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 2026.
Europol retains the right to make use of the reserve list to select candidates for similar secondments within the organisation, should business needs require so.
1. Organisational Context
Organisational setting:
The Seconded National Experts (SNE) will be located in the EMPACT Support Team, Analysis & Strategic Coordination Unit of the Operational & Analysis 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 in preventing and combating serious and organised crime, as well as terrorism affecting the Member States. This requires close cooperation with the Liaison Bureaux at Europol and via them with the Operational Teams in the Member States. 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 six distinct Departments: Operational and Analysis Centre, European Serious Organised Crime Centre, European Cyber Crime Centre, European Counter Terrorism Centre, the European Financial and Economic Crime Centre and the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling.
The Operational and Analysis Centre (OAC) delivers support across the Operations Directorate by delivering added value to all Centres, including several functions of operational and strategic nature:
- Information hub and 24/7 Operational support;
- Travel intelligence;
- EMPACT support;
- Liaison and Stakeholder coordination;
- Strategic analysis;
- Data analysis Development;
- Analysis Training.
As part of the implementation of the new Europol Strategy 2020+, Europol created the Analysis and Strategic Coordination Unit (O1-2) within the OAC department. The Unit focuses on enhancing the coordination of cross-department aspects of the analytical work, both on operational and strategic analysis, such as analysis training, analysis standards and quality control, data analysis support and analysis processes.
As part of Analysis and Strategic Coordination Unit, the O1-21 EU EMPACT support Team is responsible for:
- Supporting EMPACT Drivers in the development and implementation of their
respective Operational Action Plans (OAP);
- Evaluating applications to EMPACT grants;
- Assessing final technical reports of EMPACT grants;
- Facilitating large meetings including National EMPACT Coordinator (NEC) and OAP meetings;
- Monitoring the progress of implementation of OAPs;
- Reporting EMPACT activities and results to NECs and COSI;
- Keeping the repository of the OAPs and recording changes in participations;
- Support EMPACT community in identification of EMPACT Joint Action Days (JAD).
Purpose of the secondment:
The SNE will contribute to the work of the EMPACT Support Team, in particular to the tasks related to OAP coordination and administration, organisation of meetings, assessment of final reports on funding implementation, ensuring reporting on OAP implementation, maintaining professional relationship with the EMPACT stakeholders, sharing of good practices and suggesting ways of improving EMPACT as well as performing project management activities related to EMPACT online tool.
Reporting lines:
The SNE reports to the Head of Team – EMPACT Support.
2. Functions and duties
The SNE will carry out the following main functions and duties:
- Establish, maintain and develop contacts with relevant EMPACT stakeholders;
- Coordinate EMPACT strategic meetings and contribute to the preparation of the National EMPACT Coordinators meetings;
- Maintain and update the EMPACT platforms as a part of the Europol Platform for Experts;
- Create and/or update content and manage the use of EMPACT online tool (cloud-based application);
- Develop and implement procedures and policies in compliance with data protection framework;
- Facilitate interaction between the OAP communities, exchange of good practice and implementation of common initiatives;
- Draft proposals for the Joint Action Days (JAD) concept or parts thereof and provide support for JAD coordinators, for example in relation to logistics and/or funding;
- Verify data contained in reports on implementation of EMPACT grants, in cooperation with relevant Analysis Projects;
- Support the Operational Action Plans (OAPs) development, monitoring and reporting by collecting proposals, carrying out quality control, checking completeness and ensuring that applicable processes are understood and followed;
- Provide advice on key performance indicators measuring the progress of operational actions;
- Facilitate timely reporting on implementation of OAPs through engagement with OAP drivers in Member States, collecting, collating and preparing data for use in result sheets and reports;
- Prepare presentations and reports based on quantitative and qualitative analysis of data in OAPs;
- Facilitate communication and collaboration between the OAPs;
- Perform any other tasks assigned by the Head of Team.
3. Requirements - Eligibility criteria
Candidates must:
- Be a member of a competent authority in the meaning of the Article 2a) of the Europol Regulation and enjoy full rights as a citizen of a Member State;
- Produce evidence of a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the European Union and of a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the European Union in accordance with the decision of the Management Board on the internal language arrangements of Europol as referred to in Article 64(2) of the Europol Regulation, with the understanding that the SNE will have to carry out his/her duties in a mainly English-speaking environment;
- Have at least three years of professional experience in the field of law enforcement, which is relevant to the duties to be carried out during the secondment.
4. Requirements - Selection criteria
a. Professional experience
Essential:
- Experience in strategic and operational law enforcement cooperation;
- Experience in coordination of meetings on cross border crime topics;
- Experience in drafting reports;
- Experience working in an international context.
Desirable:
- Experience related to implementation of one of the EMPACT Operational Action Plans;
- Experience in content management of online collaborative solutions;
- Experience in project management.
b. Professional knowledge
Essential:
- Good knowledge of the EU decision-making process related to internal security;
- Good knowledge of international law enforcement cooperation channels and organisations;
- Good knowledge of the EMPACT framework.
c. General competencies
Essential:
Communicating:
- Very good communication skills in English, both orally and in writing;
- Ability to draft clear and concise documents on complex matters for various audiences;
Analysing & problem solving:
- Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;
- Keen eye for detail with the ability to maintain standards of accuracy under pressure of tight deadlines;
- 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
- Good administrative and organisational skills;
Resilience
- Ability to work well under pressure, 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;
Living diversity
- Ability to work effectively in an international and multi-cultural environment.
5. How to apply
Member States are invited to nominate their Seconded National Experts according to the selection criteria and profile, as specified in this document.
Candidates endorsed by the national competent authorities are required to complete the SNE application form available on Europol’s website in English.
The application form must be accompanied by a letter from the sending authority to the Executive Director of Europol expressing willingness to second the candidate.
Applications must be filled in electronically, duly signed and submitted by means of email to Europol’s Human Resources Unit, HR Operational Support Team, to [email protected] via the Europol National Unit of the Member State concerned, and, if necessary, the respective Liaison Bureau. Candidates who do not provide all necessary information or do not comply with any of the above will not be considered.
Applications must be received by Europol at the latest on the day of the deadline specified in this notice of secondment. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Receipt of all applications is confirmed by an email of acknowledgement. Candidates may check the progress of the relevant selection procedure on Europol’s website.
6. Selection procedure
The Deputy Executive Director of Europol’s Capabilities Directorate (DEDC) sets up a Selection Committee, chaired by the Head of the relevant Directorate or a senior representative, and composed of a representative of the respective Unit, as well as of the Human Resources Unit.
The Selection Committee establishes the pass-mark for the interview of the candidates. The pass-mark for shortlisting is established as 60% of the total maximum score.
The Selection Committee assesses the applications received in order to make an initial selection of candidates meeting all eligibility criteria and examines their qualifications, experience and skills against the selection criteria set out in this notice of secondment. Candidates scoring above the pass-mark are invited to participate in a selection procedure.
The Selection Committee will invite the 6 highest scoring candidates (shortlisted). All candidates having a score equal to the 6th highest scoring candidate will be included to the list of invited candidates.
The Selection Committee conducts an interview with the shortlisted candidates performed remotely in order to evaluate their language skills, to assess their experience and qualifications and determine whether they possess the key skills required.
7. Secondment and Reserve list
After the selection procedure has taken place, the Selection Committee establishes a list of successful candidates. Candidates are successful if they score above the pre-defined pass-mark for interview.
The list shall be shared with the Deputy Executive Director Capabilities Directorate (DEDC) in order to establish a Reserve List. Reserve Lists of successful candidates are valid for 3 years (36 months).
Candidates who attend the selection procedure will be informed of the outcome, i.e., whether they have been successful or not.
Europol retains the right to make use of the Reserve List to select candidates for similar secondments within the organisation, should business needs require so. Inclusion on the Reserve List does not guarantee secondment.
The secondment of a successful candidate is finally effected by an exchange of letters referred to in Article 4(4) of the MB Decision on SNEs, specifying the details of the secondment, including as regards its duration.
8. Terms and conditions
The SNE shall remain in the service of the sending authority throughout the period of secondment and shall continue to be paid by that employer. The sending authority shall also be responsible for all social rights, particularly social security and pension entitlements.
During the period of secondment, the SNE is entitled to a daily subsistence allowance paid by Europol, and may also be eligible for a monthly allowance depending on the distance from the place of origin. If the SNE receives any allowance from other sources similar to the subsistence allowance paid by Europol, this amount shall be deducted.
Detailed rules regarding the secondment of national experts to Europol are described in the Management Board Decision laying down rules on the secondment of national experts to Europol of 8 October 2024.
9. Enquiries / measures of redress
The Selection Committee’s work and deliberations are confidential. It is forbidden for candidates to make direct or indirect contact with the members of the Selection Committee or for anyone to do so on their behalf. All enquiries related to a selection procedure should be addressed to the HR Operational Support Team at the following email address: [email protected].
As regards requests for the reason(s) candidates were found to be ineligible, the scores obtained at specific stages of the selection procedure or available measures of redress, candidates are referred to the Europol Recruitment Guidelines for SNEs available on Europol’s website for further information.
10. Additional information
Equal opportunity
Europol is an equal opportunity employer. We accept applications without distinction on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, national, ethnic or social origin, religion or beliefs, family situation, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. Our employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and qualifications, experience and skills.
We live diversity and provide an inclusive work environment to all. We strive to recruit, develop and retain a diverse and talented workforce through application of equal opportunity and impartiality.
Privacy statement
Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC, applies to the processing of personal data carried out in the process of selection and recruitment of Seconded National Experts at Europol following the application of this Regulation to all administrative personal data held by Europol in accordance with Article 46 of the Europol Regulation.
For additional information, candidates are referred to the applicable privacy notice available on our website.
Security screening
Selected candidates are required to furnish a valid security clearance certificate before the start of the secondment. Failure to obtain or provide the requisite security clearance certificate at the requested level before the start of the secondment may render the offer of secondment invalid.
In case the security clearance certificate expires within six months of the start of the secondment, the renewal procedure will be initiated expeditiously. Europol may at any time terminate the secondment if the result of the security screening is not positive or the necessary security clearance level is not granted /extended.
The security clearance level required for this secondment is: CONFIDENTIEL UE/EU CONFIDENTIAL.
Europol reserves the right to request a higher level of Security Clearance, depending on the area the successful candidate is recruited to.
Main dates
Publication date: 10 June 2026
Deadline for application: 8 July 2026,
23:59 Amsterdam Time Zone
Selection procedure: August/September 2026.
Contact details
For further details on the application process please call +31 (0) 70 302 5066 or +31 (0) 70 302 5546.
