Expert in Research and Policy Analysis

Expert in Research and Policy Analysis

Cedefop - European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training

Thessaloniki, Greece

Is this job for you?

If you are a highly motivated professional, excited to carry out applied research for policy purposes, help shape policies and collaborate with high-level EU stakeholders then this job may be the right match for you. In this job, you have the possibility to grow as a professional by acquiring new knowledge and expertise, as well as networking with top-notch experts and authoring your own publications.

Cedefop is looking for experts to join our team and help produce state-of-the-art evidence to support national and EU policy-making in VET and skills development. Your core responsibilities will include generating cutting-edge evidence for VET and skills development policy, facilitating knowledge-sharing and peer-learning initiatives, and improving the quality, relevance, use and dissemination of Cedefop’s work.

The successful candidate should demonstrate excellent analytical and research skills, combined with a strong understanding of European VET and skills development policies. Candidates with experience in both quantitative research and qualitative policy analysis are encouraged to apply.

With this vacancy notice, Cedefop first aims to fill at least two posts in the Department for VET and Skills (DVS). Other successful candidates will be placed on a list of suitable candidates and may be offered a position as the need arises in the Agency.

Key responsibilities of the position

Research and policy analysis:

• Carry out state-of-the-art analysis of trends in VET and skills and translate it into insights and advice to inform EU policies;
• Engage in capacity building and peer review initiatives and contribute to project design and implementation;
• Design and apply analytical frameworks and use quantitative or qualitative research methods;
• Design and implement interviews, qualitative surveys, focus groups, and case studies.

Outreach:

• Contribute to drafting Cedefop's research and policy publications;
• Produce high quality analytical outputs (research reports, policy briefs, online tools and databases, and other knowledge products);
• Present Cedefop work in workshops, conferences, fora, peer learning activities, and expert communities, and network with key EU stakeholders.

Project and contract management:

• Plan and coordinate research activities, manage timelines and deliverables, and contribute to the successful implementation of complex projects involving multiple stakeholders;
• Manage and/or participate in the full cycle of contract management, involving external contractors and research partners, from drafting the tender specifications to implementation.

 Eligibility

Based on the requirements of the regulatory framework, for your application to be considered eligible, you must fulfil all the following requirements on the closing date for submission of applications:

• Nationality: Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union or a national of the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway).
• Citizen rights: Enjoy full rights as a citizen.
• Military service: Have fulfilled any legal obligations concerning military service.
• Physical fitness: Be physically fit to perform the duties relating to the post.
• Education and professional experience: Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least 3 years attested by a diploma. Only diplomas that have been awarded in EU Member States or EEA countries or that are the subject of equivalence certificates issued by the authorities in the said countries shall be taken into consideration.
• Language skills: Have a thorough knowledge (4) of one EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU language as required for the performance of the duties.

Preselection phase

Exclusion (yes/no) preselection criteria:

For your application to be considered further, you must meet the following criteria:

• A university degree EQF 6 or above (7) in economics, sociology, statistics, public policy or political science;
• English (Cedefop’s working language): level C1 in all dimensions as per the CEFR.

Only if your application meets these two Exclusion preselection criteria it will be assessed against the scored preselection criteria listed below.

Scored preselection criteria:

The scored preselection criteria consist of essential and advantageous criteria against which your application will be assessed.

Essential preselection criteria:

If you do not meet the minimum requirements in the essential criterion below, your application will not be considered further.

• At least 3 years work experience (8) in the past 10 years, conducting qualitative or quantitative policy-oriented research relevant to the duties described in Section 3 - Key responsibilities of the position.

Advantageous preselection criteria:

If you do not meet one or more of these criteria, listed in order of priority, it will not result in exclusion. However, meeting them will positively impact the overall scoring of your application, increasing your chances of being invited to the next stage of the selection process.

• Authored publication(s) assessed based on their relevance to Cedefop's work in VET and skills development (9);
• Experience working as staff member (10) in an EU Institution or a public international organisation;
• Advanced university degree (EQF Level 8).