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Market Development-Project Officer CA FG IV

European GNSS Supervisory Authority - 14 November 2008

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Job Description

Applications are invited for the post of Market Development – Project Officer in the Market Development Department of the European GNSS Supervisory Authority, established by Council Regulation (EC) N° 1321/2004 of 12 July 2004 (OJ L 246,1 of 20.07.2004)[1].
 
The European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Programmes
The European GNSS Programmes are composed of Galileo and the European Geo-stationary Navigation Overlay System (EGNOS). Galileo is Europe's global satellite radio-navigation system. The programme was launched on the initiative of the European Commission and will amount to the same kind of technological revolution as the one sparked off by mobile phones. It will also trigger the development of new universal services with a broad scope of application, either for private or professional use, in areas like leisure, transport, agriculture, oil drilling or fisheries. The most distinctive factors of Galileo will be its guarantee of quality, continuity and integrity. It will give Europe ownership of such promising technology under civil control and full independence in this domain. The first Galileo satellite was launched in December 2005 and the initial Galileo services are planned to be provided as from 2013.
 
EGNOS (European Geo-stationary Navigation Overlay Service) is an augmentation system to existing satellite navigation systems and is the first element of the European GNSS programmes. As from 2009, EGNOS will offer services in Europe that are similar to some of those that will later be provided by Galileo, namely for safety-of-life applications like air navigation.
 
The GSA
Given the strategic nature of European satellite positioning and navigation programmes, the GSA was created and started operations in 2005. It is a regulatory agency of the Community and its current mission, following the entry into force of Regulation (EC) N° 683/2008 of the European Parliament and Council of 9 July 2008 on the further implementation of the European satellite navigation programmes, is to:
§         Ensure the security accreditation of the systems and the operation of the Galileo security centre;
§         Contribute to the preparation of the commercialisation of the systems, laying the foundations for the respective economic sustainability and aiming at maximising the economic, social and public benefits;
§         Accomplish other tasks entrusted to it by the Commission, such as the promotion of applications and services and managing the R&D programmes on satellite navigation.
 
The GSA will be located in one of the Member States of the European Union. The decision on the final seat has not yet been taken and the GSA will remain provisionally located in Brussels (for a period that is currently expected to be at least until 2011).
 
All staff of the GSA has been attracted by the unique opportunity of contributing to make the most important project of technology innovation of the EU come true. The vast majority of staff was previously working in the private sector, mostly in competitive industries, and the GSA is applying the best world class practices.
Further details on the European satellite navigation programmes may be found at: http://www.gsa.europa.eu/
 
Job description
 
The Market Development - Project Officer will be integrated in specific project teams or will report directly to the Head of Market Development Department.
 
He/she shall carry out the tasks that will be assigned to him/her, in particular regarding the:
-analysis of downstream market segments to identify key developments, drivers and trends related to user needs and industry structure;
-contribution to the definition and implementation of strategies and action plans to accelerate the adoption of the European GNSS services in specific market segments, including through the use of the tools of the 7th R&D Framework Programme (FP7);
-contribution to the preparation of calls for proposals and the selection of FP7 R&D projects;
-technical monitoring of R&D projects and appraisal of results;
-dissemination of R&D results, including through the GNSS Knowledge Management Facility;
-support to the management of projects and studies, involving internal teams and/or contractors, including the definition of the scope of work, objectives, methodologies and planning, preparation of tender documentation, evaluation of bids, negotiation of contracts and ensuring the achievement of  objectives;
- contribution to the analysis of risks and the preparation or assessment of business cases; and
- participation in collaborative networks (e.g., innovation centres, user communities, service providers, other market agents) and in specific focus groups..
 
Furthermore, the Market Development - Project Officer will also contribute to other tasks of the Market Development Department, as necessary.
 
Qualifications and experience required
 
A. Eligibility criteria
·         A level of education which corresponds to  completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year;
·         Thorough knowledge of at least two languages of the European Union; and
·         Proven abilities to use electronic office equipment (word processing, spreadsheets, email, internet, etc.).
 
In addition, in order to be eligible a candidate must:
·         be a national of a Member State of the European Union;
·         be able to serve a full 3 year-term before reaching the retirement age of 65;
·         be able to obtain security clearance;
·         be entitled to his or her full rights as citizen;
·         have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws concerning military service;
·         meet the character requirements for the duties involved; and
·         be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.
 
 
B. Selection criteria
 
Essential
·         University degree in Engineering, Economics or Business Administration or in another science relevant to the job;
·         Experience relevant to the tasks described above;
·         Good analytical skills;
·         Project management skills; and
·         Good communication skills and fluency in English.
 
Advantageous

• Experience of business strategy consultancy;
• Experience in developing new products/services and/or business development activities;

·         Knowledge of the principles of satellite-based navigation;

• Knowledge of at least three languages of the European Union; and
• Knowledge of the institutional framework and functioning of the European Union.

 
Appointment and conditions of employment
 
Applications for the post of Market Development - Project Officer will be screened by a selection committee, which will present a short list to the appointing authority. This notice is the basis for the establishment of the selection committee’s proposal. Candidates should note that the proposal may be made public and that inclusion in the shortlist does not guarantee recruitment.
 
The jobholder will be recruited as Contractual Agent, Group IV, pursuant to the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities. The grade (13, 14, 16) will be determined in accordance with the number of years of experience of the successful candidate[2].
 
The basic monthly salary, before any deductions or allowances, at 1st September 2008 for grade 13, first step, is EUR 2.941,93, for grade 14, first step, is EUR 3.328,63 and for grade 16, first step, is EUR 4.261,20.
 
The contract will be for a two year-period and may be renewed.
 
Owing to the need for the Authority to quickly undertake all its duties, the successful candidate will be required to be available at reasonably short notice.
 
It is brought to the particular attention of candidates that the provisions of Articles 11 to 26 of the Staff Regulations, concerning the rights and obligations of officials, shall apply by analogy to contractual agents. These rules specify inter alia that:
 
“An official shall carry out his duties and conduct himself solely with the interests of the Communities in mind; he shall neither seek nor take instructions from any government, authority, organisation or person outside his institution. He shall carry out the duties assigned to him objectively, impartially and in keeping with his duty of loyalty to the Communities.
An official shall not without the permission of the appointing authority accept from any government or from any other source outside the institution to which he belongs any honour, decoration, favour, gift or payment of any kind whatever, except for services rendered either before his appointment or during special leave for military or other national service and in respect of such service.”
An official shall not, in the performance of his duties and save as hereinafter provided, deal with a matter in which, directly or indirectly, he has any personal interest such as to impair his independence, and in particular, family and financial interests.
An official may neither keep or acquire, directly or indirectly, in undertakings which are subject to the authority of the institutions to which he belongs or which have dealings with that institution, any interest of such kind or magnitude as might impair his independence in the performance of his duties.”
 
Therefore, the selected candidate will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act independently in the public interest and of any own or close interests which might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. 
 
Equal opportunities
 
The European Union takes great care to avoid any form of discrimination in its recruitment procedures and actively encourages applications from women.
 
Application procedure
 

 
For applications to be valid, candidates must submit:
·         a detailed curriculum vitae, in EU CV format[3];
·         a letter of motivation,
·         the eligibility and selection criteria grid (see attachment).
 

 
 
All documents must be submitted in Microsoft Word or Acrobat (pdf) format. The application will be rejected if the dossier is incomplete.
 
Supporting documents showing evidence of the information given in the application documents may be requested at a later stage.
 
No document will be sent back to candidates.
 
Candidates are invited to apply in English, to facilitate the selection process.
 
Applications must be sent to mailbox “jobs@gsa.europa.eu” by 3 December 2008 at 23:59 (Central European Time) at the latest, clearly indicating the vacancy reference number in the subject line. Candidates are reminded that a last-minute large amount of applications may overflow the mailbox, putting the latest applications at risk.
 
Candidates should expect to receive a reply to their e-mail, acknowledging receipt of their application, within one week of the above-mentioned deadline.
 
A reserve list shall be constituted, valid until 31st December 2009. The validity of the reserve list could be extended if the Authority’s Executive Director so decides. This call may be used for the recruitment on another post carrying the same profile as the one described above.

[1] http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/energy_transport/galileo/documents/official_en.htm

[2] Additional information on the conditions of employment of contractual agents can be obtained from the web site of the European Commission at the following address: http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/job/contract/index_en.htm (salaries are indicative as these are indexed on an annual basis).
[3] EU CV format available on:

http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/europass/home/hornav/Downloads/EuropassCV/CVTemplate.csp

Site: http://www.gsa.europa.eu
Deadline:03/12/2008

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