Legal Advisers, Legal & Executive Affairs

Role Description 

ESA is recruiting a Legal Adviser to join its Legal and Executive Affairs Department (LEA) in September 2024 and is establishing a reserve list of candidates to be considered for all fixed-term Legal Adviser vacancies arising during the coming two years. We are looking for EEA/EU law generalists with the ability to specialise in subject areas such as internal market, competition or State aid law.

Within ESA, LEA is responsible for providing legal advice and support with regard to policy formulation, co-ordination and communication. The Department reviews all decisions of ESA and conducts litigation before the EFTA Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Day-to-day work covers all aspects of EEA law including internal market, State aid and competition law as well as the implementation and application of EEA law in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

LEA is responsible for managing ESA’s formal decision-making process, including ensuring the adoption of decisions by College in compliance with ESA’s procedural rules. LEA also hosts the Communications Team, the Registry and Library. ESA’s Data Protection Officer is a member of the LEA team.

The role of Legal Adviser is a unique opportunity to handle a wide range of challenging and high-profile cases. It should appeal in particular to eloquent, dynamic and self-motivated lawyers who enjoy analysing legal problems while at the same time being interested in policy formulation and implementation at both national and European level.

The successful candidates will be responsible for the legal review of ESA’s draft decisions and will be called to act as agents before the EFTA Court, CJEU and other courts. Legal Advisers work in close cooperation with case-handlers in the other departments of ESA and with Members of the College.

A Legal Adviser may be assigned responsibility for maintaining an overview of cases and relevant legal developments in each of the participating States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) as a country coordinator. They use their knowledge of the legal order, national administration and language of the State to guide ESA’s stance, as well as enabling ESA to proactively engage with national counterparts to ensure effective application of EEA law. For the first vacancy arising in September, we are looking for a lawyer who will be assigned responsibility for maintaining this overview for Liechtenstein, alongside their other tasks as Legal Adviser.

The following are essential: 

• University degree in law, or recognised equivalent qualification in law
• At least 5 years’ relevant professional experience in the private or the public sector
• Experience in litigation
• Broad specialist expertise in substantive, institutional and procedural EEA and EU law
• Capacity and willingness to take a stance and formulate concrete recommendations on complex legal issues, coupled with sound judgment and diplomacy
• Excellent organisational, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
• Initiative and the ability to work both independently and in a team in an international environment
• Excellent command of written and spoken English (ESA’s working language), as well as proven legal drafting ability

For Legal Advisers with country coordinator responsibility:

• Familiarity with the legal system, economy and national administration of the State
• Good understanding of the relevant EEA EFTA language (Norwegian, Icelandic or German)

The following are desirable: 

• Postgraduate degree in EEA or EU law
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the functioning of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and of the EEA EFTA States
• Relevant professional experience involving national authorities, administrations, the EU institutions and agencies, or international organisations and courts
• Familiarity with the legal system, economy and national administrations of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
• Good understanding of Norwegian, Icelandic or German (the EEA EFTA languages)
• Good understanding of French (working language of the Court of Justice of the European Union)

Conditions:

ESA has a dynamic and diverse work environment with the opportunity to work in a team of highly qualified people. Here you will be part of an organisation based on professionalism, cooperation, trust, responsibility and respect.

ESA also offers:  

• International career and learning opportunities
• An inclusive environment with high regard for cultural differences
• Competitive salary and benefits package

These positions will be filled in accordance with ESA’s policy on Recruitment available at: https://jobs.eftasurv.int. Candidates must be nationals of a State party to the EEA Agreement (EU or EEA EFTA) at the point of application and the time of any offer being made.

The positions are placed at grade A4 of ESA’s salary scale, the precise step being determined depending on the relevant experience of the successful candidates, with a likely starting salary of between €106 700 and €112 250 per annum. Depending on personal situation and family status, additional allowances and benefits may apply. Tax conditions are favourable. A fixed-term contract of three years’ duration will be offered, renewable for a further three years if in the interest of ESA.

Application process:

• All applications must be made online at: https://jobs.eftasurv.int
• Deadline for applications: Monday 15 April 2024 (midnight CET)
• Interviews: April-June 2024
• Start date: 1 September 2024 and as required over the coming two years

Applications submitted in response to this vacancy notice may also be taken into account for the purpose of filling other vacancies arising for similar positions within ESA. 

 Questions regarding the post may be addressed to Melpo Joséphidès, Director on +32 (0)2 286 18 85 / mjos[at]eftasurv[dot]int.  

Questions regarding the recruitment process may be addressed to Emma Thomas, HR Officer on +32 (0)2 286 1870 / eth[at]eftasurv[dot]int.