Under the supervision of the Director, the Head of Legal Unit shall be involved in the following tasks:

• Support the implementation of the Treaty establishing the Energy Community (the "Treaty"), in particular interpretation and implementation of, compliance with and enforcement of the relevant EU energy and climate legislation,
• Follow and analyze developments in the legal and judicial sector relevant to the implementation of the Treaty,
• Coordinate dispute resolution and negotiations falling within the scope of the Treaty,
• Assist Contracting Parties in coordinated transposition and implementation of acquis communautaire on national levels,
• Propose, review, and monitor the implementation of all relevant primary and secondary legislation on the state and regional level to the Contracting Parties,
• Perform and coordinate legal research and legal analyses on issues of national and international law in relation to the activities of the Secretariat,
• Provide policy advice and recommendations to the Director on key issues relating to rule of energy law issues related to the Treaty,
• Liaise with relevant energy Community bodies and institutions under the Treaty on issues of his/her competence,
• Provide service of Legal Counsel to the Secretariat;
• Overseeing the operation of the Legal Unit,
• Perform any other related duties as assigned by the Director of the Secretariat.

Requirements

The role requires a strong service-oriented approach, emphasizing data confidentiality and professional ethics. Proficiency in interpersonal and communication skills is vital for collaborating in diverse work settings and engaging with various stakeholders.

Core values and competencies:

• Professionalism: Demonstrates a high level of competence and ethical conduct in all tasks and interactions,
• Integrity: Consistently upholds the organization's core values and principles in all actions,
• Diversity: Respects and values diverse perspectives and contributions, fostering an inclusive work environment,
• Commitment: Actively contributes to the attainment of organizational objectives,
• Accountability: Takes ownership of both individual and delegated responsibilities, ensuring their successful completion,
• Collaboration: Effectively collaborates with colleagues to achieve shared goals and fosters a positive, trust-based working atmosphere,
• Result-oriented: Drives efforts toward achieving concrete outcomes and measurable results.

Selection criteria

Eligibility criteria:

• Citizenship of either EU Member States or of any Contracting Party to the Treaty[1],
• Physical capability to fulfil the responsibilities associated with the position[2],
• University degree in law, preferably with a specialisation in European energy law,
• At least seven years of experience working in a legal capacity, of which at least five years in the European energy and/or law,
• At least five years of working experience in an international organisation and/or public administration of EU Member States or Energy Community Contracting Parties,
• At least two years of working experience in a managerial or coordination position,
• Excellent analytical, legal argumentation and writing skills,
• Excellent command of English.

Supplementary criteria:

• Demonstrable track-record drafting legislation in electricity, gas, environment and competition,
• Successful experience leading negotiations on complex agreements or contracts.
• Proven experience of working in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment,
• Capable of performing well under pressure.

Employment contract

The Head of Legal Unit will be offered a contract for three years, with a probation period of 6 months, which may be renewed. The duty station is in Vienna, Austria.

The salary ranges are defined by the Energy Community budget. For this position, the Energy Community Secretariat offers a tax-exempted salary of EUR 7.727. The final remuneration will be determined based on qualifications, experience, and outcome of the recruitment process.

Other benefits consist of:

• 30 annual leave days per calendar year, as well as the official national holidays of the duty station,
• Up to three work from home days per calendar month,
• Accident insurance fee coverage of 100%,
• Health insurance scheme in the form of a monthly reimbursement of up to EUR 500 of the actual cost of the individual health prime,
• Coverage of selected individual development and trainings.

The terms and conditions of employment adhere to the provisions outlined in the Energy Community Staff Regulations.

The commencement date of the employment is expected to be as soon as possible, preferably in October 2024.

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