Expert in Networking and Stakeholder Communications position at EEA

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is organising an open competition with a view to recruiting an expert to work within the area of networking and stakeholder communications, and further with a view to establishing a reserve list.

The Agency

The EEA is an Agency of the European Union (EU) and one of the decentralised Union bodies. The EEA aims to support sustainable development and to help achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe’s environment, through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policy-making agents and the public.

The position requires an in-depth understanding of the Agency, its role within the EU context and of relations with Eionet, as well as an ability to carry out and contribute to long-term communication planning and communication with stakeholders in the Eionet network and beyond. It is part of the core communication tasks, contributing to a priority work area in the EEA communication framework. This expert will work with contractors and is key to ensuring continuity and coherence in external communications and stability to communication networking activities over time.

Job description

Under the responsibility of the Head of Group ‘Media Relations, Social Media and Web’, reporting to the Head of Programme ‘Communications’ (see organisational chart), the expert shall be responsible for strengthening the EEA’s communication network and relations with stakeholders with the aim of increasing the overall impact of the EEA’s messages and outputs.

The position will entail the following tasks:

• Developing and coordinating the EEA’s external communication networks, with a key focus on Eionet communications group;
• Contributing to the conception, planning and implementation of communication projects across EEA countries, including the country outreach efforts for the EEA’s flagship report(s),
• Coordinating contracts with external providers as well as internal project management;
• Proposing and implementing improvements to short- and long-term relations with new and current stakeholders essential for external communication;
• Exploring partnerships to hold joint activities and events, with a possible view to increase the EEA’s visibility among new target audiences;
• Supporting other external communication activities and projects;
• Contributing to strategic communication work (e.g. defining long-term vision and goals) to enhance the EEA brand and communication activities.

Elegibility criteria

Candidates applying must satisfy the following eligibility criteria on the closing date for the submission of applications:

a) Successful completion of university studies attested by a degree relevant in the field concerned of at least 3 years;
b) A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional experience after achieving the qualification set out above.

In addition, in order to be eligible a candidate must:

• Be a national of one of the member countries of the EEA (Member States of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey);
• Enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by law concerning military service;
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the EEA member countries and a satisfactory knowledge of another of these languages (corresponding to level B.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages CEFR);
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

Candidates should assess carefully and check before submitting their application whether they fulfil all the conditions for admission laid down in the vacancy notice, particularly in terms of qualifications and relevant professional experience.

Essential Selection Criteria:

• Proven and relevant professional skills, experience and performance related to the above-mentioned duties and responsibilities in the job description;
• Proven experience with coordinating diverse communication activities, such as those across several countries, involving different audiences ranging from technical to non-expert;
• Proven professional experience in designing and managing complex communication projects from conceptualisation to evaluation;
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating and managing networks of experts and stakeholders;
• Very good understanding of different stakeholders’ needs and experience in the application of relevant communication and planning tools to meet these needs;
• Good understanding of and working experience with evolving networks and public engagement tools and trends in order to achieve impactful communications;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English language, at least at level C1 in all categories according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language.

More information: European Environment Agency