Seconded National Expert - Data, Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is organising a call for expression of interest to constitute a reserve list for Seconded National Experts (SNE) in the Justice, Digital and Migration Unit.
The position is based in Vienna and is offered in accordance with FRA rules governing secondment.
Background
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) provides independent, evidence-based advice to policymakers, to help ensure full respect for fundamental rights across the EU, for everyone. To this end, the Agency 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.
Justice, Digital and Migration Unit
The Justice, Digital and Migration Unit’s work is divided thematically across three Sectors: (1) Justice and Security, (2) Data and Digital, and (3) Migration and Asylum. The Unit’s work consists of socio-legal research and activities across these three Sectors, which includes desk research, in-depth qualitative fieldwork, quantitative survey research, and regular and timely engagement with stakeholders at both EU and national level with respect to law and policy.
The Unit’s work in the area of data, AI and digitalisation is primarily embedded in the Data and Digital Sector but extends to work undertaken by the Unit’s two other Sectors, and increasingly will support the work of other Units with respect to research and related work on AI, digitalisation and fundamental rights.
Examples of current activities in the Data and Digital Sector include: research, analysis and advice to EU institutions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in relation to the AI Act; online content moderation and child safety online in relation to the DSA; cybercrime and relevant legislation. With respect to the SNE position for ‘Data, AI and Digitalisation’, a key component relates to addressing uses of AI with respect to fundamental rights compliance.
The Unit currently consists of experts with a background in law, social sciences and statistics. To support the Unit’s increasing engagement in the field of AI and digitalisation, persons with a profile that can underpin this work are encouraged to apply.
Duties
The successful candidate will be expected to carry out the following tasks:
- Support the conceptualisation and development of research work undertaken in the ‘Data and Digital’ and other Sectors in the Unit, and assist other Units as needed - focusing on AI and digitalisation with respect to its impact on fundamental rights;
- Support the Unit’s on-going activities, including the following: support to oversight of research activities outsourced to contractors or undertaken internally; analysis and development of research findings;
- Support in drafting/re-drafting content for reports and other Unit publications aimed primarily at non-technical audiences, in English to a high standard;
- Provide in-depth input to research project work reflecting the SNE’s particular area/s of expertise;
- Present the work of the Unit with respect to its research findings and related advice at various meetings and events, in line with the Agency’s position.
Duties applicable to all SNEs
- Actively work towards the achievement of the goals of the FRA in accordance with the Strategic Plan;
- Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Head of Unit in the interest of the service;
- Work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
Eligibility requirements
To be admissible for this selection, candidates must fulfil all the following conditions by the deadline for submission of applications:
General conditions
- Be employed by a national, regional or local public administration or an intergovernmental organisation (IGO), or an independent university or research organisation, which is part of the public sector (that does not seek to make profit; in other words – is not a private institution);
- Have worked for their employer on a permanent or contract basis for at least 12 months before the secondment and shall remain in the service of that employer throughout the period of secondment;
- Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and EFTA or a country with which the Council has decided to open accession negotiations[1].
Education
- A university degree attested by a diploma in one of the following areas:
o information technology, computer science, artificial intelligence, data science or a closely related field; or
o law or social science with a major component in information technology, computer science, artificial intelligence or data science.
Diplomas and certificates awarded in EU Member States shall be taken into consideration. Diplomas and certificates awarded in non-EU countries may also be taken into consideration, provided that they are accompanied by an equivalence certificate issued by the competent authorities of an EU Member State. Any equivalence certificate shall be issued by the deadline for applications. More information on recognition of academic diplomas is available here:
https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/education/university/recognition/index_en.htm
Language skills
- Have a thorough knowledge (level C1 in all dimensions as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or CEFRL[2]) of English, as this is the working language of FRA, and
- Have a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2 in all dimensions as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or CEFRL) of other EU language (non-applicable for SNE from non-member country).
Selection criteria
In order to admit the best-qualified and most suitable candidates to the interview and possible test 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. Therefore – it is important that all applications are accurate and clear with respect to the information given.
The following criteria will be considered as essential:
- At least 3 years of professional experience at a level equivalent to the post and relevant to the tasks listed under section 2 “Duties”;
- Evidence of having drafted and published material (can include a PhD thesis, not counting bachelor’s and master’s thesis) in areas related to the work of the Data and Digital Sector and/or Justice and Security Sector, with a focus on AI, digitalisation and/or new technologies;
- Demonstrated knowledge of the regulatory and policy framework of the EU in one or more areas relating to data and digitalisation, including the AI Act, the Digital Services Act and the data protection acquis.
The following criteria will be considered as advantageous:
- Evidence of knowledge about data processing and analysis, including artificial intelligence;
- Competence in the use of relevant computer software that goes beyond standard office tools;
- Experience in the field of protection of fundamental rights - such as data protection, non-discrimination or freedom of expression - in the context of information technology systems or digital processing of data, such as on online platforms or through artificial intelligence (AI).
In addition to the essential and advantageous criteria, candidates invited to the interview and test phase will also be assessed against the following requirements:
- Communication: communicate clearly and precisely both orally and in writing;
- Analysis and problem-solving: ability to identify the critical facts in complex issues and to develop creative and practical solutions;
- Working with others: work cooperatively with others in teams and across organisational boundaries and respect differences between people; create a sense of team spirit by encouraging shared goals and exchange of knowledge and experience;
- Prioritisation and organisation: ability to prioritise the most important tasks, work flexibly and organise own and others’ workload efficiently;
- Quality and results: take personal responsibility and initiative for delivering work to a high standard quality within set procedures; show clear customer orientation (internal and external); build systematic and methodical processes into projects and work of self and own team;
- Resilience: remain effective under work pressure, be flexible and adapt to a changing work environment; encourage others to do the same and adjust own and team’s approach to embrace changing circumstances.
Selection criteria
In order to admit the best-qualified and most suitable candidates to the interview and possible test 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. Therefore – it is important that all applications are accurate and clear with respect to the information given.
The following criteria will be considered as essential:
- At least 3 years of professional experience at a level equivalent to the post and relevant to the tasks listed under section 2 “Duties”;
- Evidence of having drafted and published material (can include a PhD thesis, not counting bachelor’s and master’s thesis) in areas related to the work of the Data and Digital Sector and/or Justice and Security Sector, with a focus on AI, digitalisation and/or new technologies;
- Demonstrated knowledge of the regulatory and policy framework of the EU in one or more areas relating to data and digitalisation, including the AI Act, the Digital Services Act and the data protection acquis.
The following criteria will be considered as advantageous:
- Evidence of knowledge about data processing and analysis, including artificial intelligence;
- Competence in the use of relevant computer software that goes beyond standard office tools;
- Experience in the field of protection of fundamental rights - such as data protection, non-discrimination or freedom of expression - in the context of information technology systems or digital processing of data, such as on online platforms or through artificial intelligence (AI).
In addition to the essential and advantageous criteria, candidates invited to the interview and test phase will also be assessed against the following requirements:
- Communication: communicate clearly and precisely both orally and in writing;
- Analysis and problem-solving: ability to identify the critical facts in complex issues and to develop creative and practical solutions;
- Working with others: work cooperatively with others in teams and across organisational boundaries and respect differences between people; create a sense of team spirit by encouraging shared goals and exchange of knowledge and experience;
- Prioritisation and organisation: ability to prioritise the most important tasks, work flexibly and organise own and others’ workload efficiently;
- Quality and results: take personal responsibility and initiative for delivering work to a high standard quality within set procedures; show clear customer orientation (internal and external); build systematic and methodical processes into projects and work of self and own team;
- Resilience: remain effective under work pressure, be flexible and adapt to a changing work environment; encourage others to do the same and adjust own and team’s approach to embrace changing circumstances.
Conditions of secondment
Seconded national experts are staff employed by a national, regional or public administration or IGO, who are seconded to FRA so that it can use their expertise in a particular field. The secondment will be subject to an exchange of letters between the Appointing Authority of FRA and the representative from the sending employer.
A seconded national expert remains in the service of their employer throughout the period of secondment and shall continue to be paid by that employer. The SNE shall be entitled to a daily and monthly subsistence allowance in line with the MB Decision 2017/01[1].
The initial period of secondment will be for one year and may be renewed once or more, up to a total period not exceeding four years, in line with MB Decision 2017/01. The place of secondment shall be Vienna, Austria, where FRA is located.
Submission of applications and deadline
Candidates are requested to submit their application electronically through the Agency’s website. Only applications submitted in English via the e-recruitment system will be accepted.
Applications must be sent no later than 31 August 2026 13:00 (CET).
Information concerning the status of the selection procedure can be found at our website.
In case you experience technical problems during your application please contact recruitment@fra.europa.eu within the above mentioned deadline.
Please note that due to the large number of applications we receive, the system may face problems in processing such amounts of data when reaching the deadline for submission of applications. We therefore advise to apply well ahead of the deadline.
Selection procedure
A Selection Committee is nominated by the Appointing Authority of FRA.
Eligibility of candidates will be assessed according to compliance with all formal requirements by the closing date for the submission of applications (please 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 "Selection Criteria"). FRA will invite the top candidates among those who have obtained at least 60% for a test/interview.
The selection procedure will be composed of an interview and may include a written test, which will be held in English. They will take place either in Vienna (Austria), the place where the Agency has its seat, or online. The shortlisted candidates will receive further detailed information in due time.
Following the proposal of the Selection Committee, the Appointing Authority will decide on the establishment of the reserve list, which 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.
Candidates invited to an interview 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.
On the basis of the reserve list, the Appointing Authority may offer a contract of secondment.
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. If you consider yourself to have a physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disability that may require special adjustments to the recruitment process (e.g., interview), please indicate any adjustments or arrangements needed, relating to your disability, to recruitment@fra.europa.eu, so FRA can ensure your full and equal participation in the recruitment process.
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 their personal data, they 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 published on the vacancies page.