CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
ESTABLISHMENT OF A DATABASE
Contract staff in the area of Information and Communication Technology:
ICT officer (function group III)
1. General remarks
The Secretariat of the European Parliament is issuing this call with a view to establishing an extensive database of candidates for contract staff in function group III in the area of ICT domain. This call for expression of interest for Contract Agent (CA-AMI) is primarily aimed at supporting the Directorate-General for Innovation and Technological Support (DG ITEC).
The database will serve as a pool of candidates of ICT officer that encompasses a wide range of in-house ICT profiles, covering a broad range of skills and experience for possible future recruitment in the European Parliament’s three main places of work, with a primary focus on our Luxembourg and Strasbourg sites.
As needs arise, persons whose names are in the database, may be selected and be offered positions as auxiliary contract staff, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS).
The European Parliament is an equal-opportunities employer and welcomes candidates without discrimination on any ground such as gender, skin colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, sexual orientation, marital status or family situation.
If you want your name to be included in the database, please submit your CV and fill out the application form via the APPLY4EP platform. Start by creating an account. Read this call carefully to ensure you meet the criteria. Then, click on the ‘Apply online’ tab and follow the steps of the online application procedure. Make sure you also read carefully the guide attached to this call. Only one account may be created in APPLY4EP. The personal data recorded in the account will be processed in full compliance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council and will remain modifiable, so that these can be updated. The privacy statement for APPLY4EP is available on its homepage.
2. Job description
ICT officers are responsible for providing technical support and assistance related to computer systems, hardware and software. They are tasked with ensuring the smooth operation of ICT resources within the organisation.
Key responsibilities may include:
– technical support, offering support to resolve issues with computer systems, including software and hardware, either remotely or in person;
– maintenance and upgrades, performing regular checks and maintenance on network systems and computers to ensure they are functioning correctly. This also involves installing and configuring computer hardware, software, systems, networks, multifunctional devices, printers, and scanners;
– user assistance and training, helping Members of the Parliament, staff or clients through a series of actions, either face-to-face or over the phone, to help set up systems or resolve issues; - train users on new systems, software applications, and provide guidance on IT best practice;
– troubleshooting, diagnosing and solving hardware or software faults. This includes troubleshooting network issues, diagnosing system errors and providing immediate solutions or escalating complex issues to higher-level IT specialists;
– -documentation by keeping records of issues and resolutions, updating system documentation and maintaining IT inventory and asset management;
– monitoring and analysing information and data systems, troubleshooting data-related problems to ensure data integrity;
– cybersecurity by implementing and monitoring security protocols to protect data from unauthorized access, backing up systems to prevent data loos and ensuring that antivirus and firewall systems are up to date and functioning correctly;
– maintaining and developing ICT solutions to ensure that they are fit for use and fit for purpose;
– designing test scenarios for Parliament (EP) applications, executing tests (functional, regression, exploratory, compatibility with EP standards configuration) in several EP ICT environments, assessment of test results, reporting and follow up of defects, creating test reports for projects and application teams;
– provide support to ICT projects and teams, drafting and maintenance of project documentation including project schedules, status reports, presentations, resource, plans, communication with project stakeholders.
ICT officers play a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of our organisation by ensuring that all ICT resources are operational, which enables, members and employees to perform their duties efficiently and effectively.
The area of activity may cover:
- ICT infrastructure, including cloud, networks and middleware;
- digital workplace, office automation, mobile computing, mobile printing;
- development, configuration, testing, operation and maintenance of ICT applications, acquisition, implementation and maintenance of off-the-shelf solutions;
- agile methodologies, DevSecOps, applications/infrastructure monitoring and observability, ITIL;
- data management, data modelling and data analytics;
- cybersecurity;
- artificial intelligence.
3. Duties
In line with the programmes and priorities defined by Parliament’s bodies and/or management and under the authority of the officials responsible, the ICT officer will work on a range of duties, depending on the service to which they are recruited, including:
1) interact with end users, carrying out needs assessments and providing advice in the relevant areas of responsibility;
2) install, troubleshoot and perform, remotely or in person: repairs to office systems, software, hardware or peripheral equipment following design or installation specifications;
3) answer user inquiries regarding software or hardware operations, maintaining records of daily communication transactions, queries and remedial actions taken, or installation activities;
4) coordinate applications programmers, systems developers and other ICT professionals to develop, maintain and test ICT products and services;
5) assist and support data management tools, troubleshooting of data-related problems, ensuring data security and integrity;
6) perform business and technical analysis in cooperation with users and technical teams;
7) inform and/or train users: draw up written instructions for user, document applications, contribute to the improvement of the relevant knowledge base;
8) perform the daily tasks, consult and feed the relevant knowledge base, follow-up of the agreed procedure and workflows, use the approved ticketing and other relevant systems;
9) detect potential dysfunction and emerging needs and transmit the relevant insights to the hierarchy;
10) support AI and data analytics projects by assisting in data preparation and model development;
11) user assistance during remote or hybrid meetings
Specific knowledge sought
The following list enumerates various domains of expertise. It is important to note that while these areas of knowledge are pertinent, not all elements are mandatory for all vacancies. The applicability of these knowledge domains will depend upon the specific services for which candidates are recruited. Candidates will be selected based on their specific knowledge of expertise and the profile required to fill the vacant post.
1) Knowledge of computer hardware components, peripherals, multifunctional devices, printers and scanners, and troubleshooting hardware issues;
2) Knowledge of operating systems and software applications, including office suites, email clients and specialized software relevant to the organisation;
3) Knowledge of applications lifecycle management, including DevSecOps, Agile methodologies, containers, advanced monitoring and observability;
4) Knowledge of server environments, database management and cloud services;
5) Understanding of data governance and data management procedures (collection, analysis, distribution), familiarity with modern database and information system technologies;
6) Ability to diagnose and resolve technical issues efficiently; capability to research solutions for novel problems or escalate issues appropriately;
7) Knowledge of software and/or development packages (programming, languages, database management systems);
8) Knowledge of ICT industry standards and technologies;
9) Excellent knowledge of collaborative, videoconferencing and multimedia tools;
10) Knowledge of project management methodologies (PMI, PRINCE2);
11) Knowledge of testing techniques to plan and execute tests, experience with software tools to automate or assist in testing, familiarity with various testing methodologies (Waterfall, iterative, Agile, Scrum etc.)
12) Excellent verbal and written communication skills to explain technical concepts to non-technical users;
13) Commitment to staying updated with the latest technological advancements and best practices in ICT support;
14) Strong focus on delivering high-quality support to enhance user satisfaction; ability to handle stressful situations calmly and professionally;
15) Ability to work in a team as well as autonomously.
4. Eligibility
To be eligible for possible future recruitment to contract agent position, candidates will need to meet the general and specific criteria that follow:
a. General criteria
- Be a citizen of one of the Member States of the European Union.
- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by national laws concerning military service.
- Produce the appropriate character references as to your suitability for the performance of the duties.
b. Specific criteria
1) Qualifications and skills required
(i) a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma,
or
(ii) a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, and appropriate professional experience of at least three years,
or
(iii) where justified in the interest of the service, professional training or professional experience of an equivalent level.
Prior to being recruited, candidates will be asked to provide documents substantiating the information contained in the application form (diplomas, certificates and other supporting documents).
Diplomas, whether issued in a Member State or in a non-EU country, must be recognised by an official body of an EU Member State, such as the ministry of education.
Candidates holding diplomas issued in a non-EU country must provide an EU-equivalence for their diplomas. You may find further information on recognition of non-EU qualifications in the ENIC-NARIC networks (https://www.enic-naric.net/).
2) Knowledge of languages
Candidates must have a thorough knowledge (at least level C1) of one of the European Union’s official languages (language 1): Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish or Swedish,
and
a satisfactory knowledge (at least level B2) of English or French (language 2). Language 2 must be different from language 1.
For reasons of equality of treatment, all candidates, whose first language is English or French, are required to have a satisfactory knowledge of one of the European Union’s other official languages.
Please note that the minimum levels required above apply to each area of linguistic aptitude (speaking, writing, reading, listening) referred to on the application form. These abilities correspond to those specified in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (https://europa.eu/europass/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills). Please note that level C2 is the highest level in the framework, while A1 is the lowest level.
Both English and French are the languages most commonly used to communicate within and among the units in the Directorates-General and Parliament’s political and administrative authorities.
Given that the existing devices and procedures for these specialised fields are established in English, proficiency in English is crucial. English serves as the primary language for communication and development in the IT field internationally and within most EU institutions, encompassing roles such as programmers, analysts and architects. Therefore, proficiency in English is essential for the positions available.
French is extensively used in IT services within the European Parliament and its Directorates General. Considering that the positions are primarily located in Luxembourg and Strasbourg, areas with a significant presence of French-speaking ICT service providers, proficiency in French is essential to facilitate effective interaction with these teams.
Accordingly, in order to be able to perform their duties effectively and become operational as soon as possible, the recruited contract staff must be able to work and communicate effectively in English or French.
3) Professional experience required
After obtaining, the qualifications mentioned in section (4.b.i) above, applicants must have acquired at least one year of professional experience relevant to the duties specified in section 3 above.
5. Database
If you
· meet the general eligibility criteria, and
· have completed the application form via the APPLY4EP platform (see below, ‘Applications’) in accordance with the procedure and by the deadline,
your name will be included in the database.
Inclusion of your name will be based solely on the information given on the application form and in the attached documents. This information and these documents will be verified later, if you are made an offer of recruitment.
When needs arise, the recruiting services will consult the database to identify and shortlist candidates whose profiles align with their specific needs, based on the information in their applications. If shortlisted, you will be invited to tests and/or interviews conducted by the recruiting services. The tests and/or interviews are designed to evaluate your suitability for the relevant position. Knowledge of languages may also be evaluated during this process.
It should be noted that any discrepancies found between the information provided and the facts established through verification will lead to the candidate’s exclusion from the selection process, their details will be removed from the database and a contract will not be offered.
6. Applications - how to express your interest?
Interested persons must complete their application form via the APPLY4EP online platform. Expressions of interest can only be submitted via that platform.
Once you have created your account, you must upload a detailed curriculum vitae. You must use the Europass format (https://europa.eu/europass/select-language?destination=/node/1).
You must then complete the remainder of the application form.
The closing date for expressions of interest is
30 June 2025 at 17:00 (Luxembourg time)
Applications received after that date will not be accepted.
Inclusion of your name in the database or being invited to a test or an interview is not a guarantee that you will be offered a job.
The European Parliament applies a strict equal opportunities policy in its selection procedures, in order to guarantee equal treatment of all candidates.
The conditions of employment at the EU institutions are laid down in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS). Full details of the working arrangements can be found here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:01962R0031-20140501&from=EN (Title IV) ‘Contract staff’).
Since 1 July 2023 the basic monthly salary (contract staff, function group III) has been between EUR 3 111,21 and EUR 5 768,76 depending on the candidate’s training and specific professional experience.
The database will be valid until 31 December 2025. Its validity may be extended by decision of the appointing authority. If it is extended, the candidates whose names have been included on the list will be informed in due time
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