the Panorama into a tool for public employment services, guidance
counsellors and other practitioners supporting individuals, particularly job seekers
in making career and learning choices. To achieve this Cedefop has to marshal
information, data and evidence on labour market needs and render it online in a
format that suits the needs of practitioners and individuals.
In addition, Cedefop is increasingly supporting Member States and national
stakeholders in implementing European vocational education and training (VET).
This includes helping them develop labour market intelligence tools for use at
national, regional and, even, local levels to help individual job seekers and
improve the match between skill supply and demand.
Reporting to the Head of Department, the expert will work in a project composed
by a multi-disciplinary team of 6 staff members and have the following
responsibilities and tasks:

generate labour market intelligence for the skills panorama, based on the
work of Cedefop and other institutions, and ensure its relevance for end
users, in particular practitioners working on employment and/or career
guidance services, VET providers and individuals making career and
learning choices;

contribute to developing the Skills Panorama, in particular by informing
development of the online interface dedicated to employment services,
guidance counsellors and other practitioners. This online interface will be
developed with the aim of helping individuals, in particular jobs seekers, in
making career and learning choices;
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
shape and organise seminars and policy learning forums and provide ad hoc
support to Member States and stakeholders to develop labour market
intelligence, tools(1) to deliver it, effective ways of using it at national,
regional and, even, local levels;

promote and disseminate outcomes of Cedefop’s work and of own projects
to Cedefop’s stakeholders and target groups – in particular practitioners from
employment services, guidance and counselling services as well as VET
providers;

deliver high-quality outputs, implement effective working methods and
maintain good communication and knowledge sharing; contribute to the
Centre’s work programming and reporting.
4.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be considered eligible, applicants must satisfy all the following requirements
on the closing date for submission of applications:
General conditions (2)

be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union;

enjoy full rights as a citizen;

have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the laws on military service;

be physically fit to perform the duties relating to the post (3).
Education

have a level of education which corresponds to completed university
studies(4) of at least three years attested by a diploma.
Language skills

have a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the European Union
and satisfactory knowledge of another language of the European Union (5).
Non-compliance with any of these eligibility criteria will result in the exclusion of
the candidate from the selection process and the application will not be further
evaluated.
(1) For example: http://www.myskillsmyfuture.org/; http://www.careerinfonet.org/;
http://bis.ams.or.at/qualibarometer/berufsbereiche.php
(2) See article 12 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.
(3) Before appointment, the successful candidate must undergo a medical examination.
(4) Only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities and qualifications recognised as
equivalent by the relevant EU Member State authorities (e.g. Naric) will be accepted.
(5) Satisfactory knowledge is considered level B2 or above as referenced in the Common European
Framework of Reference (http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/resources/european-languagelevels-cefr). Knowledge of a third language of the European Union is necessary for the first
promotion after recruitment.
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5.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Eligible candidates will be assessed against the requirements listed below.
Education and professional experience

a university degree at Master’s level;

at least 2 years full-time equivalent professional experience in providing
advice, guidance and/or counselling to young people and/or jobseekers
and/or employers, or in providing job-matching services as part of VET
institutions or public employment services (or similar types of services
offered by other institutions, either public or private and non-governmental
national/international organisations).
Professional knowledge, competences and skills

sound understanding of important trends in the labour market, education and
skill needs and their socio-economic context;

proven ability to use online tools for providing information, advice, guidance
or job matching services to individuals and/or employers;

solid analytical skills and ability to identify key issues from large amounts of
information;

ability to draft and review concise texts for disseminating data and
information online to make them understandable to wide and diverse target
groups;

very good knowledge of written and spoken English(6);

excellent communication skills and ability to facilitate discussions and
present convincingly complex issues to a non-expert audience;

ability to work constructively in an international, multicultural and
multidisciplinary team;

persistence, accuracy, task focus and result orientation.
Technical knowledge

a good command of IT (MS-Office and the Internet);

experience and knowledge of web internet based tools and information
services.
(6) Level C1 or above as referenced in the Common European Framework of Reference
(http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/resources/european-language-levels-cefr).
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6.
ADDITIONAL ASSETS

experience in designing and conceptual development of online tools,
applications and/or interfaces that provide information, advice, guidance or
job matching services to individuals;

knowledge of international and European information and data sources on
education, training, skills and/or employment;

knowledge of European policies in education, VET and/or employment;

involvement in international activities and projects related to the tasks above;

understanding of national and/or EU public procurement procedures;

a good command of a third EU language.
7.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
Candidates are assessed against compliance with all the eligibility and selection
criteria by the closing date for the submission of applications. Cedefop will invite
for written test and interview the most suitable candidates (not more than 10) on
condition that they have achieved at least 50% of the highest possible score
during the evaluation of applications.
It is intended to hold tests and interviews in Cedefop’s seat in Thessaloniki,
on 3-4 December 2015 (subject to change).
Candidates who take part in written tests and interviews must obtain a minimum
total score of 60% to be proposed for admission to the list of suitable candidates.
The list may be used for recruitment, should a vacancy arise.
Applicants will be informed if they have been included in the list. Inclusion does
not guarantee recruitment. The list will be valid until 31 December 2017. Validity
may be extended.
The Selection Board’s work and deliberations are strictly confidential. It is
forbidden for applicants to make direct or indirect contact with members of the
Selection Board or for anybody to do so on their behalf. Infringement of this rule
may lead to disqualification from the selection procedure.
8.
CONTRACTUAL CONDITIONS
The contract is for five years with the possibility of renewal. The successful
candidate will undergo a probation period of 9 months.
The terms of employment are those described in the Staff Regulations of Officials
and in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union
(cf. Articles 8 to 56 referring to temporary staff). The successful candidate will be
recruited in grade AD 5. The basic monthly salary for grade AD 5 (step 1) is
approximately € 4380. The salary is subject to a salary weighting (currently
83.8%) and a Community tax deducted at source but which is exempt from
national taxation. In addition, staff members may be entitled to various
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allowances such as household allowance, expatriation allowance, dependent
child and education allowances.
For any further information on the contractual and working conditions, please
refer to the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of
Other Servants of the European Union, which are accessible at the following
address:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1962R0031:20140101:EN:PDF
9.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
Applications must be submitted online by 22 October 2015 at 15.00 Greek time
(CET + 1).
Applications sent by post, e-mail etc. will be rejected.
Cedefop highly recommends that you read the instructions to applicants and
the frequently asked questions before you start filling in your application.
To register and apply, please go to the job opportunities section of Cedefop’s
website (http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/EN/working-with-us/jobopportunities.aspx), click on the name of the vacancy notice and follow the
instructions.
In addition to filling in the application form, you must also attach:
 a detailed curriculum vitae preferably using the Europass format
(https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/cvonline);
 copies of diploma and/or certificates;
 a letter of motivation of not more than two pages.
Please note: For the purposes of internal and external work-related
communication and operational efficiency, appropriate knowledge of English is
required. CV and motivation letter must therefore be submitted in English.
Applications that are incomplete will be rejected.
10.
APPEAL PROCEDURES
If a candidate considers that s/he has been adversely affected by a particular
decision, s/he can lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations
of Officials and Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European
Union, at the following address:
The Director
CEDEFOP
P.O. Box 22427
GR-55102 Finikas (Thessaloniki)
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Any complaint must be lodged within 3 months after the candidate has been
informed of the decision concerning his/her application.
Candidates also have the possibility to complain to the European Ombudsman.
Please note that complaints made to the Ombudsman have no suspensive effect
on the time period laid down in Article 91 of the Staff Regulations. Note also that,
under Article 2(4) of the general conditions governing the performance of the
Ombudsman's duties, any complaint lodged with the Ombudsman must be
preceded by the appropriate administrative approaches to the institutions and
bodies concerned.
11.
PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA
Cedefop ensures that applicants’ personal data are processed as required by
Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18
December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of
personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free
movement of such data (Official Journal of the European Communities, L 8 of 12
January 2001).
12.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Cedefop applies a policy of equal opportunities and accepts applications without
distinction on any grounds.
13.
DECLARATION OF COMMITMENT TO SERVE PUBLIC INTEREST INDEPENDENTLY
The successful candidate will be required to sign a declaration of commitment to
act independently in the public interest and to sign a declaration in relation to
interests that might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. Applicants
must confirm their willingness to do so in their application.
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