Legal Officer - Internal Market Affairs - Environment

ESA is recruiting a Legal Officer to join its Internal Market Affairs Directorate (IMA), in the ENFIP Unit.

ENFIP was created in 2021 to promote synergies across the financial services, public procurement environment/climate and energy sectors, where EU/EEA legislation has grown at an unprecedented pace over the last few years, bringing new enforcement and regulatory challenges for ESA.

The Legal Officer will be assigned responsibility for general surveillance work and case handling regarding the implementation and application of EEA law relating to the Environment in the participating EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).

In the area of the Environment, ESA is responsible for ensuring that the EEA EFTA States comply with their obligations to protect, preserve and improve the quality of the environment and ensure a high level of environmental protection.

Following the European Green Deal and the new/revised legal frameworks in the Environment field, ESA is increasingly vested with tasks of a regulatory nature, for example to follow-up on the EEA EFTA States’ reporting obligations and to assess their progress to achieve more ambitious environmental goals.

Tasks will include the examination of complaints, legal conformity assessments, drafting of decisions, opinions and reports to follow-up on States’ compliance with relevant EEA law targets.

The successful candidate is expected to proactively keep abreast of developments in the field and closely cooperate with internal and external counterparts. In particular, the successful candidate will: 

• Work closely with other members of ENFIP and legal team, as well as technical consultants/contractors for certain projects. 
• Maintain/strengthen relationships with the European Commission, the European Environmental Agency, the EFTA Secretariat, EEA EFTA States’ national competent authorities and external stakeholders such as NGOs.

Depending on the needs of the Unit as well as the skills and interests of the successful candidate, the responsibilities may also cover tasks relating to the energy and/or climate fields.

Essential Skills

• University degree in law, or recognised equivalent qualification in law
• Minimum 3 years’ relevant professional experience
• Specialised knowledge of EEA/EU law in the field of environment law
• Willingness and ability to take on work across different areas
• Excellent command of written and spoken English (ESA’s working language) as well as proven legal drafting ability
• Excellent organisational, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
• Initiative and the ability to work both independently and in a team in an international environment

Ideal Skills

• Postgraduate degree in EEA/EU law
• Project management skills
• Relevant professional experience involving national competent authorities or the EU/EEA institutions
• Knowledge of and familiarity with the functioning of the EEA Agreement, and of the EEA EFTA States
• Good understanding of Norwegian, Icelandic or German (the EEA EFTA languages)

Other information

ESA has a dynamic and diverse work environment with the opportunity to work in a team of highly qualified people. We offer: 

• International experience and professional development  
• An inclusive environment with high regard for cultural differences 
• Competitive benefits package and favourable tax conditions 
• Generous leave scheme
• Medical, life and disability and travel insurances 
• Savings fund to assist with retirement planning 
• Flexible working arrangements 
• Language training expenses 

This position will be filled in accordance with ESA’s policy on Recruitment available at: https://jobs.eftasurv.int.  The position is placed at grade A4 of ESA’s salary scale, the precise step being determined depending on the relevant experience of the successful candidate, 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.

Type and duration of appointment: fixed-term contract of three years, renewable for a further three years if desirable and in the interest of ESA.  Candidates must be nationals of the States party to the EEA Agreement (EU + EEA EFTA) at the point of application and the time of any offer being made. 

Application process:

• All applications must be made online via the link below
• Deadline for applications: 25 August 2024 midnight CET
• Interviews: September/October 2024
• Start date: January 2025 (at the latest)

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 Marco Uccelli, Deputy Director IMA ENFIP on +32 (0)2 286 1895 / [email protected].

Questions regarding the recruitment process may be addressed to Emma Thomas, HR & Payroll Officer on +32 (0)2 286 1870 / [email protected].