Head of Unit – Knowledge Management & Communications

Ref. number


Closing date

26 April 2015, 23:00 Europe/Vilnius

Published date

02 March 2015

The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE)[1] is organising a call for applications with a view to establishing a reserve list for a Head of Unit – Knowledge Management & Communications.

The registration of applications will begin on 3 March 2015 and will close on 6 April 2015 at 23:00 Eastern European Time. The closing date for applications has been extended until 26 April 2015 at 23:00 Eastern European Time.


Vacancy notice


Maximum n° on reserve list


Head of Unit

Knowledge Management & Communications



1. The Institute


To achieve its goals, the Institute collects and analyses comparable and reliable information at EU level and develops appropriate methodological tools for the integration of gender equality into all EU policies. It fosters the exchange of good practices and dialogue between stakeholders and raises EU citizen awareness of this policy area by providing technical assistance to EU institutions, in particular the European Commission, as well as the authorities of the Member States.

In the course of its work to promote and strengthen gender equality, EIGE strives to eliminate gender discrimination.

2. The post

2.1 Profile

Reporting to the Director and working in close collaboration with other management and non-management colleagues, the jobholder will enhance the knowledge management and communications capacity of the Institute.

The post is responsible for a team of around ten agents encompassing the communications function, the Resource and Documentation Centre (RDC), EIGE publications as well as stakeholders and networking. Essential to success in this role is the ability to work with a wide range of people with sensitivity and integrity and to demonstrate a collaborative approach in developing and leading the Unit.

2.2 Duties

The post-holder will assume the following main duties:

  • leading the Unit’s strategic planning with appropriate monitoring tools, reports and working procedures and setting priorities for, and sustaining the motivation of, a diverse multidisciplinary team;
  • coordinating and reviewing the concept, structure, support teams and quality assurance system of the Institute’s RDC;
  • support the work of the electronic European Network on Gender Equality, ensuring its value as a communication tool in line with allocated resources;
  • contributing to the estimates of the Institute's annual budget allocation to the areas of responsibility pertaining to this post and overseeing related expenditure;
  • communicating clearly and effectively technical information to a variety of audiences (including both general and specialist media), drawing on a broad experience in gender equality matters;
  • developing and maintaining effective relations with key media and other communications intermediaries;
  • planning and coordinating EIGE’s activities with EU presidencies in the frame of its multi-annual work programme strategy;
  • developing and maintaining effective communication channels and relations with key stakeholders at EU and national levels in support of EIGE’s communication activities and initiatives
  • overseeing related procurement, financial procedures and related contracts in compliance with EU regulations.

3. Qualifications and experience required

3.1 Formal requirements

To be considered eligible for selection, an applicant must, by the closing date of this call:

  • have a university degree[2] which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more, or have 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;
  • have a good command, both spoken and written, of at least two official EU languages;
  • be a national of a Member State of the EU;
  • enjoy full rights as an EU citizen;
  • have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the national laws concerning military service, and
  • be physically fit to perform duties.[3]

3.2 Selection criteria


  • At least 12 years professional experience gained after the award of the relevant qualification of which eight years were acquired in positions which reflect the duties as defined in Section 2.
  • Ability to render complex gender equality issues into clear and effective messages and presentations.
  • Proven record of work with mainstream European media relevant to the Institute’s principal area of competence.
  • Good understanding of EU policies and priorities related to gender equality.
  • Excellent written English which is the Institute’s predominant working language.
  • Notable presentation and communication skills.
  • Strong organisational and administrative skills, including the ability to apply appropriate leadership in order to manage priorities, work under pressure and maintain effective communication with colleagues at all levels of the organisation.


  • Experience of managing public affairs in complex working environments at EU or international level.
  • Knowledge of financial and procurement rules and procedures applicable to EU institutions and bodies.

4. Selection procedure

The selection procedure includes the following steps:

  • Eligible applications will be evaluated by the appointed Selection Committee based on selection criteria defined in this vacancy notice. Depending on the number of applications received, the Selection Committee may apply stricter requirements within the selection criteria noted above.
  • The best-admissible candidates will be short-listed for interview.
  • Interviews and written tests will be in English.
  • On the day of interview candidates will be requested to present originals and copies of documents detailing citizenship, studies and professional experience, in particular:
    • a copy of identity card, passport or other official document specifying citizenship;
    • a copy of diploma certifying a required level of academic qualifications;

Copies of these documents will be retained by the Institute.

  • Successful candidates will be included in a reserve list which will be valid for 12 months. The validity of this list may be extended. Each candidate will be informed by letter whether or not s/he has been placed on the reserve list. However inclusion of candidates on the reserve list does not guarantee recruitment.
  • The Director of the Institute will appoint the selected jobholder from the reserve list, taking into account the establishment of a gender balanced, geographically diverse organisation.

The internal proceedings of the Selection Committee are strictly confidential and any contact with its members is strictly forbidden. Soliciting on behalf of a candidate can lead to immediate disqualification.

For applications to be valid, candidates must complete an EIGE application form.

EIGE application form (.doc)

It is to be forwarded electronically to eige.hr@eige.europa.eu. The subject title should include the vacancy reference number.

Applicants are requested not to attach any supporting documents at this stage, e.g. copies of ID cards, diplomas, evidence of previous professional experience, etc. Only candidates invited to an interview will be asked to present copies of these documents for verification. Applications will not be returned to candidates but will be kept on file by the Institute in line with its data protection guidelines.

Please note that the time period between the closing date for the submission of applications and the end of the process to short list candidates for the interview may take several weeks.

Due to the large volume of applications only candidates selected for the interviews will be contacted.

5. Conditions of employment

The place of employment shall be Vilnius, Lithuania. For reasons related to the Institute’s operational requirements, the chosen candidate will be expected to be available at short notice. An AD 9 Temporary Agent contract under Article 2f pursuant to the conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities shall be offered, subject to a nine month probation period. The duration of the contract will be three years and may be renewed.

The pay of the Temporary Agents consists of the basic remuneration as well as various allowances[4] depending on personal situation of the jobholder. For information, the current gross basic salary of the first step in the applicable first grade, before deductions and the correction coefficient weighting of 71.4% for Lithuania, is approximately €7,185. The applicable grade could be higher depending on the length of experience of the chosen candidate. Remuneration will be paid in € (Euro). Salaries are subject to tax at source but are exempt from national taxation. Deductions are also made for medical insurance, pension and unemployment insurance.

The job holder shall work in a multicultural environment where social dialogue between management and staff, including representatives of the staff, is regarded as vital. The Institute is fully computerised and working time is based around flexitime and core working hours.

6. Independence & declarations of interest

The job holder will be required to enter into a commitment to act independently in the public interest and to make complete declarations of any direct or indirect interests that might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. Candidates must confirm their willingness to do so in their application.

7. Equal opportunities

The Institute applies a policy of equal opportunities and accepts applications without distinction on any grounds.

8. Appeal procedures






Further details on appeals.

9. Protection of personal data



10. Lithuania & life in Vilnius

Lithuania is a member of the Schengen Area and it borders Latvia, Belarus, Poland and the Kaliningrad region of Russia. Its western coastline - noted for its fine beaches, dunes and majestic pines - straddles the Baltic Sea. Vilnius is Lithuania's capital with an estimated population of just over half a million citizens. Lithuanian summers are sunny and warm with an average temperature of +17 C. Winter is white and generally cold with average temperatures that hover around – 4 C.

In addition to ample green spaces, Vilnius has impressive Baroque, Gothic, Renaissance and Russian architecture as well as one of Europe's largest medieval old towns, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1994. A university city since the Middle Ages, Vilnius is the centre of the country's politics, business, science, culture and entertainment and it attracts an increasingly varied assortment of local and international events. In addition to hosting a number of international schools, it has a well-developed infrastructure and ambitious future plans.

Further information is available here: http://www.vilnius-tourism.lt/en/tourism.



[3] Before recruitment, the applicant will be medically examined for the purposes of Article 12(2) (d) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities.

[4] For example: expatriation allowance, management allowance (after successful completion of probation), household allowance, education allowance, dependent child allowance, etc.