Head of Security Unit

To be considered eligible to take part in this selection procedure, on the closing date for the submission of applications candidates must satisfy all the eligibility criteria as specified below:

• be a national of a Member State participating in the Agency;
• be entitled to his/her full rights as a citizen;
• have fulfilled any obligations imposed on him/her by the laws concerning military service;
• produce the appropriate character references as to his/her suitability for the performance of his/her duties (extract from the “judicial record” or certificate of good conduct will be requested prior to recruitment);
• be physically fit to perform his/her duties;
• have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1 oral and written) of one of the languages of the participating Member States and a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2 oral and written) of another of these languages to the extent necessary to discharge his/her duties;
• have no personal interest (financial, family relationship, or other) which could be in conflict with disinterested discharge of his/her duties within the Agency;
• hold, or be in a position to obtain, a valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (national or EU PSC at SECRET UE/EU SECRET level). Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (PSCC) means a certificate issued by a competent authority establishing that an individual is security cleared and holds a valid national or EU PSC, and which shows the level of EUCI to which that individual may be granted access (SECRET UE/EU SECRET), the date of validity of the relevant PSC and the date of expiry of the certificate itself. Note that the necessary procedure for obtaining a PSCC can be initiated on request of the employer only, and not by the individual candidate;
• have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more, or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is at least three years or be a graduate of a national or international Defence College; or where justified in the interests of the service, professional training of an equivalent level.

Only diplomas that have been awarded in EU Member States or that are the subject of equivalence certificates issued by the authorities in the said Member States shall be taken into consideration. In the latter case, the authority authorised to conclude contracts of employment reserves the right to request proof of such equivalence.

For diplomas awarded in non-EU countries, a NARIC recognition is required: https://www.enic-naric.net/

Qualifications/diplomas awarded until 31/12/2020 in the United Kingdom are accepted without further recognition. For diplomas awarded after this date (from 01/01/2021), a NARIC recognition is required.

For native English speakers, your ability to communicate in another EU language will be tested during the selection process. To assess your foreign language levels, see: https://europa.eu/europass/en/common-european-framework-reference-langu…

Only applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.

(1) Professional

Candidates will be required to demonstrate the following qualifications:

• a University degree (or equivalent academic degree) in security management, security and intelligence studies, risk management, criminal justice, or in another relevant field;
• at least 8 years of relevant professional experience in similar duties, out of which a minimum of 3 years in a security management capacity;
• good knowledge of public sector security rules;
• hands-on experience in managing Classified Information, and in fulfilling security roles in the governance of electronically handled CI and networks;
• practical experience in Business Continuity Planning and Business Impact Analysis;
• proven human and financial resource management experience, including leadership skills as well as sound financial and project management skills;
• very good communication and presentation skills (targeted at diverse audiences);
• familiarity with the Defense international environment;
• very good knowledge of written and spoken English (C1 or above).

(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:

• good leadership and management skills;
• collaborative approach to teamwork;
• high level of integrity, confidentiality and tact;
• pragmatism, results-orientation, and strong motivation;
• proven stakeholder management skills;
• strong sense of duty and responsibility;
• well-organized and thorough;
• ability to work effectively in a multinational environment; 
• commitment to diversity and inclusion;
• genuine commitment to the Agency's objectives.

B. Desirable

The following will be considered an advantage:

• good understanding of the Council Security Rules, to which EDA is subject;
• experience in security inspections and investigations;
• previous experience in a National Security Authority or equivalent;
• experience in security in international organizations;
• good knowledge of French and/or Dutch (B2 or above).

We are looking for a Head of Security.

Under the supervision of the Corporate Services Director, the jobholder will contribute to the following activities:

Security

• provide effective leadership for all security-related activities, policies and procedures in support of a robust security posture for EDA, and to protect the Agency’s activity, its assets, staff and information in accordance with the Council Decisions, all relevant EU rules and regulations;
• ensure compliance with the evolving regulatory framework, including data protection, cyber security, etc.;
• ensure a safe and secure environment for staff and guests, including protection of the Agency premises and staff against espionage, sabotage and terrorism based on a Security Risk Management;
• supervise the implementation of procedures for responding to security incidents and execution of regular exercises and controls;
• maintain a high level of security awareness for all staff, conduct security education of staff on issues related to security and handle all security violations within the Agency;
• issue and maintain the Agency Security Instructions and development of Alert and Emergency Plans, in coordination with the relevant National Security Authorities;
• initiate and provide policy advice in the different areas of security, as necessary, and produce written briefings material and general communication in all security-related matters;
• coordinate and actively cooperate with all EDA security stakeholders (e.g. Business Information Security Officer, Head of IT Unit, Local Cybersecurity Officer, etc.);
• liaise with the EU Security stakeholders, Host Nation's local and regional military and civilian security authorities, intelligence services, attending, when required, relevant meetings.

Business Continuity

• act as EDA’s Point of Contact (PoC) for all Business Continuity aspects and questions; 
• update, issue, and maintain EDA’s Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Plan in coordination and cooperation with all internal and external stakeholders; 
• review and update the Business Impact Analysis.

Budget and Contract

• plan, monitor and execute the security-related budget incl. reporting, and ensuring sound financial management;
• supervise and give input to technical specifications for security-related tenders;
• support the preparation and drafting of security-related contracts; 
• review security-related provisions of EDA contracts as applicable;
• supervise all budget- and contract related activities.

Team management

• lead and manage the integrated teamwork in the area of responsibility assigned to the Security Unit;
• plan and organise the resources, taking care of improving relevant skills and knowledge, setting priorities and providing guidance for the coherent and harmonized conduct and acting as line manager;
• keep the strategic overview and ensure the transversal way of working and coordination with the other Units and Directorates within the Agency.

Miscellaneous 

• manage the Unit's internal documentation and security-related content at the EDA Intranet Portal; 
• inform staff about security-related developments and events (e.g. demonstrations, strikes).

Duties may evolve according to the development of the EDA’s structure and activities, and the decisions of EDA management.

Candidates must submit their application electronically solely via the EDA website. Applications by any other means (hard copy or ordinary e-mail) will not be accepted. Applications must be submitted no later than midnight. Candidates are reminded that the on-line application system will not accept applications after midnight (Brussels time, GMT+1) on the date of the deadline.

When applying, candidates from Ministries of Defence or other governmental entities are encouraged to inform their national administration.

A selection panel will be appointed. Please note that the selection panel's internal proceedings are strictly confidential and that any contact with its members is forbidden.

Each application will be screened based on the requirements of the job profile stated in the vacancy notice. The most suitable applicants will be called for an interview and a written test. Candidates may also be requested to take part in an assessment centre, participating in a number of individual and group activities related to the competences required for the post.

If recruited, you will be requested to supply documentary evidence in support of the statements that you make for this application. Do not send any supporting or supplementary information until you have been asked to do so by the Agency.

Please note that once you have created your EDA profile, any correspondence regarding your application must be sent or received via your EDA profile. For any prior enquiry, please refer to the FAQ (Frequently asked questions) section, or send an e-mail to recruitmenteda [dot] europa [dot] eu (recruitment[at]eda[dot]europa[dot]eu).

The Head of Security Unit 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 AD10.

The pay for this position consists of a basic salary of 10.518,29€ supplemented with various allowances, including as applicable expatriation or family allowances. The successful candidate will be graded on entry into service according to the length of his/her 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 Head of Security Unit 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.