ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
This selection procedure is intended to establish a reserve list of successful candidates. It is envisaged to start using the reserve list in Q3/Q4 2025. Europol retains the right to make use of the reserve list to select candidates for similar secondments within the organisation, should business needs require so.
Organisational setting:
The Seconded National Experts (SNE) will be located in the AP HROCG (High Risk Organised Crime Groups) Team in the EU Organised Crime Unit, European Serious and Organised Crime Centre (ESOCC), 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 European Serious Organised Crime Centre (ESOCC) is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of Europol’s tasks and objectives in supporting Member States’ investigations of serious and organised crime. The main tasks of ESOCC are to:• provide Operational Support to prioritised cases;• support the EU Policy Cycle through the implementation of EMPACT priorities;• support the development of the Strategic Intelligence Picture on Serious and Organised Crime.Serious and organised crime is an increasingly dynamic and complex phenomenon that requires robust, intelligence-led response by EU law enforcement. Together with O2-1 EU Drugs Unit, and O2-3 European Migrant Smuggling Centre (EMSC), the O2-2 EU Organised Crime Unit form the European Serious and Organised Centre (ESOCC).As part of ESOCC, the O2-2 EU Organised Crime Unit is responsible for the operational and analytical support to investigations related to the activities of High Risk Organised Crime Groups (OCGs), organised property crime and environmental crime.
Purpose of the secondment:
The SNE will contribute to the operational aspects of cooperation and coordination for the Organised Crime Unit of Europol and will be rendering operational support within projects in the field of Albanian Organised Crime and High Risk Organised Criminal Groups.
Reporting lines:
The SNE will report to the Head of Team AP HROCGs.
FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES
The SNE will carry out the following main functions and duties:
• Provide specialised knowledge and expertise to operational activities in the fight against organised crime groups and their criminal structures, with a specific focus on the Albanian OCGs cases;
• Facilitate the exchange of criminal intelligence in order to support investigations of organised crimes in the Member States;
• Coordinate Europol’s support to Member State priority investigations; • Promote the establishment of Operational Task Forces (OTF) to investigate the criminal activities of High Value Targets (HVTs) and high-risk Organised Crime Groups (OCGs);
• Assist with producing analytical outputs (operational and strategic) and other relevant intelligence products; draft reports, briefing notes and other relevant documents;
• Support intelligence analysis and operational coordination related to Albanian OCGs cases;
• Establish close contacts with Liaison Officers to encourage and support operational activities in the field of responsibility of the HROCGs Team;
REQUIREMENTS - ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA
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.
Selection criteria:
a. Professional experience
Essential:
• Experience in investigating transnational cases related to Albanian Organised Crime and other high-risk organised crime related networks;
• Experience of liaison and cooperation on operational matters gained in an international cooperation environment;
• Experience in working with material gathered by means of wiretappings and digital surveillances;
• Experience in drafting operational analysis products in the respective crime areas.
Desirable:
• Experience in analysing large-amount of data by using analysis tools and MS software; • Experience in conducting investigations on organised crime related violence or organised crime related corruption.
b. Professional knowledge
Essential:
• Knowledge of the criminal environment, trends and modi operandi in the area of Albanian organised crime and high-risk organised crime related networks with a focus on the transnational angle of investigations;
• Knowledge of crime investigative techniques and law enforcement practices in the area of high-risk organised crime related networks;
• Knowledge of international legal framework and cooperation instruments with regard to organised crime;
• Sound knowledge of Europol’s legal framework and operational task force (OTF) concept.
• Sound Knowledge of Albanian language (C1-C2);
Desirable:
• Good knowledge of Italian or Turkish language.
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 C2-12@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 6 highest scoring candidates (shortlisted). All candidates having a score equal to the 6th 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. The shortlisted candidates will also be invited to participate in a written test performed remotely.
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 and a written test or comparable practical exercise.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.Europol retains the right to make use of the Reserve List to select candidates for similar secondments within the organisation, should business needs require so. Inclusion on the Reserve List does not guarantee secondment.The secondment of a successful candidate is finally effected by an exchange of letters referred to in Article 4(4) of the MB Decision on SNEs, specifying the details of the secondment, including as regards its duration.
COMPENSATION, 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 paid by Europol, and may also be eligible for a monthly allowance depending on the distance from the place of origin. If the SNE receives any allowance from other sources similar to the subsistence allowance paid by Europol, this amount shall be deducted. 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 Europol’s website.
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.
Main dates
Publication date: 04 April 2025
Deadline for application: 02 May 2025, 23:59 Amsterdam Time Zone
Selection procedure: June 2025
Contact details
For further details on the application process please call +31 (0) 70 353 1152 or +31 (0) 70 302 1340.