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JOB DESCRIPTION
Presentation of the Agency
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is a multi-programme Executive Agency based in Brussels.
In cooperation with six Directorates-General of the European Commission, EACEA is privileged to manage the implementation of four of the European Union’s flagship funding programmes: Erasmus+, Creative Europe, the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme and the European Solidarity Corps.
Since 2006, EACEA has been a catalyst for projects in education, training, youth, sport, media, culture, solidarity, citizenship and values. On behalf of the European Commission, EACEA works to foster innovation in these areas, always in a spirit of cross-border cooperation and mutual respect.
As a modern, professional organisation, EACEA strives to operate in a spirit of fairness and transparency, to uphold standards of equal access and treatment, and to support the projects that show Europe at its best.
Working at EACEA means taking a role at the heart of European project management. With almost 600 staff, EACEA is a dynamic, open and international workplace, best-placed to serve the citizens of Europe and empower the citizens of tomorrow. Strong values are at the heart of EACEA: commitment, integrity, objectivity, respect for others, and transparency.
For further information on the Agency, please refer to our website: https://www.eacea.ec.europa.eu
Mission of the entity
Unit EACEA.A.6 (Platforms, studies and analysis) coordinates the management of platforms implemented under the Erasmus+ Programme. It promotes language learning, informal learning, professional development and cooperation via: the Online Language Support (OLS) for language learning, the European School Education Platform, EPALE for adult learning staff. More generally, the Unit coordinates a range of networks, wikis and hubs working closely with stakeholders, notably in view of the implementation of the Digital Education Action Plan.
The Unit further provides information and comparative analysis on systems and policies in education and youth in the EU and beyond. The purpose is to improve understanding, enhance co-operation and support policy-making. To that end, the Unit co-ordinates the Eurydice Network and the Network of Youth Wiki National Correspondents of data providers based in most European countries, works closely with the OECD, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement, and other organisations for the implementation of key studies in the field of Education.
Overall, the Unit aims at providing relevant, easily accessible and accurate information to policy makers, stakeholders, beneficiaries and citizens on Erasmus+ Programme.
Description of the job
Overall purpose
The Studies and analyses managers undertake a variety of duties, such as conducting analyses and performing advisory, supervisory, coordinating and negotiating tasks as well as implementing research in education and youth policies delegated to the Agency.
In the fields of activity of the Agency, the main duties of a studies and analyses manager in EACEA may include, but are not limited to:
- Managing the timely production of accurate, reliable, and comprehensible comparative studies and analyses of European education systems and/or youth policies.
- Coordination of multiple research teams.
- Providing research guidance and support to team members and external experts.
- Contributing to the overall management of the studies and analysis sector, including the management of the Eurydice and Youth Wiki Networks, and potentially working with the Bologna Follow Up Group.
- Representing the unit in operational exchanges with other services of the Agency and of the European Commission, as well as representing the Agency/Unit in meetings, conferences, and events with EU institutions and external stakeholders.
Please see “Function and duties” here below for more information on the typical tasks to be performed.
Function and duties
Team coordination
- To lead and coordinate the activities of the team in an efficient and effective manner, ensuring that relevant internal and external deadlines are met.
- To programme, organise and supervise the correct functioning of the team and to allocate tasks and responsibilities to the team members.
- To assure quality standards and timeliness; to supervise and control team performance; and to assure continuity of operations within the team.
- To contribute to the definition of the unit’s overall strategic objectives, work programme and specific objectives in the team areas.
- To maintain interactive communication with the team, so that staff are informed on all relevant policy and strategic aspects affecting the team and the unit work and get appropriate feedback on their actions.
- To support the Head of Unit/Head of Sector in approving, authorising and/or giving an opinion on requests regarding performance and personnel administration.
Program/Process/Project Management
- Manage, supervise and validate comparative research in the area of education and/or youth, including the development of data collection tools.
- Support teams in designing research projects, drafting and updating studies, reports, briefings in the area of education or youth policies.
- Identify emerging trends in the area of education or youth in order to stimulate and support policy discussion.
- Provide advice, assistance and support on matters relating to the area of education and/or youth in order to anticipate developments and raise issues, in particular for the European Commission.
- Cooperate with other bodies active in the area of education and youth.
- Propose, implement and follow-up developments in data management and type of products.
- Implement and develop open data policies.
- Prepare follow-up reports and statistics, including policy-relevant feedback and support to the parent Directorates-General.
- Deal with horizontal activities, concertation and networking aspects of the programme and its projects.
- On the relevant files, interact with relevant DG mirror units and/or external stakeholders.
Evaluation and Quality Management
- Analyse and assess the results and impact of the studies, data management, product developments, and provide feedback as well as make suggestions for improvements.
- Provide assistance in monitoring, quality auditing and evaluation of the work programmes and reports developed in the sector.
- Contribute to the development of processes in the sector, ensure their implementation and continuous improvement.
- Involve the networks in regular evaluations and in quality management.
- Contribute to structured policy feedback via regular feedback on the programme and project implementation to the parent DG.
Communication and Publication
- Facilitate the delivery of exploitable results as well as dissemination of reports, studies and analyses.
- Identify good practices and contribute to their dissemination.
- Identify and disseminate report findings in accordance with policy priorities; facilitate exchange of experiences and participate in the design, writing, production and editing of documents/reports.
- Participate in and/or chair relevant working groups, committees, and inter-service groups at EACEA, Commission and/or stakeholders’ level.
- Maintain contacts with stakeholders and participate to knowledge sharing activities.
- Contribute to the communication and information policy of the programme by speaking at conferences/seminars.
Budget, Finance, Contracts and Accounting
- Ensure for respect of the Financial Regulation, implementing rules, internal rules on budget execution, Basic Act, Financing decision and other related rules and budgetary dispositions, including especially the principle of sound financial management.
Planning and Reporting
- Prepare periodic and final implementation reports and ad-hoc statistics and information, as well as briefings requested by the Commission services.
- Contribute to the preparation of the annual work programme and of the annual activity report of the agency as well as the Work Programmes of the Eurydice Network, Youth Wiki and when needed the BFUG.
- Participate in the planning of expert needs and oversee their management within projects, including overseeing technical and financial aspects of contracts.
Please note that this list is non-exhaustive.
Qualifications and experience required
Eligibility criteria
Candidates must meet ALL of the following general and specific conditions on the closing date for application:
A. General conditions
- Be a national of a Member State of the European Union.
- Enjoy full rights as a citizen.
- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws on military service.
- Meet the character requirements for the duties involved (1).
- Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post (2).
- Knowledge of at least two official EU languages: one at minimum C1 level (thorough knowledge) and the other at minimum B2 level (satisfactory knowledge). (3)
B. Specific conditions – Education
Candidates must have a level of education that corresponds to completed university studies of at least 3 years attested by a diploma (4).
(1) Prior to engagement, the successful candidates will be asked to provide a police certificate indicating that they do not have a criminal record.
(2) Before engagement, successful candidates must undergo a medical examination by the medical services of the Commission in order to check whether they satisfy the condition set out in Article 12(d) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.
(3)These abilities reflect those of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/resources/european-language-levels-cefr).
(4) Only study titles awarded in EU Member States (or with an equivalence certificate issued by the qualified authorities of the Member States) will be taken into consideration. The equivalence certificate must be presented to the Agency by the date of the setting up of the reserve list.
Selection Criteria – Essential
Candidates must fulfil all the essential criteria:
A. Qualifications
Have a PhD- in a relevant scientific field within the Social science and/or Humanities domain.
OR
A Master in Social science and/or Humanities combined with a minimum of 3 years of specialised professional experience in research with data analysis and drafting of analytical reports in a social policy field.
B. Experience and skills
- A minimum of 3 years of specialised professional experience in research with data analysis and drafting of analytical reports in the fields of social policies (5).
- Experience in research design using qualitative data.
- Experience in working as a researcher in international research projects and/or in the management of research projects, particularly at European level.
- Experience in drafting and publishing research papers, scientific reports, and policy analyses.
- Thorough knowledge – oral and written (minimum C1 level) – of English.
- Knowledge of European education, and/or youth policies proven by relevant studies or professional experience.
(5) The professional experience must have been acquired after achieving the minimum requirements stated in ‘Qualifications’.
Selection Criteria – Advantageous
- Experience in research design using quantitative data especially linked to international surveys (PISA, TALIS, ICCS, ICILS, Eurostat, etc.).
- Excellent writing and presentation skills.
- Ability to negotiate with stakeholders on issues related to research design, data management and policy priorities.
- Very good knowledge of recent European policy developments in one or more of the following aeras:
- School education
- Higher education
- Adult education
- Youth
- Track record of scientific publication in peer-reviewed journals.
- Experience in managing and coordinating research teams and overseeing the quality of the outputs.
Selection Criteria – Behavioural
- Motivation and care for delivering quality results.
- Aptitude for teamwork in a multicultural environment.
- Capacity to work autonomously.
- Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple responsibilities within tight deadlines.
- Strong organisational skills.
- Sense of responsibility, sense of duty, accountability and service-orientation.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Excellent problem-solving skills.
Application procedure
Candidates are kinldy invited to apply in English.
In this selection, the language used for the application, the written test, the interview and for communication between EACEA and the candidates is ENGLISH.
The language requirements in this selection have been defined in line with the interests of the service, which require new recruits to have a thorough knowledge (minimum C1 level) of English to be immediately operational and capable of communicating effectively in their daily work. EACEA.A.6 provides information and comparative analysis on systems and policies in education and youth in the EU and beyond. The unit co-ordinates the Eurydice Network and the Youth Wiki National Correspondents Network of data providers based in most European countries. It also manages the development of the European Higher Education Sector Observatory (EHESO).
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