ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
This selection procedure is intended to establish a reserve list of successful candidates. It is envisaged to start using the reserve list from Q3/Q4 onwards.
Organisational setting:
The SNEs for SSCs will be assigned to the Deployment Management & Support Team, Operational Centre Unit, Operational & Analysis Centre (OAC) Department, Operations Directorate.
The Operations Directorate deals with the core business of Europol, improving the effectiveness and cooperation of the competent authorities in the Member States in preventing and combating serious and organised crime, as well as terrorism affecting the Member States. This requires close cooperation with the Liaison Bureaux at Europol and via them with the Operational Teams in the Member States. Europol delivers a number of products and services to national law enforcement agencies to support them in their fight against international serious and organised crime, as well as terrorism.
The Operations Directorate hosts five distinct Departments: Operational and Analysis Centre, European Serious Organised Crime Centre, European Cyber Crime Centre, European Counter Terrorism Centre and the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre.
The Operational and Analysis Centre delivers support across the Operations Directorate by delivering added value to all Centres, including several functions of operational and strategic nature:
• Information hub and 24/7 Operational support;
• Travel intelligence;
• Deployment management & support;
• Special Tactics including the EU Most Wanted List;
• EMPACT support;
• Liaison and Stakeholder coordination;
• Strategic analytical products;
• Data analysis, training and quality management.
As part of the Operational & Analysis Centre, the Operational Centre (O1-1) acts as the central information hub where all the information sent to Europol is handled in first line. The Operational Centre is the gateway of all information and intelligence channelled through Europol and the central point for data exchange with third parties. The Operational Centre also supports the operational deployments of the Agency for main operations and major international events, monitors and supports the deployment of SNEs for SSCs (also known as “Guest Officers”) to the migration hotspots and other operational areas, and provides support to Special Tactics communities. It ensures the continuous monitoring of information exchange and open sources, provides first level response on a 24/7 basis, supports specific operations and deployments, provides a platform to special tactics communities and enables decision making of managers by providing an ad-hoc and daily business intelligence picture using information from available (primary Europol) databases.
FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
Purpose of the secondment:
Following the conclusions of the Council of the EU and of the Member States meeting within the Council on Counter-Terrorism held on 20 November 2015 and 10 March 2016, Europol was tasked with implementing a concept to support the screening process, in particular by reinforcing secondary security controls within the migration hotspot framework. Europol Regulation Art 4(1) (c) and (r) provide that Europol shall coordinate, organise and implement investigative and operational support actions, including to identify persons whose criminal activities constitute a high risk for security, following which Europol provides SSCs at the national level on-the-spot in line with the needs of the competent authorities and in close cooperation with other partner Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Agencies. Under the guidance of a Europol staff member responsible for a particular area of operation, the SNEs for SSCs will support the implementation of the hotspot model in any designated destination and with the prevalent EU priorities.
The SNEs will be deployed to various field locations in current or future migration hotspots or other relevant areas outside Europol HQ. This aim of the deployment is to support, facilitate or conduct secondary security checks, as agreed with the host states.
Additionally, the SNEs will serve to enhance operational cooperation between the concerned national authorities and EU agencies involved, with a view to acquiring and handling information that will help in the identification of potential terrorist and criminal threats.
Reporting lines:
The SNEs will report to and work under the supervision of the Head of Deployment Management & Support Team.
FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES
The SNEs deployed by Europol to hotspots will carry out the following main functions and duties:
• Participate in interviews to assist the identification of potential risks towards the internal security of the EU;
• Support the further development of an effective process for SSCs, in coordination with the concerned national authorities and EU Agencies involved at the hotspots;
• Reinforce the process for SSCs by exchanging best practice in this area;
• Encourage referrals for SSCs from host state experts at the hotspots;
• Support investigations where necessary, in agreement with and under the authority of the ENU of the host state concerned;
• Perform checks against Europol’s systems in order to check for potential risks towards the internal security of the EU;
• Refer cases for forensic support to Europol staff where relevant, including data extraction on data carriers, such as mobile phones and memory cards, under the authority of the host state;
• Provide forensic support directly, under the authority of the host state if qualified
• Collect and assess information that can lead to the detection of potential terrorist and criminal threats, with a particular focus on smuggling and trafficking offences;
REQUIREMENTS - ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA
FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES
• Ensure that relevant information is referred to Europol for further dissemination as necessary, under the authority of the host state;
• Reinforce and consolidate Europol’s relationship with the national authorities and the EU Agencies involved with a view to enhancing overall cooperation;
• Keep abreast of all developments within the area of operation;
• Report regularly to Europol on the daily activities undertaken.
REQUIREMENTS - ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Candidates must:
• Be a member of a competent authority in the meaning of the Article 2a) of the Europol Regulation and enjoy full rights as a citizen of a Member State;
• Produce evidence of a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the European Union and of a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the European Union in accordance with the decision of the Management Board on the internal language arrangements of Europol as referred to in Article 64(2) of the Europol Regulation, with the understanding that the SNE will have to carry out his/her duties in a mainly English-speaking environment;
• Have at least three years of professional experience in the field of law enforcement, which is relevant to the duties to be carried out during the secondment.
REQUIREMENTS - SELECTION CRITERIA
a. Professional experience:
Essential:
• Experience in the fields of facilitation of illegal immigration, organised crime or counter-terrorism;
• Experience in the gathering, handling and development of intelligence;
• Experience in international law enforcement cooperation.
Desirable:
• International deployments and/or mission experience;
• Experience with EU systems such as SIS II and SIENA;
• Experience in the use of forensic digital extraction devices and other related equipment.
b. Professional knowledge
Essential:
• Knowledge of the international law enforcement working environment and practices;
• Knowledge of organised criminal networks, of criminal flows, and of modi operandi related to the facilitation of illegal immigration, organised crime and terrorism;
• Knowledge of the geo-political situation of major countries of origin of illegal immigration;
Desirable:
• Knowledge of French, Arabic, Russian and/or Turkish languages.
c. General competencies
Essential:
Communicating:
• Very good communication skills in English, both orally and in writing;
• Ability to draft clear and concise documents on complex matters for various audiences;
Analysing & problem solving:
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;
• Keen eye for detail with the ability to maintain standards of accuracy under pressure of tight deadlines;
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the internet
Delivering quality and results
• High degree of commitment and flexibility;
• High level of customer and service-orientation;
Prioritising and organising
• Good administrative and organisational skills
Resilience
• Ability to work well under pressure, both independently and in a team;
• Very good interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively liaise with other departments, groups and teams as well as with external partners;
Living diversity
• Ability to work effectively in an international and multi-cultural environment.
HOW TO APPLY
Member States are invited to nominate their Seconded National Experts according to the selection criteria and profile, as specified in this document.
Candidates endorsed by the national competent authorities are required to complete the SNE application form available on Europol’s website in English.
The application form must be accompanied by a letter from the sending authority to the Executive Director of Europol expressing willingness to second the candidate.
Applications must be filled in electronically, duly signed and submitted by means of email to Europol’s Human Resources Unit, HR Operational Support Team, to C2-125@europol.europa.eu via the Europol National Unit of the Member State concerned, and, if necessary, the respective Liaison Bureau. Candidates who do not provide all necessary information or do not comply with any of the above will not be considered.
Applications must be received by Europol at the latest on the day of the deadline specified in this notice of secondment. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Receipt of all applications is confirmed by an email of acknowledgement. Candidates may check the progress of the relevant selection procedure on Europol’s website.
SELECTION PROCEDURE
The Deputy Executive Director of Europol’s Capabilities Directorate (DEDC) sets up a Selection Committee, chaired by the Head of the relevant Directorate or a senior representative, and composed of a representative of the respective Unit, as well as of the Human Resources Unit.
The Selection Committee establishes the pass-mark for interview and a written test or comparable practical exercise. The pass-mark for shortlisting is established as 60% of the total maximum score.
The Selection Committee assesses the applications received in order to make an initial selection of candidates meeting all eligibility criteria and examines their qualifications, experience and skills against the selection criteria set out in this notice of secondment. Candidates scoring above the pass-mark are invited to participate in a selection procedure.
The Selection Committee will invite the 200 highest scoring candidates (shortlisted). All candidates having a score equal to the 200th highest scoring candidate will be included to the list of invited candidates.
The Selection Committee conducts an interview with the shortlisted candidates performed remotely in order to evaluate their language skills, to assess their experience and qualifications and determine whether they possess the key skills required.
COMPENSATION, TERMS AND CONDITIONS
SECONDMENT AND RESERVE LIST
After the selection procedure has taken place, the Selection Committee establishes a list of successful candidates. Candidates are successful if they score above the pre-defined pass-mark for interview.
The list shall be shared with the Deputy Executive Director Capabilities Directorate (DEDC) in order to establish a Reserve List. Reserve Lists of successful candidates are valid for 3 years (36 months).
Candidates who attend the selection procedure will be informed of the outcome, i.e. whether they have been successful or not.
The secondment of a successful candidate is finally effected by an exchange of letters referred to in Article 3(4) of the MB Decision on SNEs, specifying the details of the secondment, including as regards its duration.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The SNE shall remain in the service of the sending authority throughout the period of secondment and shall continue to be paid by that employer. The sending authority shall also be responsible for all social rights, particularly social security and pension entitlements.
During the period of secondment the SNE is entitled to a daily subsistence allowance for long-stay mission, paid by the agency.
Detailed rules regarding the secondment of national experts to Europol are described in the Management Board Decision laying down rules on the secondment of national experts to Europol of 8 October 2024.
During the period of secondment the SNE is entitled to a daily subsistence allowance for long-stay mission, paid by the agency.
Detailed rules regarding the secondment of national experts to Europol are described in the Management Board Decision laying down rules on the secondment of national experts to Europol of 8 October 2024.
ENQUIRIES / MEASURES OF REDRESS
The Selection Committee’s work and deliberations are confidential. It is forbidden for candidates to make direct or indirect contact with the members of the Selection Committee or for anyone to do so on their behalf. All enquiries related to a selection procedure should be addressed to the HR Operational Support Team at the following email address: C2-12@europol.europa.eu.
As regards requests for the reason(s) candidates were found to be ineligible, the scores obtained at specific stages of the selection procedure or available measures of redress, candidates are referred to the Europol Recruitment Guidelines for SNEs available on Europol’s website for further information.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Equal opportunity
Europol is an equal opportunity employer. We accept applications without distinction on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, national, ethnic or social origin, religion or beliefs, family situation, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. Our employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and qualifications, experience and skills.
We live diversity and provide an inclusive work environment to all. We strive to recruit, develop and retain a diverse and talented workforce through application of equal opportunity and impartiality.
Privacy statement
Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC, applies to the processing of personal data carried out in the process of selection and recruitment of Seconded National Experts at Europol following the application of this Regulation to all administrative personal data held by Europol in accordance with Article 46 of the Europol Regulation.
For additional information, candidates are referred to the applicable privacy notice available on our website.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Security screening
Selected candidates are required to furnish a valid security clearance certificate before the start of the secondment. Failure to obtain or provide the requisite security clearance certificate at the requested level before the start of the secondment may render the offer of secondment invalid.
In case the security clearance certificate expires within six months of the start of the secondment, the renewal procedure will be initiated expeditiously. Europol may at any time terminate the secondment if the result of the security screening is not positive or the necessary security clearance level is not granted /extended.
The security clearance level required for this secondment is: CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL.
Europol reserves the right to request a higher level of Security Clearance, depending on the area the successful candidate is recruited to.
Duration of the secondment:
In principle, the SNEs for SSCs would be deployed for periods of 6 months.
The period of active secondment, including any extension, shall not exceed four years.
Main dates
Publication date: 17 February 2025
Deadline for application: DEADLINE EXTENDED until 31 March 2025, 23:59 Amsterdam Time Zone
Selection procedure: April/May 2025
Contact details
For further details on the application process please call +31 (0) 70 302 5022 or +31 (0) 70 353 1897.