Senior Specialist - The Hague, Nederland - Europol

Beschrijving

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

This selection procedure is intended to establish a reserve list of successful candidates. It is envisaged to start using the reserve list in Q3/Q4 of 2024.

Europol retains the right to make use of the reserve list to select candidates for similar posts within the organisation, should business needs require so.

Organisational setting:

The post of Senior Specialist - Head of Team – Drugs Operational Coordination is located in the EU Drugs Unit, European Serious and Organised Crime Centre, Operations Directorate.

The Operations Directorate deals with the core business of Europol, improving the effectiveness and cooperation of the competent authorities in the Member States (MS) in preventing and combating serious and organised crime, as well as terrorism affecting the MS. This requires close cooperation with the Liaison Bureaux at Europol and via them with the Operational Teams in the MS.

Europol delivers a number of products and services to national law enforcement agencies to support them in their fight against international serious and organised crime, as well as terrorism.

The Operations Directorate hosts five distinct Departments: Operational and Analysis Centre, European Serious Organised Crime Centre, European Cyber Crime Centre, European Counter Terrorism Centre and the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre.

The European Serious Organised Crime Centre (ESOCC) is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of Europol's tasks and objectives in supporting MS investigations of serious and organised crime. It includes the European Migrant Smuggling Centre, which covers facilitation of Illegal Immigration and Trafficking in Human Beings.

The main tasks of ESOCC are to:

• Provide operational support to prioritised cases and High Value Target (HVT) investigations;

• Coordinate the implementation of the HVT/Operational Task Force (OTF) concept in Europol;

• Support the implementation of EMPACT (European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threat) priorities;

• Support the development of the strategic intelligence picture on serious and organised crime.

Purpose of the post:

The incumbent will supervise, coordinate and give guidance to the Drugs Operational Coordination Team and be responsible for the development of the activities related to fighting international drugs production, supply and distribution, with a focus on operational, strategical and analytical support to MS priority investigations. S/he will be also responsible for the implementation and further development of the Operational Task Force concept in the area of international drug related organised crime.

This will be achieved by supporting MS investigations and operations, providing a high level of expert guidance, identifying requirements of the competent authorities, proposing initiatives and delivering timely, relevant products and services to Europol stakeholders.

In addition, the holder of the position supports the activities of EMPACT dedicated to the respective EU law enforcement priorities.

Reporting lines:

The incumbent reports to the Head of the EU Drugs Unit.

Job environment:

This post might require participation in a shift system including weekends and nights as well as on-call duty.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

The incumbent carries out the following main functions and duties:
General Head of Team responsibilities

• Coordinate the work of a group of individuals by effective and efficient planning, prioritisation, and scheduling of tasks and responsibilities;

• Monitor progress of work in line with key performance indicators; ensure work being produced is of high quality and meets business needs; apply corrective measures where needed;

• Define and supervise the accurate and timely execution of processes and procedures to ensure adherence to corporate policies, fundamental rights, standards and data protection regulations;

• Set clear expectations and objectives and direct work towards a common goal;

• Identify, address and propose resolutions to issues affecting the team;

• Provide constructive feedback, guidance and support and coach team members;

• Encourage continuous learning and development of team members;

• Create an open, honest and inclusive team culture with respect for diversity, where team members are encouraged to perform at their best.
Specific responsibilities

• Promote information flow and enhance Europol's ability to exploit criminal intelligence with the aim of supporting drug related organised crime investigations of the MS;

• Ensure the delivery of operational, strategic and analytical support by the Drugs Operational Coordination Team to priority operational and strategic activities and investigations from MS and third parties aimed at fighting international drugs production, supply, distribution and related high risk organised crime groups affecting the EU and its internal security, including horizontal support from other Europol specialised Units;

• Support the Head of the EU Drugs Unit and Head of Department ESOCC in the implementation, monitoring and development of the HVT/OTF concept and related policies and act as Europol's point of contact for participating MS and third countries;

• Promote a holistic operating model related to the criminal investigations on drugs related organised crime related to high-risk criminal networks, utilizing the HVT/OTF concept and other procedures that focus on detecting the criminal activities of the individuals who pose the highest security risk and the criminal groups and networks they form;

• Lead or take a key role in project-oriented activities, including the activities of EMPACT drug priorities, with a specific emphasis on international criminal networks involve in drugs production and supply affecting the EU;

• Identify opportunities, initiate and assist the production of analytical reports (operational, tactical and strategic) and other relevant intelligence products;

• Establish close contacts with the MS and third-party Liaison Officers to encourage and support operational activities in the field of responsibility;

• Support the Head of Unit with regard to planning and implementation of operational support initiatives, as well as in policy development and other strategic matters in the field of drug related organised crime;

• Support the Head of Unit to promote the achievement of Europol's objectives in the area of drug related crime by supporting case prioritization processes, monitoring workflows, maintaining the Unit's service delivery and reporting on results and activities;

• Represent Europol at specialised events, organize and facilitate working groups, meetings or conferences to increase awareness and provide expert knowledge and advice in the area of drug related organised crime;

• Perform any other duties in the area of competence as assigned by line management.

REQUIREMENTS - ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Eligibility criteria

a. Candidates must

• Be a member of a competent authority within the meaning of the Article 2(a) of the Europol Regulation and enjoy full rights as a citizen of a Member State;

• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws on military service;

• Produce appropriate character references as to his or her suitability for the performance of the duties;

• Be physically fit to perform the duties pertaining to the post as further specified in Article 13 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS);

• Produce evidence of a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the Union and a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the Union to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties.

b. Candidates must have

• A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more;
OR

• A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is at least three years;
OR

• Professional training of an equivalent level in a relevant area (e.g. Police Officer's School) and after having completed the training, at least the number of years of relevant professional experience as indicated below:

Duration of professional training Professional experience
More than 6 months and up to 1 year 4 years
More than 1 year and up to 2 years 3 years
More than 2 years and up to 3 years 2 years
More than 3 years 1 year

• In addition to the above at least 6 years of total professional work experience gained after the award of the diploma.

Selection criteria

a. Professional experience
Essential:

• Experience in developing, coordinating and conducting serious and organised crime investigations, especially in relation to fighting international drug related organised crime, preferably of at least 7 years;

• Experience in managing or coordinating staff, preferably investigation teams conducting international drug-related organised crime investigations;

• Experience in international law enforcement cooperation in the area of drug related organised crime;

• Experience in producing reports and policy papers of operational and strategic nature.

Desirable:

• Experience in participating in or coordinating multi-disciplinary investigation teams or OTFs, investigating serious and organised crime at domestic or European level;

• Experience in the development of covert type of investigations by utilising special law enforcement tactics and techniques;

• Experience in international maritime law enforcement operations specifically aimed at fighting international drugs trafficking at the sea;

• Project management experience.

b. Professional knowledge
Essential:

• Sound knowledge of the law enforcement environment and practices at international level in the area of organised crime, and drugs in particular;

• Sound knowledge in international strategic co-operation instruments and policy developments, in relation to drugs;

• Sound knowledge of developing and conducting investigations and coordinating international complex operations with regard to drugs;

• Knowledge of the EU and Europol legal framework, in relation to organised crime/drugs.

c. General competencies
Essential:
Communicating:

• Excellent communication skills in English, both orally and in writing;

• Excellent presentation skills;

• Ability to draft clear and concise documents on complex matters for various audiences.
Analysing & problem solving:

• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;

• Structured approach to work aimed at getting results;

• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the internet.
Delivering quality and results:

• High degree of commitment and flexibility;

• High level of customer and service-orientation.

Prioritising and organising:

• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to plan own work load, establish clear priorities and exercise initiative;

• Ability to manage projects and familiarity with project management terminology and methodology.
Resilience:

• Strong ability to work well both independently and in a team;

• Very good interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively liaise with other departments, groups and teams as well as with external partners;

• Ability to remain effective under a heavy workload and demonstrate resistance to stress.
Living diversity:

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers in an international and multi-disciplinary work environment.
Advising:

• Ability to synthesise various data into a coherent and relevant whole, transforming it into a valuable and correct conclusion;

• Building constructive relationships with clients, adequately identifying and managing their needs and expectations, and giving well-grounded advice;
Team supervision:

• Ability to manage a diverse team including the ability to motivate staff, effectively plan and monitor the work of other staff members and to provide guidance.

d. Additional conditions:

Fulfil the condition stipulated in Article 5 of the Decision of the Executive Director on the Duration of contracts of employment for Temporary Agents, on the start date of the possible contract of employment which may be offered.