Legal and Policy Officer - International Human Rights Law (INTERNAL ONLY CALL)
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is organising a selection procedure to draw up a reserve list for the profile of Legal and Policy Officer – International Human Rights Law and to fill one vacant post. The selection procedure is published internally and open only to temporary staff members (TA 2f) currently employed by the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency.
Background
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) provides independent, evidence-based advice to policy makers, to help ensure full respect for fundamental rights across the EU, for everyone. To this end, FRA collects and analyses information and data on a range of fundamental rights issues, provides assistance and expertise to EU institutions and to EU Member States’ governments, raises rights awareness, communicates its findings and strengthens cooperation and ties between fundamental rights actors.
Equality, Inclusion and Sustainability (EIS) Unit
The work of the EIS unit covers the full range of EU equality law issues, including on the grounds of racial and ethnic origin, LGBTIQ, Roma, age, Anti-Semitism and Anti-Muslim hatred as well as disabilities. The unit also leads on social rights, poverty, housing, climate and environment and business and human rights. Responsibility for coordination of the FRA Legal Task Force lies with the Head of Unit of EIS.
Duties
The Legal and Policy Officer will:
- Provide legal analysis and draft position papers, reports, guidelines, briefing notes, speeches and opinions on various issues related to the work of the unit;
- Deliver legal review of (internally-drafted or contracted) deliverables, manuals and recommendations for best practices dedicated to practitioners on various issues related to fundamental rights protection, with a particular focus on relevant international human rights treaties including International Labour Organization Conventions;
- Pro-actively follow the developments of EU legislative and policy issues in the field of equality, social rights (including the European Pillar of Social Rights), poverty and housing, and international human rights law files relating to Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the European Convention on Human Rights, the Istanbul Convention, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, delivering summaries and drafting analyses to inform FRA’s work;
- Lead and implement assigned activities falling within the work programme while ensuring their coherence and compatibility with the policies of the EU and consistency with EU law, especially the Charter;
- Participate, on behalf of FRA, in external meetings, working groups, conferences, seminars, and networks;
- Establish and maintain regular contacts with other European Institutions, Member States, civil society organisations and other partners in the assigned policy area.
Duties applicable to all staff:
- Perform any other related duties assigned by the manager.
Eligibility requirements
Candidates who do not meet one or more of the following eligibility criteria by the deadline for submission of applications will be marked ineligible and their application will not be considered further:
- Be a member of the temporary staff of FRA who, on the closing date for the submission of applications and on the day of filling the vacant post, are engaged within the Agency in the function group and grade bracket corresponding to the published function group and grade bracket;
- Have successfully completed the probationary period provided for in Article 14 of the CEOS, in the relevant function group.
Selection criteria
In order to select the best-qualified candidates for the test and interview phase, FRA will assess the following essential and advantageous criteria.
Please note that all essential criteria are mandatory. If a candidate scores zero on any individual essential criterion, their application will not be assessed further.
The following criteria will be considered as essential:
- At least 5 years of proven experience in analysing and providing advice on EU fundamental rights law questions as well as international human rights law issues;
- Demonstrated experience working with UN human rights monitoring instruments, and knowledge of UN monitoring bodies and working groups;
- Demonstrated knowledge of relevant EU law and International Labour Organization (ILO) core conventions, as well as the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work;
- Demonstrated knowledge of European Convention on Human Rights, work of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights;
- Excellent legal drafting skills in English, the working language of FRA.
The following criteria will be considered as advantageous:
- Knowledge of social rights, in particular employment law;
- Knowledge of relevant laws and policies in areas of, climate change (including environment), sustainability and business and human rights;
- Proven experience of working in multi-cultural organisations;
- A specialisation in EU fundamental rights law or international human rights law as part of the candidate’s law degree.
In addition to the essential and advantageous criteria, candidates invited to the interview and test phase will also be assessed behavioural competencies relevant for the position. In particular, the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate:
- An ability to work in teams
- Capacity for analytical thinking
- Effective communication skills, both oral and written
- Results orientation
- Flexibility and adaptability
Selection criteria
In order to select the best-qualified candidates for the test and interview phase, FRA will assess the following essential and advantageous criteria.
Please note that all essential criteria are mandatory. If a candidate scores zero on any individual essential criterion, their application will not be assessed further.
The following criteria will be considered as essential:
- At least 5 years of proven experience in analysing and providing advice on EU fundamental rights law questions as well as international human rights law issues;
- Demonstrated experience working with UN human rights monitoring instruments, and knowledge of UN monitoring bodies and working groups;
- Demonstrated knowledge of relevant EU law and International Labour Organization (ILO) core conventions, as well as the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work;
- Demonstrated knowledge of European Convention on Human Rights, work of the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights;
- Excellent legal drafting skills in English, the working language of FRA.
The following criteria will be considered as advantageous:
- Knowledge of social rights, in particular employment law;
- Knowledge of relevant laws and policies in areas of, climate change (including environment), sustainability and business and human rights;
- Proven experience of working in multi-cultural organisations;
- A specialisation in EU fundamental rights law or international human rights law as part of the candidate’s law degree.
In addition to the essential and advantageous criteria, candidates invited to the interview and test phase will also be assessed behavioural competencies relevant for the position. In particular, the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate:
- An ability to work in teams
- Capacity for analytical thinking
- Effective communication skills, both oral and written
- Results orientation
- Flexibility and adaptability
Engagement and conditions of employment
The selected member(s) shall be assigned to the new post without impact on their current contract of employment with the agency.
Submission of applications and deadline
Candidates are requested to submit their application electronically through the Agency’s website. Only online completed applications submitted in English via the e-recruitment system will be accepted.
Applications must be sent no later than 11/02/2026 13:00 (CET).
Information concerning the status of the selection procedure can be found at http://fra.europa.eu/en/about-fra/recruitment/vacancies .
In case you experience technical problems during your application please contact, recruitment@fra.europa.eu.
Please note that advise to apply well ahead of the deadline to avoid technical issues that may arise.
Selection procedure
A Selection Committee is nominated by the Appointing Authority.
Eligibility of candidates will be assessed according to compliance with all formal requirements by the closing date for the submission of applications, as specified in the vacancy (see section Eligibility Criteria).
Only the applications of eligible candidates will be evaluated in accordance with the selection criteria as specified in the publication notice (see section Selection Criteria). The Agency will invite for an interview and test the top candidates among those who have obtained at least 60%.
The selection procedure will be composed of an interview and a written test, which will be held in English. They will take place either in Vienna (Austria), the place of employment where the Agency has its seat, or online. The shortlisted candidates will receive further detailed information in due time.
Successful candidates will be included on a reserve list drawn up by the Selection Committee and adopted by the Appointing Authority of FRA. This reserve list will be valid from the date of its establishment (in year ‘N’) until 31 December of year ‘N+2’. Its validity may be extended. The reserve list may be used for future recruitment, should vacancies arise. Candidates should note that inclusion on a reserve list does not guarantee recruitment.
On the basis of the adopted reserve list, the Appointing Authority of FRA may offer a contract of engagement.
Candidates placed on the reserve list will be requested to submit a non-certified copy of their diploma(s) and evidence of their professional experience, clearly indicating the length and nature of their experience and whether full time or part time work. Prior to contract signature, the successful candidate/s will be requested to provide FRA with copies of all relevant documents proving the eligibility requirements.
Please note that the Selection Committee’s work and deliberations are strictly confidential and that any contact with its members is strictly forbidden.
Equal opportunities
FRA is an equal opportunities employer and ensures that its recruitment procedures do not discriminate on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, gender identity or sexual orientation. FRA encourages candidates with disabilities to apply. FRA encourages candidates with disabilities to apply. If you consider yourself to have a physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disability, please indicate any adjustments or arrangements needed, relating to your disability, to recruitment@fra.europa.eu , so that FRA can ensure your full and equal participation in the interview.
Data protection
Personal data shall be processed solely for the purpose of the selection procedure.
Please note that FRA will not return applications to candidates. The personal information FRA requests from applicants will be processed in line with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data. This applies in particular to the confidentiality and security of such data.
Should the candidate have any query concerning the processing of his/her personal data, he/she shall address them to: recruitment@fra.europa.eu .
For further information with regard to the processing of personal data, please see FRA’s Privacy Statement.
Appeal procedures
If a candidate considers that he/she has been adversely affected by a particular decision, he/she can lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of Officials and Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Union, at the following address:
The Director
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights
Schwarzenbergplatz 11
A-1040 Vienna
Austria
The complaint must be lodged within 3 months. The time limit for initiating this type of procedure start to run from the time the completion of the selection procedure is published on the Web-site at the following link: http://fra.europa.eu/en/about-fra/recruitment/vacancies.
Should the complaint be rejected, pursuant to Article 270 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 91 of the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, a candidate may request judicial review of the act. The appeal must be lodged within 3 months from the date of notification to the following address:
Court of Justice of the European Union
Rue du Fort Niedergrünewald
L-2925 Luxembourg
Luxembourg
It is also possible to lodge a complaint to the European Ombudsman pursuant to Article 228(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and in accordance with the statute of the Ombudsman and the implementing provisions adopted by the Ombudsman. Before the Ombudsman can accept a complaint, it is necessary that the complaint is first addressed to the Agency. Any complaint to the Ombudsman (http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu) must be made within two years of receiving the Agency’s final position on the matter.