Project Management Coordinator - Knowledge sharing and Policy feedback

The European Climate, Environment and Infrastructure Executive Agency (CINEA) is the successor organization of the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA). Officially established on 15 February 2021, it started its activities on 1 April 2021. Its mission is to support stakeholders in delivering the European Green Deal through high-quality programme management that helps to implement projects contributing to decarbonisation and sustainable growth. CINEA implements parts of EU funding programmes for transport, energy and climate action: for the financial perspectives 2021-2027 the Agency has expanded its portfolio of programmes with strong focus on contributing to the European Commission’s Green Deal priority.

The main programmes managed by CINEA are:

• The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): supports high-performing, sustainable and interconnected Trans-European Networks.
• Horizon Europe: the EU’s Research and Innovation programme for which CINEA manages he areas of cluster on Climate, Energy and Mobility (Cluster 5).
• The Innovation Fund: one of the world’s largest climate innovation funding programmes, which is likely to have over €20 billion for demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies between 2020-2030.
• LIFE Programme: entirely dedicated to environmental, climate and clean energy objectives.
• European Maritime, Aquaculture and Fisheries Fund: targets public support for the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the Union’s Maritime Policy and the EU’s agenda for international ocean governance.
• The EU Renewable Energy Mechanism; and
• The Public Sector Loan Facility of the Just Transition Mechanism.

Working environment

CINEA is based in Brussels and has a multinational team of around 500 persons. The number of staff will grow further over the coming years with the Agency’s new portfolio and the purpose of this publication is therefore to set up a reserve list, which will be used to cover the growing needs of the Agency.

More information on CINEA

Website: https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/index_en

Twitter: @cinea_eu

LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3wtAjwd

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDic9AVxO1PP1SqoKbHMwrA

Description of the job

Working in the Innovation Fund Unit of the Agency’s Green Research and Innovation Department, under the supervision of a Head of Sector and the Head of Unit, the jobholder will lead on and coordinate the work of the team related to the development and implementation of the Knowledge Sharing and policy feedback framework under the Innovation Fund. As well, the jobholder will manage several projects directly. This will also include proposal evaluation, grant agreement preparation, project implementation and coordination of the policy feedback to Department management and the Commission on the projects’ and programme’s results.

The job will be placed in the thematic sector Programme development, CCS and Bioenergy, however the jobholder’s work will be closely linked with all sectors of the Unit.

The jobholder will also work closely and collaborate with a wider team of colleagues of the Agency and the European Commission, in particular with DG CLIMA.

General Programme Management

• Assist the Head of Sector and contribute in the planning, preparation and execution of the sector’s core activities related to the development and implementation of the Innovation Fund Knowledge Sharing Framework.
• Deputise for the Head of Sector in their absence, in relation to the relevant tasks.
• Contribute to drawing up, managing, implementing and evaluating the annual work plan of the Sector/Unit related to the Knowledge Sharing activities and related policy feedback.
• Lead on and coordinate the work of the team related to the development and implementation of the Innovation Fund Knowledge Sharing Framework and its activities. This will also involve close liaison and coordination with colleagues in charge of the efficient Innovation Fund data management, processing and business intelligence, ensuring synergies and coordinated approach to policy feedback within the Innovation Fund and across other relevant EU programmes managed by CINEA. This will involve regular contacts with other relevant units in CINEA, DG CLIMA, DG ENER, DG RTD, DG GROW, as well as with the business intelligence team of CINEA.
• Ensure that all team members are sufficiently aware and regularly informed on all relevant policy and strategic aspects affecting their work, and receive appropriate feedback on their actions, in relation to project’s Knowledge sharing and policy feedback activities.
• Conduct and/or coordinate conceptual and thematic reflections and lead processes to identify, define and implement appropriate Knowledge Sharing approaches; keep up-to-date and continuously optimise the internal procedures of the unit. Prepare briefings, presentations and speeches for management.
• Prepare briefings, presentations and speeches for management
• Represent the Unit in relevant working groups and contribute to efficient collaboration with the other sectors of the unit, other relevant units in CINEA and the parent DGs, as appropriate, and facilitate the exchange of experiences and good practices.
• Chairing meetings with stakeholders on project-related issues and making public presentations on the Agency’s work.

Specific Project Management

• Contribute to the evaluation process (e.g. expert selection, discussion moderation, quality checking)
• Manage projects (grant agreements, contracts or other types of actions). This includes grant agreement preparation, monitoring of the funded projects, approval of project deliverables, processing of amendments and payments, contacts with the coordinator, on-site reviews.
• Provide relevant technical guidance and support to team members.

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;
• Thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the Communities and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU language to the extent necessary to perform his/her duties.

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

• be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union;
• be entitled to his or her full rights as citizen;
• meet the appropriate character reference as to his/her suitability for the performance of his/her duties;
• have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws concerning military service, and;
• be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

Please note that only candidates that comply with the Eligibility criteria will be considered for further steps of this Selection procedure.

B. Selection Criteria

Essential:

• Very good understanding of the Knowledge sharing framework under the Innovation Fund and experience with providing policy feedback in related policy context.
• At least 3 years of project management experience in low-carbon innovation areas covered by the Innovation Fund.
• Education in a relevant field of engineering, science or economics, or proven professional experience demonstrating the necessary technical knowledge for the job (for example previous experience with similar assignments).
• Excellent knowledge of English (C2, in particular written and spoken).

Advantageous:

• At least 1 year of experience of verifying work done by others for compliance with procedures and rules.
• Additional relevant professional experience obtained conducting or managing innovation activities in areas covered by the Innovation Fund.
• Additional relevant professional experience in project management and the oversight of larger clusters of projects.
• Familiarity with the EU’s climate, energy and innovation policies.
• Knowledge of other European Union languages, in particular German and/or French (B2).

Personal qualities essential for the position (evaluated during the interview):

• High degree of organisational skills and ability to work under pressure;
• Good interpersonal and communication skills;
• Proven ability to work as a team member;
• Ability to appreciate and follow priorities.

The Agency will invite to an interview and written test phase the best candidates, with a maximum of 10 candidates.

Appointment and conditions of employment

The jobholder will be appointed on the basis of a shortlist proposed by the selection committee.

The jobholder will be recruited as temporary agent, in function group AD5, pursuant to Article 2f of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities (CEOS). The salaries of temporary agents are subject to a community tax deducted at source. They are exempt from national tax. The European institutions have their own social security and pension scheme. The basic monthly salary, before any deductions or allowances, at 1 July 2021 for grade AD5, first step is € 5.010,72.

The jobholder will serve a probation period of nine months.

The initial contract will be for a duration of 2 years and may be renewed.

The place of employment will be Brussels where the Agency has its activities.

For further information on the legal framework of temporary agents see the web site of the Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security (DG HR) on the internet at http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1962R0031:20140101:EN:PDF

Equal opportunities

The European Union institutions apply a policy of equal opportunities and accept applications without discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Application procedure

For applications to be valid, candidates must submit:

• a detailed curriculum vitae, in EU CV format[1];
• a letter of motivation, including his/her views on the mission of the proposed position (2 pages maximum).

Please note that the motivation letter forms an essential basis for the pre-selection decision.

Applications must only be sent through the recruitment online system.

Closing date: applications must be sent no later than11th February 2022 midnight.

Supporting documents showing evidence of the provided information 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.

In no circumstances should candidates approach the selection committee themselves, either directly or indirectly concerning this recruitment. The authority authorised to conclude contracts reserves itself the right to disqualify any candidate who disregards these instructions.

Selection procedure

A - Written test (30 min)

A case study in English designed to test:

• your knowledge in the field of the profile,
• your ability to understand, analyse and summarise,
• your drafting ability.

This test will be marked out of 40 (pass mark: 20).

Time allowed: 30 minutes.

B – Oral test (30 min)

Interview with a selection board in English to assess:

• your suitability to carry out the duties
• your specialist knowledge in the area of call and programme management;
• your communication, inter-personal and problem-solving skills;
• your general knowledge about the Agency and related policies;
• your motivation and your ability to adjust to working as a Temporary Agent in a multicultural environment.

This test will be marked out of 100 (pass mark: 50).

Both the oral and written tests will be combined on a total of 140. Pass mark: 91 out of 140.

The candidates will be sitting the written test all together.

Candidates receiving at least the pass mark (91 out 140), all tests combined, will be included in the reserve list of suitable candidates. Please note that inclusion in the reserve list does not guarantee recruitment.

The Agency may have a second interview with the candidates in the reserve list.

Information to candidates

An acknowledgement of receipt will be sent to all candidates by email to confirm the reception of their application.

All candidates will be informed in due time about the processing of their application, either they are invited for the selection procedure as described above or not. These notifications will be sent by email only.

A candidate may request clarifications about the processing of his/her application by sending an email quoting the reference of the vacancy notice concerned, at the following address CINEA-HR-RECRUITMENT@ec.europa.eu

Means of Redress

A. Request for review

Candidates may request a review of any decision taken by the Selection Committee that establishes their results and/or determines whether they can proceed to the next stage of the selection procedure or are excluded. Requests for review may be based on:

• a material irregularity in the selection process; and/or
• non-compliance, by the Selection Committee, with the Staff Regulations, the vacancy notice of the selection procedure, its annexes and/or case law.

Candidates are not allowed to challenge the validity of the Selection Committee’s assessment of the quality of their performance in a test or the relevance of qualifications and professional experience. This assessment is a value judgment made by the Selection Committee and disagreement with the Selection Committee’s evaluation of tests, experience and/or qualifications does not prove that it has made an error. Requests for review submitted on this basis will not lead to a positive outcome.

Candidates may ask for a request for review within 15 calendar days of the date on the email notifying the rejection of his/her application, indicating clearly the decision that he/she wish to contest and on what grounds. The request should be addressed to the Chairman of the Selection Committee, quoting the number of the selection procedure concerned at the following address: CINEA-HR-RECRUITMENT@ec.europa.eu . Requests received after the deadline will not be taken into account.

Candidates who asked for a request for review will receive an acknowledgment of receipt within 15 working days. The Selection Committee will analyse and decide on the request and candidates will receive a reasoned reply as soon as possible.

B. Other forms of contestation

Candidates may address an administrative complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations to the Director of CINEA acting as the appointing authority.

Candidates may submit a complaint against a decision, or lack thereof, that directly and immediately affects their legal status as a candidate, only if the rules governing the selection procedure have clearly been infringed. The Director of CINEA cannot overturn a value judgment made by a Selection Committee.

Candidates may submit their administrative complaint by contacting CINEA within three months of notification of the contested decision or of the date by which a decision should have been made.

The request, indicating clearly the decision that the candidate wish to contest and on what grounds and quoting the number of the selection procedure concerned, should be sent to the following address: CINEA-HR-RECRUITMENT@ec.europa.eu. Requests received after the deadline will not be taken into account.

Candidates may submit a judicial appeal to the General Court, under Article 270 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 91 of the Staff Regulations.

Note that appeals against decisions taken by CINEA’s appointing authority rather than by the Selection Committee will not be admissible before the General Court unless an administrative complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations has first been made (see section B.1 Administrative complaints).

For the arrangements for judicial appeals please consult the website of the General Court (http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/).

Candidates, like all EU citizens and residents, may submit a complaint to the Ombudsman. Before submitting a complaint to the Ombudsman, candidates must first make the appropriate administrative approaches to the institutions and bodies concerned (see section B.1 Administrative complaints).

Making a complaint to the Ombudsman does not extend the deadlines for lodging administrative complaints or judicial appeals.

For the arrangements for complaints to the Ombudsman please consult the website of the European Ombudsman (http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/).

Data protection

The purpose of processing of the data submitted by candidates is to manage the applications in view of a possible pre-selection and recruitment at the CINEA. The personal information requested from candidates will be processed in line with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data.

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