JOB DESCRIPTION

REFERENCE: CONS/02/2025/CA-FGII/LING.2.DA DIRECTORATE/UNIT: LING.2 – DANISH LANGUAGE UNIT CONTRACT TYPE: CONTRACT AGENT GRADE: FG II LOCATION: BRUSSELS

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: 09/01/2026 AT 12:00 (CET)

We are opening a call for expressions of interest for the post of translation secretary in the Danish Language Unit.

At the Translation Service of the General Secretariat of the Council (LING), we champion multilingualism as a core European value. Our mission is to provide timely and high-quality language services in the 24 official EU languages, playing a vital role in the European decision-making process. We foster a collaborative, inclusive culture where every staff member is encouraged to contribute to our shared success.

The General Secretariat of the Council (GSC) is the body responsible for assisting two European Union (EU) institutions: the European Council and the Council of the EU, including its Presidencies, the Permanent Representatives Committee (Coreper) and the other Council committees and working parties.

The GSC organises and ensures the coherence of the Council’s work. In summary, the GSC plays a vital role in ensuring effective functioning and coordination within the EU’s decision-making bodies.

As a translation secretary in our motivated and versatile team, you will provide technical assistance and user support to translators during all stages of the translation process, using specialised IT tools and following tried and tested procedures.

This post offers an opportunity to use your planning and organisational skills to prioritise and manage multiple tasks, and to deliver timely, high-quality results in a fast-paced environment. You will get to work autonomously and in a team, including during European Council meetings. This will include working closely with the unit’s management team, consisting of the Head of Unit, Quality Coordinator (QC), Local Resources Manager (LRM) and Local Coordinator (LC). Together with the other translation assistants and secretaries, you will perform coordination backup duties for the unit’s LC.

 

Your main tasks

Your duties as a translation secretary in the Danish Language Unit may include the following:

• provide assistance to translators with processing the different types of Council documents using the appropriate tools and procedures;
• re-read and check the language versions of texts on the basis of the original;
• prepare documents for translation with the assistance of the appropriate tools and procedures;
• perform paper and electronic filing and archiving in the required format;
• on a rota basis and in cooperation with the LC, help to coordinate and distribute work within the unit,

manage workflows and maintain contacts with the relevant departments;

• provide administrative, organisational and logistical support to the Head of Unit and to staff;
• work in a team during summits, or when dealing with specific files.

Working conditions

The post is based in a modern shared office in our headquarters in Brussels. The GSC offers a comprehensive package of flexible working measures including a dedicated creche, after-school and school holiday childcare, as well as telework and flexitime based on service needs, and in accordance with the rules of the GSC. Working hours can be unpredictable due to political developments generating translation requests with tight deadlines, including outside normal working hours and in connection with European Council meetings and Council sessions. You will be supported by a well-coordinated team of assistants and secretaries, and you will in turn support your colleagues. No travel on official business foreseen.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR Eligibility criteria¹

To be considered eligible, you must meet all the criteria listed below:

• be national of a Member State of the European Union;
• enjoy your full rights as citizen;
• meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• be physically fit enough to perform the duties involved;
• be below retirement age, which for officials and other staff members of the EU is set at the end of the month in which the age of 66 is reached;
• have fulfilled any military service obligations required by national laws;
• have knowledge of at least two official EU languages², one at minimum Cl level (thorough knowledge) and the other at minimum B2 level (satisfactory knowledge)³;

Qualifications and experience

To qualify to be an FG II contract staff member, you need:

1. post-secondary education attested by a diploma; or
2. secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, followed by appropriate professional experience of at least three years; or
3. where justified in the interests of the service, professional training or professional experience of an equivalent level.

 

Selection criteria

We are looking for colleagues with the following competences:

• strong organisational skills to keep track of deadlines and procedures;
• proactive self-management and a learning mindset;
• a sense of initiative and responsibility and a commitment to ethical standards;
• critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills;
• the ability to work in a team and to establish and maintain good contacts with a wide range of interlocutors;
• good digital skills, including a good knowledge of MS Office IT tools and the willingness to adapt to new technologies, in particular to familiarise yourself with collaborative tools;
• a strong ability to take action and deliver results, with accuracy and attention to detail even under pressure;
• the ability to cope with a dynamic environment and fluctuating workload;
• excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• knowledge of English at minimum B2 level⁴

The following would be advantageous:

• knowledge of the functioning of the GSC, its procedures and working methods and its relations with other institutions;
• experience with GSC IT tools: Workflow and eConsilium/Delegates Portal/Trilogue Table Editor (TTE);
• knowledge of Danish.

HOW TO APPLY⁵

You must apply online via the EU CV Online platform within the specified deadline.

How to register on EU CV Online

To apply via the EU CV Online platform, you must first create an account (or sign into your existing account) and create an e-CV online. Once you have completed your e-CV, you can apply to this call for expressions of interest. Applications must be in English or French. You are advised to complete all relevant fields and include a motivation statement.

Please note that you will be required to provide references and supporting documents (diplomas, certificates, contracts, etc.) to corroborate the qualifications and experience you mention in your CV. You may be asked to provide supporting documents at any time during the selection procedure.

An acknowledgement of your application will be sent to the email address indicated in your application. Only applications submitted through EU CV Online will be considered.