JOB DESCRIPTION

Selection reference: ENV/C0M/2025/TA2a/500773 Domain: Environment

Where: Unit ENV.F.3 – Global Environmental Cooperation And Multilateralism, Brussels Staff category and Function Group: Temporary agent 2a – Administrator Grade range: AD5-7

Publication deadline: 16.12.2025 – 12.00 (Brussels time)

WE ARE

The ‘Global Environmental Cooperation and Multilateralism’ Unit of DG Environment (ENV.F.3), which aims to strengthen multilateralism and international environmental governance, including via the full implementation of multilateral environment agreements. The unit’s three teams focus on: 1) relations with UN Environment and work towards an international instrument on plastic pollution; 2) wildlife trade and conservation; 3) global biodiversity, access and benefit sharing of genetic resources, desertification, and global forest policies.

WE PROPOSE

A challenging and varied job for an International Relations Officer to support the implementation of the EU access and benefit sharing policy, in particular the Nagoya Protocol and the EU Regulation on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation. The job will require the preparation of and negotiations in international discussions related to the Nagoya Protocol, mainly the discussions on the Global Biodiversity Framework and on Digital Sequence Information (DSI) of genetic resources in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity, including the multilateral mechanism to share benefits from DSI.

Concretely, you will: represent the EU in international meetings and conferences of the Parties and multilateral processes; represent the Commission in meetings of the Council Working Party on International Environment Issues dedicated to Biodiversity and in meetings with Member States, third countries or relevant stakeholders; ensure cooperation with other relevant Commission services on issues related to biodiversity and benefit sharing on genetic resources; develop and promote policies on benefit sharing on genetic resources and digital sequence information; raise awareness of the users of genetic resources about the requirements of the Nagoya Protocol and the EU Regulation; and draft replies to genetic resource-related Parliamentary question, cabinet correspondence, briefings, and technical specifications for studies/service contracts. You will have to proactively engage in the international debate around the implementation of the multilateral mechanism to share benefits from digital sequence information and its Cali Fund, including by taking active part on the steering of the governance of the Fund.

You will also closely follow-up the biodiversity and access and benefit sharing on genetic resource- related work of other United Nations bodies (FAO, WHO and UNCLOS) and represent the EU in their relevant meetings: in particular in the context of the international process of food systems-related issues under the UN Food and Agriculture Organization; marine genetic resources beyond national jurisdictions-related matters under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; and Pandemic Treaty- related issues under the UN World Health Organization.

WE LOOK FOR

The ideal candidate should:

• have a legal educational background,
• possess a sound knowledge of the international and European policy and legislative framework regarding the access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation, including relevant policy challenges regarding digital sequence information in the context of the Global Biodiversity Framework and other international instruments (namely: marine genetic resources beyond national jurisdictions (UNCLOS BBNJ), plant genetic resources under FAO, and health and benefit sharing issues under the WHO),
• have a proven record of professional experience of at least 7 years on the topic of access and benefit sharing (including digital sequence information),
• be ready to step in for participation in international ABS related advisory working groups

and/or committees, such as the Cali Fund’s steering committee. Experience with this type of body is required,

• demonstrate a good sense of initiative, proven     negotiation skills at EU and international

level on access and benefit sharing or equivalent,       as well as the ability to draft legal texts,

• be willing to travel, occasionally to far-away places and for an extended period,
• be a fast learner to be quickly operational,
• possess a good team and collaborative spirit as part of a small team but also with colleagues

in other units/services,

• demonstrate excellent knowledge of English and  very good communication skills in another

EU language, a good knowledge of an UN language is considered as a clear asset.

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order:

1. your CV 2. completed application form.

Please send these documents by the publication deadline to [email protected] indicating the selection reference ENV/C0M/2025/TA2a/500773 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline.