Project Officer Logistics

Under the supervision of the Head of Unit Land and Logistics, the jobholder(s) will be responsible for/contribute to the following activities: 
 

• contribute to capability development activities in support of EU Member States for improved land-related and cross-domain logistics capabilities;
• support the development of concepts addressing current and future logistic challenges, considering evolving operational environments, innovation needs and shorter development cycles, addressing all relevant DOTLMPFI dimensions;
• implement EDA Core Tasks 3, 4 and 5; notably harmonisation of military requirements in the field of logistics and sustainment while considering military mobility aspects; aggregation of demand and preparation of Business Cases to support Member States launching collaborative capability development or procurement projects; and ensure that Member States’ defence interests are coherently expressed and reflected across relevant ad broader EU‑level initiatives and policies;
• manage and, when required, chair the dedicated Capability Expert Groups Sustainable and Agile Logistic (CEG SAL) as well as the related Ad-Hoc Working Groups, and any other related and subordinated working groups (such as cat. B projects Sharing of Spare Part or Additive Manufacturing for Logistic Support);
• support the management of the existing Category A/B programmes/projects in the dedicated areas, as well as prepare/coordinate potential new collaborative initiatives, including the development of specific Business Cases and the establishment of ad-hoc projects/programmes as required;
• plan and manage activities funded by the EDA Operational Budget, as required;
• ensure strong alignment between Sustainable and Agile Logistics and Military Mobility work strands, with particular emphasis on digitalisation, strategic lift, interoperability, energy security, data exchange solutions and innovative approaches to enabling movements, resilience and support to military forces across the EU;
• ensure coherence between all Logistic activities cross-domains and relevant Support Functions, including cooperation with relevant RTI and ISE areas (e.g. HEDI);
• interact, as appropriate, with all relevant external stakeholders relevant to the dedicated areas of interest and involved in the implementation of logistic capabilities notably DG DEFIS, EUMS, MPCC, EATC, MLCC and appropriated NATO counterparts;
• contribute to the further development and improvement of the Capability Development Plan (CDP), including identifying, promoting and proposing meaningful collaborative opportunities framed under the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD) within the jobholder’s area of responsibility;
• contribute, as appropriate, to the assessment of the European Defence Fund (EDF) Support-related topics of the annual work programmes, including other DG DEFIS-led initiatives related to the jobholder’s area of responsibility;
• provide technical advice related to the jobholder’s area of responsibility to EU defence-related policies and concepts;
• represent the Agency during conferences and seminars;
• take on additional tasks as required in the interest of the service. 

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

IMPORTANT: Confirmation of sponsorship is required at the latest by the deadline for applications and in any case before a decision on a candidate selected for secondment is taken by EDA.

A. Essential

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 qualification) in a field relevant to the post (e.g. Engineering and/or Maintenance, Application engineering, Logistic and Supply Chain Management, Constructions, Defence and Security, Military Sciences, Strategic Studies, International Security, or related disciplines);
• very good professional experiences in a defence governmental organisation and/or an international organisation, including concrete experience in capability development in a minimum of one of the following areas, maintenance and overhaul, Additive Manufacturing, energy supply, logistic operations and support, logistic IT applications, military engineering and construction, movement and transport;
• professional experience in project management, with the ability to propose effective short‑, medium‑ and long‑term solutions in support of capability development, including the ability to coordinate complex, multi‑actor initiatives in area of Logistics;
• a track record of relevant professional experience in European or international defence cooperation, including familiarity with capability development frameworks and/or dedicated projects involved;
• thorough understanding of EU institutions and NATO structures, their functioning, and their defence‑related initiatives, particularly those relevant to Logistics;
• a good understanding of the main tasks and functions of the European Defence Agency (EDA), including its role in capability development, collaborative projects and voicing of MoDs’ joint positions;
• a very good command of written and oral 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:

• genuine commitment to the Agency's objectives;
   
• ability to work in a team;
   
• strong results-orientated approach;
   
• flexibility and innovativeness;
   
• strong conceptual and analytical skills;
   
• good communication skills;
   
• organisational and analytical skills.
   

B. Desirable

The following will be considered an advantage:

• experience in multinational environment;
   
• experience in Logistic military operations;
   
• hold a (recognised) Project Management qualification;
   
• a track record in managing major multinational defence programmes.