2019 Administrators In International Cooperation & Managing Aid To Non-EU Countries Competition Released

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) has just released the EPSO/AD/380/19 Notice of Competition – calling forward applications for the EPSO Administrators in international cooperation and managing aid to non-EU countries competition.

• Reference Number: EPSO/AD/380/19 - AD7 and EPSO/AD/380/19 - AD9
• Open for Applications: 5 December, 2019
• Application Deadline: 14 January, 2020 (12-noon Brussels Time)
• Grades: AD7 and AD9
• This notice covers two grades. You may only apply to one grade.
• This competition includes a Talent Screener

Under the EPSO Administrators in international cooperation and managing aid to non-EU countries competition, the following grades and reserve lists have been advertised, from which the European Commission may recruit new members:

Below we will explore the specifics of this competition and the selection process that you will need to undertake.

Want to join the conversation and talk to other candidates about this competition? 
Get helpful hints and advice from other candidates via the EPSO Administrators in International Cooperation Exams Facebook group.

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Snapshot of the 2019 EPSO Administrators In International Cooperation & Managing Aid To Non-EU Countries Competition

The deadline for registrations is 14 January, 2020 at 12 midday (CET).

This competition is being held to recruit specialists with extensive experience in the field of international cooperation and managing aid to non-EU countries.

EPSO is looking for candidates that will mainly work in the European Commission's departments that formulate the EU’s development policy to reduce poverty in the world, to ensure sustainable economic, social and environmental development and to promote democracy, the rule of law, good governance and the respect of human rights. 

Successful candidates will be recruited at AD7 and AD9 grades, with positions being based in Brussels. 

Please see ANNEX I of the Notice of Competition for more specific information regarding the expertise required.

Eligibility Criteria

Candidates will need to satisfy the following:

• Have EU citizenship
• Fulfilled any military service requirements
• Meet the character requirements for the duties concerned
• Have knowledge of at least TWO official EU languages:
  
  • Language 1: Have a thorough knowledge (minimum C1 level) of one of the 24 official EU languages - will be defined as your Language 1.
  • Language 2: Have a good command (minimum B2 level) of either English OR French and MUST BE different to your Language 1 choice - will be defined as your Language 2. (Please note that the application's Talent Screener component must be filled out in Language 2)
• Qualifications & Work Experience:

Administrators in International Cooperation - AD7 Grade:

1. Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least 4 years, attested by a diploma. Plus a minimum of 6 years of professional experience in the field of the competition, OR
2. Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least 3 years, attested by a diploma. Plus a minimum of 7 years of professional experience in the field of the competition.

Administrators in International Cooperation - AD9 Grade:

1. Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least 4 years, attested by a diploma. Plus a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in the field of the competition, OR
2. Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least 3 years, attested by a diploma. Plus a minimum of 11 years of professional experience in the field of the competition.

Please consult ANNEX IV of the Notice of Competition for examples of minimum qualifications.  

Selection Process

Please note: You must complete the Talent Screener in your Language 2 – this means in either English OR French​.

1. PRE-SELECTION EXAM

This phase of the competition is made up of a series of computer-based multiple-choice questions and reasoning tests. If the number of candidates exceeds a certain threshold, these tests will be held at the start of the competition process otherwise it will be held at the Assessment Centre phase.

The results of the computer-based MCQ tests are eliminatory and will not be taken into account in your final overall marks.

However, you must reach the minimum pass mark in all tests in order to qualify for the next stage of the competition.

2. ELIGIBILITY CHECK

EPSO will check the data provided by each candidate via their online application against the eligibility requirements of this competition. Remember that you can fill out your application in any of the 24 Official EU languages - except for the Talent Screener, which needs to be completed in your chosen Langauge 2. 

3. TALENT SCREENER

You MUST complete your Talent Screener in Language 2 - English OR French.

The selection board assigns a weighting to each selection criterion and based on the information provided in the Talent Screener each candidate will receive a score. Only those candidates with the highest overall marks will go through to the next stage. Therefore, you should include all relevant information in your Talent Screener answers, even if you have already mentioned it in other sections of your application form. The questions are based on the selection criteria included in this notice - see ANNEX II for the list of criteria.

Getting this part wrong can easily jeopardise your chances of moving through to the next stage of the selection process - which you don't want to risk. To better understand how the EPSO Talent Screener works it is advised that you view this webinar recording - Everything You Need To Know About EPSO's Talent Screener.

Need help with your EPSO application or Talent Screener?
Take a look at our Application Assistance service

4. ASSESSMENT CENTRE

Those who scored the highest marks in the Talent Screener will be invited to the Assessment Centre. A maximum of 3 times the number of successful candidates sought via this competition will be invited to this phase.

Please note that the Assessment Centre will most likely take place in Brussels and will need to be completed in your chosen Language 2.

8 general competencies, as well as field-related competencies required for such a role, will be tested through 5 tests:​

1. Case Study
2. Group Exercise
3. Written test in the field
4. General Competency-based Interview
5. Field-Related Interview

Each competency will be awarded a mark out of 10, with a total pass mark required of 40/80. 

5. RESERVE LIST

After checking candidates’ supporting documents, the selection board will draw up a Reserve List of the eligible candidates who obtained the highest overall score, until the number of successful candidates sought is reached.

How Can You Apply?

Make sure to ALWAYS check the official Notice of Competition and understand the rules relating to the exams. For full details on this profile and the selection procedure read the official Notice of Competition and the General Rules Governing Open Competitions to ensure you have the required qualifications and satisfy the eligibility criteria before applying. 

To start the application process, click below for the different grades:

• Administrators in international cooperation and managing aid to non-EU countries - AD7
• Administrators in international cooperation and managing aid to non-EU countries - AD9

Are You New to EPSO Competitions? 

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If you have a question or need additional help in understanding the EPSO processes, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Want to see what these EPSO Pre-Selection exams look like? 
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Unsure how the EPSO selection process works? 
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Useful reading:

How To Make The Most Of Your EPSO Talent Screener

The Motivation Challenge - What To Write In Your EPSO Application?

13 Best EPSO Preparation Resources - Free and Paid

What EU Job Applicants Should Always Keep in Mind

6 Reasons Why EU Exam Candidates Fail