Deputy Director RTI & Head of Unit EU-funded Defence Research

This vacancy is for candidates who fulfill the following criteria:

A. Essential

Only applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.

(1) Professional

Candidates will be required to demonstrate the following qualifications:

• a minimum of 15 years of professional experience acquired after the award of the qualification required as a condition of eligibility;
   
• proven experience in positions of progressively increasing responsibility and in the management of teams and projects, including financial, procurement and human resources aspects;
   
• familiarity with the defence international environment (particularly at EU level), and a good understanding of EDA’s main tasks and functions;
   
• proven knowledge/experience in Research and Technology and in international R&T collaboration in the defence domain;
   
• familiarity with programmes and policies of the European Commission in the Industry and R&T fields;
   
• a track record of delivering successful business outcomes;
   
• experience in leading organisational and process change;
   
• very good knowledge 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:

• very good leadership/management skills;
   
• strong sense of duty and responsibility;
   
• team-working and networking abilities in an international environment;
   
• extensive stakeholder management experience and skills;
   
• results-orientation and strong motivation;
   
• flexibility and innovativeness;
   
• genuine commitment to the Agency's objectives;
   
• excellent communication skills.

B. Desirable

The following will be considered an advantage:

• background in scientific or technological areas of interest for defence;
• specific knowledge of defence capability and research prioritisation processes;
• familiarity with recent European developments at political level relating to defence capabilities, industry and, especially, research;
• knowledge of European Defence Technological and Industrial Base and European Defence Equipment Market.

We are looking for a Deputy Director RTI & Head of Unit EU-funded Defence Research.

The jobholder will be accountable to the Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Director and will have duties as Deputy Director of the Research, Technology and Innovation Directorate and as Head of Unit.

This includes, as Deputy Director:

• deputising for the Director;
   
• supporting the Director in the overall management of the Directorate, sustaining appropriate links and coordination with relevant EU bodies, Member States and industry;
   
• coordinating the drafting of budget (3YPF), notes, briefings, presentations, Steering Board documents, etc. requested to the Directorate;
   
• keeping an overview on the Directorate’s activities, checking the global consistency of the projects/programmes in the portfolio of the Directorate, and promoting effective cross-directorate interaction;
   
• evaluating the coherence, relevance, efficiency and completeness of the different fora in which RTI interacts with stakeholders.

As Head of Unit EU-funded Defence Research:

• manages a team, in particular by taking care of improving relevant skills and knowledge, setting priorities to optimize the workload of the staff, managing duties, missions and absences;
   
• deals with reports, audits and assessments required to end the Preparatory Action for Defence Research programme as required by the Commission;
   
• represents EDA in the EDF Programme Committee to increase synergy and complementarity between EDF and EDA research technology and innovation-related activities;
   
• leads and manages the EDA work to implement EDF-funded projects entrusted to EDA for indirect management by the Commission (by leading Contribution Agreement negotiations, overseeing Grant Agreement (GA) preparation, signature and implementation, organizing preparation of reports and contributions requested by the Commission);
   
• leads and manages the Consultation Forum for Sustainable Energy in Defence and Security Sector (CF SEDSS) team (project funded by DG ENER)  as well as the Project Officer in charge of the Symbiosis project also related to energy in the defence sector;
   
• ensures the transversal way of working and coordination with the other Units and Directorates within the Agency, and, in particular, with the Technology and Innovation Unit;
   
• interact with Member States, the European Commission (and potentially other relevant International Organizations such as ESA or NATO), industry and research institutes in the areas of responsibility assigned to the EUDR Unit;
   
• chair workshops or working groups, speaking or moderating sessions in conferences;
   
• 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.

The Deputy Director RTI & Head of Unit EU-funded Defence Research will be appointed by the Chief Executive.

Recruitment will be as a member of the temporary staff of the Agency for a four-year period. Renewal is possible within the limits set out in the EDA Staff Regulations. The successful candidate will be recruited as Temporary Agent, grade AD13.

The pay for this position consists of a basic salary of 15.234,71€ supplemented with various allowances including, as applicable, expatriation or family allowances. Successful candidates are graded on entry into service according to the length of their professional experience. Salaries are exempted from national tax, instead an Agency tax at source is paid. For further information on working conditions please refer to: https://eda.europa.eu/jobs/what-we-offer

Failure to obtain the requisite security clearance certificate before the expiration of the probationary period may be cause for termination of the contract.

Candidates are advised that part of the recruitment process includes medical analyses and physical check-up with the Agency’s Medical Adviser.

Applications are invited with a view to establish a reserve list for the post of Deputy Director RTI & Head of Unit EU-funded Defence Research at EDA. This list will be valid until 31/12/2025, and may be extended by decision of the Chief Executive. During the validity of the reserve list, successful candidates may be offered a post 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 employment in the Agency.