Policy Officer – EU Delegation to Ukraine

The European Union Delegation to Ukraine is looking for a Policy Officer (Limited term contract)

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between 28 European countries. It plays an important role in international affairs through diplomacy, trade, development aid and working with global organisations. Abroad, the EU is represented through more than 140 diplomatic representations, known also as EU Delegations, which have a similar function to those of an embassy.
The EU Delegation to Ukraine is one of those 140 delegations. Its mandate includes promoting the political and economic relations between Ukraine and the European Union, monitoring the implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine; informing the public of the development of the EU and explaining policies and participating in the implementation of the European Union’s assistance programmes.

The Support Group for Ukraine:
By its decision of 9 April 2014, the European Commission created a Support Group for Ukraine (SGUA), with the objective of providing a focal point for the Commission’s support of Ukraine in its transition and in implementing the Association Agreement as a blueprint for modernisation and reforms in the country. SGUA is mobilising also EU Member State expertise and enhancing coordination with other donors and the international financial institutions.

SGUA has over 30 officials (Commission officials, Seconded National Experts, and other categories of staff). It is headed by Peter Wagner and is administratively attached to the Directorate-General for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations. The Head of SGUA reports to the President of the Commission and the High Representative/Vice-President under the guidance of the Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.

SGUA is based in Brussels, with short and long term missions to Ukraine. From 1 September 2016, part of the staff of SGUA are attached to the Delegation of the European Union in Kyiv.

We offer

We offer a post of a Policy Officer. Under this post, the recruited person will be attributed functions depending on the needs of the Delegation. Upon recruitment, the successful candidate will occupy a specific job function as Policy Officer – this job function may be changed in accordance with the needs of the Delegation. Under this job function the successful candidate will serve as support staff to the Support Group for Ukraine (SGUA) under the supervision and responsibility of the relevant head of section. The candidate will be expected to assist in the elaboration and implementation of reform programmes consistent with the provisions of the EU Ukraine Association Agreement, including as regards the approximation of Ukrainian legislation with that of the EU; to provide policy recommendations to the EU Delegation and the SGUA; to maintain close coordination with HQ and Member States as well as all appropriate relations with Ukrainian authorities.

Functions & Duties:

• To support the EU Delegation and the SGUA in the elaboration and implementation of the EU reform programmes consistent with the provisions of the Association Agreement;
• To provide policy recommendations and to assist in the preparation of policy documents; prepare information notes on topics of relevance for the SGUA and the Delegation;
• To support substantively the work of the EU Delegation and the SGUA by being in contact regularly with different UA institutions involved in the implementation of the Association Agreement and provide a regular flow of information to the SGUA and the Delegation on various political, economic, social, institutional or policy developments.
• To liaise between the SGUA members on the field in Ukraine and in HQ as well as between the EU Delegation, the SGUA, the UA Authorities and the Member States.
• To assist in the organisation and conduct of high level visits by EU officials.
• To assist in preparation of meetings, provide interpretation and/or translations whenever necessary, take notes and minutes;
• Other related duties as may be required for the work of the SGUA and the EU Delegation.

The successful candidate will be based in Kyiv. Working time: 37.5 working hours/week. The contract (“local agent” type contract – Group I) will be concluded as limited term contract. The objective of the contract of employment is to perform policy support duties related to the operation of the SGUA. SGUA and therefore this position are temporary in nature: consequently a contract of indefinite duration cannot be offered.

The term for this fixed-term contract is foreseen to start in early 2017 and last until 31 December 2018. Applicants should be aware that this post cannot be converted into an indefinite post.

We offer a competitive position in an international environment. Benefits, such as additional pension scheme and medical insurance, are offered to employees and their families under certain conditions.

We look for:

Applications should be sent by letter or email by Tuesday 02 May 2017, 24:00 (date of receipt)

Read more and apply here.