EEAS Vacancy Legal Officer - Procurement Contracts And Finance Matters - HQ Contract Agent FGIV - EEAS Headquarters Job No 499907

Deadline for sending application: 14/11/2025 at 12.00 noon (CET).

WE ARE

The European External Action Service (EEAS) supports the High Representative in the exercise of her mandate to conduct and implement an effective and coherent Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), to represent the EU and to chair the Foreign Affairs Council.

It also supports the High Representative in her capacity as Vice-President of the Commission with regard to her responsibilities within the Commission in the external relations field, including the coordination of other aspects of the EUs external action. The EEAS works in close cooperation with the EU Member States, the General Secretariat of the Council, the services of the Commission and the Secretariat General of the European Parliament.

The recruiting Division RM.SCS.2 - Public Procurement, Contracts and Finance is responsible for procurement and contracts for Headquarters and EU Delegations and for the ex-ante financial verification of transactions stemming from public contracts. It supports and advises the authorising officers by sub-delegation (AOSD) in the management of their public contracts including risk management. Contracts covered by the Division are those subject to the Public Procurement Directive (services, supplies and works) and exclude all kind of employment contracts or building contracts.

The Procurement Sector establishes the public procurement policies, processes and procedures for the EEAS (both Headquarters and EU Delegations). The Sector is responsible for providing tools and methodologies to support the professional procurement practice in the EEAS and act on behalf of the responsible AOSD, for the central management of the public procurement procedures leading to services, supplies and works contracts whose estimated value is above the 2014/24/EU Directive thresholds for services and supplies ("high-value procedures") and above EUR 500.000 for works. The Sector is also responsible for establishing the EEAS Procurement Plan.

The Contracts Sector advise and support on the rules and standards of contract management (i.e. all post-award contract management issues). This includes addressing challenges of performance of tasks or compliance with other contractual obligations. The sector also prepares and processes together with Delegation or HQ departments all high-value" contract amendments and is responsible for reporting on contracts, including the ex-post publicity of contracts.

WE PROPOSE

The position of Legal Officer, contract agent FGIVas per article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (hereafter, the “CEOS”)[1].

PLACE and DATE OF EMPLOYMENT

‎EEAS Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

Post available: 01 November 2025

LEGAL BASIS

The vacancy is to be filled in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the CEOS, in particular Article 82 thereof. In case of recruitment, the successful candidate will be offered a contract agent position (Function Group IV), on the basis of a contract with an initial duration of one year that may be renewed up to a duration to be determined, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the CEOS and subject to budgetary availabilities, and in any case not exceeding six years in total[2]. The duration of the contract is also subject to the maximum duration of engagement by the EEAS allowed under successive limited duration contracts of different types[3].

WE LOOK FOR

Responsibilities

A dynamic, proactive and highly motivated contract agent responsible for legal analysis/advice on procurement. S/he will be part of a small team reporting to the Head of Sector. S/he will have as main responsibilities:

• Analyse the operational, procurement and contractual consequences of the recent decision on the modernisation reform of the network of EU delegations and translate them into legal and procurement files;
• Provide legal analysis, advice and assistance on contractual management and procurement matters related to HQ Division and EU Delegations (EEAS Budget);
• Analyse the operational needs, translate them in the procurement documents and manage preparation and running of High-value procurement procedures stemming from Delegations and operational Divisions covering services, supplies and works;
• Provide legal support and analysis on procurement and coordinate legal horizontal topics;
• Ensure horizontal tasks such as annual reporting on procurement, preparation/update of contract templates, standard documents and guides relating to procurement and contract implementation;
• Prepare timely synthesis notes and briefings to facilitate decision-making by the hierarchy;
• Train EEAS staff on procurement issues and hold information sessions on the Financial Regulation;
• Be proactively involved in the broader activities of the Division, actively cooperating with all Sectors of the Division.
  
  

Eligibility criteria[4]

Further to the conditions set out in Article 82 of the CEOS, candidates must:

• have passed a valid EPSO CAST in a valid function group for this post, or be registered in the EPSO Permanent CAST for FG IV (https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/contract-staff-selection-procedures-always-open-registration). In the latter case, while the registration will make the candidate eligible for the selection procedure, the recruitment of a candidate on this vacant post will be subject to his/her successfully passing the CAST exam;
• have completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma;
• have the capacity to work in the languages of the CFSP and external relations (English and French) necessary for the performance of their duties;
• be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and enjoy full rights as a citizen.
  
  

Selection criteria

Candidates Should

• have a completed University degree of at least three (3) years in Law attested by a diploma;
• have minimum two (2) years of professional experience, or academic equivalent, providing legal analysis/advice on contractual and/or procurement matters;
• have strong knowledge of the EU Financial Regulation for the part related to the procurement management in EU-Delegations for the administrative operations of the EEAS
• have strong drafting and analytical skills combined with sound legal judgement;
• have the ability to communicate complex issues clearly and to identify practical solutions;
• have excellent drafting and communication skills both in English and French (C1 and above);
• be service-oriented and have strong prioritising skills;
• be a flexible team player, willing to join a small team and to ensure business continuity.
  
  

Furthermore

• professional experience in a function of procurement, finance and contracts “help-desk”;
• professional experience in dealing with data protection issues;
• specialist knowledge of intellectual property rights;
• knowledge of other languages used by the EEAS
  
  

would be considered as strong assets.

CONDITIONS OF RECRUITMENT AND EMPLOYMENT

CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND SECURITY RISKS

As a matter of policy, applications by individuals who have dual nationality of which one of a non-EU country, will be considered on a case-by-case basis taking account in particular of the functions attributed to the vacant post. The EEAS also examines if there could be a conflict of interest or security risks.

In this context, candidates shall fill in with their application a declaration of potential conflict of interest (see attached).

MEDICAL CLEARANCE

The signature of the contract will be subject to prior favourable opinion of the Medical Service.

PERSONNEL SECURITY CLEARANCE (PSC)

This post is currently not identified as a post which requires Personnel Security Clearance (hereafter, the “PSC”) to access EU classified information (EUCI) in accordance with point 7 of Annex A I of the Decision ADMIN(2023) 18 on the security rules of the EEAS[5] and as implemented by Decision ADMIN(2019) 7 on Security Clearance Requirements and Procedures for the EEAS of 08 March 2019 and its implementing decisions.

Nonetheless, candidates are informed that the list of posts requiring a PSC in the EEAS Headquarters is subject to regular review and that the current post might be identified in the future as a post which requires PSC.

If required after the taking of duty, the selected candidate will need to be in a position to obtain a valid PSC issued by the competent authority of their Member State in accordance with national laws and regulations.

In case of failure to obtain or renew the required PSC, the AACC may take the appropriate measures in accordance with Article 3(3) of the Decision ADMIN(2019) 7 on Security Clearance Requirements and Procedures for the EEAS of 08 March 2019.

Description of the EU classified information levels is available under Article 2 of Annex A of the Decision ADMIN(2023) 18 on the security rules of the EEAS.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The EEAS is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EEAS is committed to promoting gender equality and to preventing discrimination on any grounds. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds and from the broadest possible geographical basis amongst the EU Member States. We aim at a service, which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.

Candidates with disabilities are invited to contact CONTRACTAGENTS-HQ@eeas.europa.eu in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure the possibility to pass the selection procedure in equality of opportunities with other candidates. If a candidate with a disability is selected for a vacant post, the EEAS is committed to providing reasonable accommodation in accordance with Art 1(d)(4) of the Staff Regulations.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE[6]

Please send your CV and cover letter (with your EPSO CAST number), in English or French, and the attached declaration of potential conflict of interest via email, with reference to the Vacancy Number in the Subject field, to: RM-SCS-2@eeas.europa.eu

Deadline for sending application: 14/11/2025 at 12.00 noon (CET).

Candidates shall draft their CV using the Europass CV, which can be found at the following internet address:

http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/documents/curriculum-vitae.

Late applications will not be accepted.

The selection panel will make a pre-selection on the basis of the qualifications and professional experience described in the CV and motivational letter, and will produce a shortlist of eligible candidates who best meet the selection criteria for the post. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be informed about the outcome of the pre-selection phase.

The candidates who have been preselected will be invited for an interview by a selection panel.

The selection panel may decide, subsequent to the interview, to organise written tests, either for all pre-selected candidates or to the best ranked ones. The content of such written tests will be defined by the selection panel and may include, but not be limited to, multiple choice questions, open questions and/or topics for a short essay.

Pre-selected candidates without a valid CAST shall be invited to sit the CAST exam before or after the interview stage (in accordance with the eligibility criteria set out above).

The panel will then recommend a shortlist of candidates for a final decision by the Authority Authorised to Conclude Contracts of Employment (hereafter, the “AACC”). The AACC may decide to interview the candidates on the final shortlist before taking this decision.

It is recalled that the selection procedure may be terminated at any stage in the interest of the service.

In the interest of the service, after identifying the candidate that best fits the requirements of the post as set out in the vacancy notice, the AACC may also establish a reserve list of candidates. These candidates shall be informed that the reserve list shall remain valid for a period of one year from when it is established and that it may be used to fill the same post or an equivalent post in the EEAS with the same job profile.

[1] Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Union (SR) and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS).

[2] Article 8 of the Commission Decision C(2017) 6760 of 16.10.2017 on the general provisions for implementing Article 79(2) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, governing the conditions of employment of contract staff employed by the Commission under the terms of Articles 3a and 3b thereof.

[3] Decision ADMIN(2023) 24 on the maximum duration of engagement by the European External Action Service of non-permanent staff under successive limited duration contracts of different types, and on the minimum lapse of time between successive contracts under Article 2(e) of the CEOS.

[4] All the eligibility criteria must be met on the closing date for applications to this post.

[5] OJ C 263, 26 July 2023, p.16.

[6] Your personal data will be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, as implemented by ADMIN(2019)8 Decision of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The privacy statement is available on the Europa website: (https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eeas-privacy-statement-data-protection-notice-purpose-processing-personal-data-related-public_en) and on the EEAS Intranet:(https://intranet.eeas.europa.eu/page/eeas-work/data-protection/privacy-statements-dp-notices).

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