Vacancy at the ESPON Coordination Unit in Luxembourg

Applied research projects and targeted analysis based on ESPON results will be carried through by contracting Transnational Project Groups composed of scientists and consultants. The scientific platform for the European applied territorial research shall be further developed, including the ESPON 2013 Database as well as territorial indicators and a system for monitoring dynamics. The awareness and capitalisation of comparable information on European regions shall be boosted through events at European and transnational level. The budget of the ESPON 2013 Programme is 47 million Euros in total.

All 27 EU Member States as well as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein are partners in the programme, which is managed by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructures in Luxembourg. The European Commission is playing an active advisory role during the programme implementation.

You can find more detailed information about the ESPON 2013 Programme and existing ESPON achievements and results on www.espon.eu.

The ESPON Coordination Unit (CU)
The ESPON Coordination Unit is responsible for the day-to-day programme implementation and management. In addition, the CU performs as the interlocutor synthesising and presenting key scientific results for the policy development. The CU provides support to the Monitoring Committee, the Managing Authority, the Audit Authority and the Concertation Committee.

The ESPON CU offers a challenging international environment, working with all countries of the European Union and some neighbouring countries, using the English language in all communication. The ESPON CU has currently a staff of 13 persons plus trainees.

The work in the CU is organised in 3 clusters, each dealing with a key area of the implementation of the ESPON 2013 Programme. One cluster deals with matters concerning the programme, finance and budget. A second cluster takes care of project development and coordination and implementation related to Priority 1 and 2 of the ESPON 2013 Operational Programme. 
Each cluster is coordinated by a project expert who also is acting as cluster coordinator. The cluster coordinator carries out his/her tasks in collaboration with the other 2 clusters and the director. 
Each cluster is composed of a number of staff members. Each staff member is allocated to one particular cluster. Normally each staff is also directly contributing to tasks related to a second cluster.

The vacant post covers the position of a project expert and cluster coordinator and is related to the third cluster that supports the capitalisation of ESPON results including elaboration of publications and analysis. These activities shall ensure the implementation of Priority 3 and 4 of the ESPON Programme.

Carrying through the ESPON 2013 Programme implies, apart from the regular work at the CU premises, some travelling in order to take part in meetings outside Luxembourg, often in Bruxelles as well as in other countries participating in the ESPON Programme.

The Coordination Unit is currently located in Esch-sur-Alzette, 19 km south-west of Luxembourg City with easy access by car or by train. The railway station is only 10 minutes walk away from the CU premises. Beginning of 2011 the CU is envisaged to move to Luxembourg - Kirchberg, where many European Institutions are located.

Your general profile
Staff in the ESPON CU needs to be dynamic team players, willing and used to work and cooperate closely and well coordinated with colleagues in achieving common objectives. In doing so, important assets are the capability of showing initiative, taking responsibility, and a solution oriented attitude.

Your personal profile includes: skills in communication and in presenting complex messages orally and in written form in an easy understandable way. Ability to propose solutions to issues arising from analytical, administrative, legal or cultural differences is here an important asset. You are quick in understanding and you have good analytical skills. You are focused on seeing possibilities and in solving problems and conflicts. You have administrative flair and are able to work in a multi-cultural environment with a constructive working approach. You can work autonomously and you are systematic and well organised.

You are fluent in both oral and written English. Any additional language skills will be considered an asset. You possess good computers skills in using MS Office, including Excel, Access, and Power Point, and you are well-experienced in using the Internet.

Job indication
You will as project expert be dealing capitalisation and promotion of ESPON results. In doing so you will follow the ESPON project development in general in order to be able to synthesise and communicate orally and in written the territorial evidence produced to a wide range of audiences such as policy makers on the regional, national and EU level as well as scientist.

You will be involved in the drafting and steering the production of ESPON publications and material, and in this context eventually carry through analysis based on ESPON results. In addition, you will be responsible expert on a number of ESPON projects both on applied research and targeted analysis.

Your work as project expert and cluster coordinator also encompasses administrative processes and procedures for calls for proposals and public procurement.

Your particular role as cluster coordinator is to coordinate the current cluster on Capitalisation, Publications and Analysis, which currently involve 3 other experts. The role as cluster coordinator is to support the coordination of capitalisation tasks mainly related to the ESPON 2013 Programme Priorities 3 (Scientific platform and Tools) and 4 (Capitalisation, ownership and participation) together with the team of colleagues.

The role of the cluster coordinators can be summarised as follows:

• Together with the two other Cluster Coordinators support the Director in ensuring a coordinated implementation of the ESPON 2013 Programme in a simple and efficient manner.
• Within the overall framework set out for the programme implementation by the Director to define targets and timetables as well as support a smooth organisation of the work of the cluster.
• To promote a balanced sharing of the burden of work within the cluster, and where appropriate, facilitate a balanced attribution of tasks.
• To develop and monitor the execution of a rolling detailed work plan for the cluster, in agreement with the other cluster members, and in interaction with the overall planning for the programme implementation by the CU.
• To support and advice members of the cluster in particular when dealing with sensitive/difficult issues and to act as a mentor to new arrivals into the team.
• To organise regular meetings of the cluster and represent the cluster in coordination meetings with the Director.

In terms of competences and responsibility, the Director has the full responsibility for the programme implementation and as such he shall in principle validate all decisions. Competence and responsibility can however be delegated to cluster coordinators in coordination and agreement with the Director. Human resource matters are in the responsibility of the Director.

The cluster for Capitalisation, Publications and Analysis ensures the implementation of media related activities and prepare ESPON publications as well as a number of activities promoting the awareness of European territorial dynamics at European and transnational level. In relation to the external communication it is envisaged that you are responsible for ensuring the publishing of the ESPON newsletter.

The cluster also deals with capitalisation through the implementation of Transnational Activities carried through by the network of ESPON Contact Points. Moreover, the cluster is dealing with the development of the ESPON scientific platform, which includes the ESPON Database, working with territorial indicators, the development of a Territorial Monitoring system as well as with trend analyses based on indicator updates and with mapping tools and methodological issues.

Your specific qualifications and experiences
You have a minimum of 5 years of relevant working experience, preferably related to territorial development, spatial planning and/or regional policy. You are familiar with European policy development in the context of EU Cohesion Policy and territorial cohesion.

You hold a relevant degree at university level.

In order to fit the vacant post the best possible, your overall qualifications and experiences should be substantial on the large majority of the following points:

• Communicating research themes and applying research results in a policy context.
• Scientific work and practice in synthesising scientific results extracting main messages relevant for policy making.
• Oral presentation experience in English language such as to policy makers at regional, national and/or EU level and to scientists.
• Profound drafting skills in English language gained e.g. in consulting and/or applied research.
• Know-how and experience in coordinating complex processes and in planning a multitude of activities involving and supporting small teams of colleagues.
• Administrative flair and know-how ideally in procedures related to Structural Funds and clear understanding of the necessity of complying rules and regulations.
• Processes of elaborating publications involving cooperation with externalised graphic lay-out and printing.

You must in your application demonstrate evidence for your level of compliance with these different points.

Applying for the post
Your application shall include a brief letter expressing your motivation, your expectations and qualifications in relation to the post as well as your Curriculum Vitae including the main details concerning your professional experience and educational back ground of relevance for the post and the personal and language skills you may bring.

In case you are selected for the post you will be asked to present certified copies of your degree/diplomas as part of the contracting.

In case you want to apply for the vacant post as Project Expert/Cluster Coordinator please send your application including your CV by e-mail to  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Deadline for submitting an application is 22 March 2010 at 16.00.

Selection procedure
The selection of the best applicants will involve a Selection Committee normally including representatives of the ESPON Monitoring Committee, the European Commission as well as the ESPON Managing Authority and the Coordination Unit. External support for the selection may be organised.

The general profile and the targeted qualifications indicated in the job specifications above will be used as criteria for a first screening and selection of the best qualified candidates, which will be invited for an interview.

All interviews will take place in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. The interviews will include a written test as well as an oral interview with the Selection Committee.

In the selection process the ESPON CU applies a policy of equal gender. Currently, male applicants will have an advantage in case of equally qualified candidates.

Conditions
You will be contracted until the end of 2013, if you are selected. A highly competitive salary will be paid with regard to your experience. Special remunerations for the task as cluster coordinator will be available. In addition, please be aware that the general tax level in Luxembourg is low compared to other European countries.

Further information
You can get further information about the vacant post and the ESPON Coordination Unit as well as on living conditions in Luxembourg by contacting the Director, Peter Mehlbye, or the Office Administrator/Financial Assistant, Caroline Clause, on +352 54 55 80 700.