Europese Beweging:
IT Expert )

Vacancy for a post of IT Expert (Grade AD5) in the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)

REF.: ACER/2012/002

Publication External

Title of function IT Expert (ACER)

Parent Directorate-General / Service DG ENER (BXL)

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1. W

E ARE

The Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (hereinafter referred to as ACER), established by Regulation (EC) No 713/2009 , will be central in the liberalisation of the EU's electricity and natural gas markets.

The purpose of the Agency is to assist National Regulatory Authorities in exercising, at Community level, the regulatory tasks that they performed in the Member States and, where necessary, to coordinate their action.

ACER will in particular:

(a) complement and coordinate the work of National Regulatory Authorities;

(b) participate in the creation of European network rules;

(c) take, under certain conditions, binding individual decisions on terms and conditions for access and operational security for cross border infrastructure;

(d) give advice on electricity and natural gas related issues to the European institutions;

(e) monitor the internal markets in electricity and natural gas and report on its findings.

Regulation (EU) No 1227/2011 on Wholesale Energy Market Integrity and Transparency (REMIT) has introduced new rules prohibiting abusive practices affecting

wholesale energy markets and provides for the monitoring of these markets by ACER in close collaboration with national regulatory authorities (NRAs), to detect and deter market abuse. Some provisions in REMIT apply from its entering into force (28 December 2011). Wider reporting obligations of transactions concluded in the wholesale energy markets will apply only once the related Implementing Acts are adopted (expected in 2013). ACER is in the process of defining its strategy and adapting its internal structure for implementing REMIT.

ACER currently has a staff of around 50 and an annual budget estimated at 7.3 million

in 2012.

ACER internal structure currently comprises three Departments (Electricity, Gas and Administration) and the Director's Office. It is envisaged that an additional Department will be created as soon as an amended Multi-Annual Staff Policy Plan is adopted.

ACER headquarters are located in Ljubljana.

2. W

E PROPOSE

The IT Expert will ensure the operations and infrastructure of the current IT systems and contribute into the definition, planning, acquisition and implementation of new ones related to the activities to be performed by ACER as defined in REMIT.

IT security and database issues will also fall under its field of responsibilities.

More specifically the tasks of the jobholder will include:

Planning, Executing, Controlling and Monitoring of new IT infrastructure and systems related to the activities to be performed by ACER as defined in REMIT

Contribution in analysing and defining the Agency's Information System software-hardware solutions requirements;

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  Coordinate and supervise partially or fully outsourced IT initiatives;
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  Contributing to the preparation of tender and contract specifications for IT and IT Security related Agency's initiatives that require partial or full outsourcing of work. Play a key role in the evaluation, selection, negotiation of terms and contractor relationship management for those initiatives;

Control and Monitor project work, scope, schedule, costs, quality and risks, and take action where these deviate from agreed tolerances.

Contributing to IT security and database issues

Design test plans, test and validate the quality of the IT security infrastructure;

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  Control and monitor availability, maintainability, stability, performance and capacity of the IT security systems, identifying and analysing risks, anomalies and patterns that could result into issues for the Agency and points of improvement;

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Contribute to the overall design, building process, administration and maintenance and evolution of the ACER databases and data warehouse infrastructures;

Contributing to the development and maintenance of risk management, disaster recovery, business continuity, business security and security test plans and assuring secure IT Infrastructure management best practices are observed. Coordinate and monitor third party support in the area of databases, the OS platform, the storage area network, and the backup/restore and vault systems underpinning the database architecture.

Ensuring the operations and infrastructure of the current IT systems

Contribute to the regular tasks of IT department, delivery of IT services, support and proper functioning of the IT infrastructure, etc.;

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  Install, conduct computer diagnostics to determine nature of problems, provide technical assistance and perform minor repairs to hardware, software, and peripheral equipment, following design or installation specifications;

Integrate and ensure IT security in the lifecycle of networks and IT systems.

The jobholder will work in the IT Unit in the Administration Department, under the direct supervision of the IT Resources Officer.

3. W

E LOOK FOR:

A) Eligibility criteria

Candidates will be considered eligible for selection on the basis of the following formal criteria to be fulfilled by the deadline for applications:

• 1. 

  To have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma, when the normal period of university education is three

years or more,

(Only study titles that have been awarded in EU Member States or that are subject to the equivalence certificates issued by the authorities in the said Member States shall be taken into consideration.);

• 2. 

  By the closing date for applications candidates must, after obtaining the qualifications mentioned in point 3.A.1, have acquired at least 3 years of professional experience;
• 3. 

  To have a thorough knowledge of one of the official Community languages and a satisfactory knowledge of a second of these languages to the extent necessary to perform his/her duties;
• 4. 

  To be a national of a member state of the European Union;
• 5. 

  To be entitled to his or her full rights as a citizen;

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• 6. 

  To have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws concerning military service;
• 7. 

  To meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• 8. 

  To be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

B) Selection criteria

Essential

• 1. 

  University education in a field relevant to this post (computer science/engineering, information and communication technology

or similar academic area)

• 2. 

  By the closing date for applications candidates must, after obtaining the qualifications mentioned in point 3.A.1, have acquired at least 3 years of professional experience of which at least 2 years in tasks closely related to those described above
• 3. 

  Experience in the implementation, test, deployment, management and support of ICT infrastructure and/or complex and multi-tiered Information Systems for corporate/agency environments
• 4. 

  Proven experience and expertise on collecting and drafting Business Requirements for Information Systems (analysis, design, drafting tender and contract specifications, etc)
• 5. 

  Knowledge of IT security
• 6. 

  Knowledge of databases architecture and management
• 7. 

  Ability to work under pressure and manage his/her priorities; capacity to manage and co-ordinate several processes and projects simultaneously;
• 8. 

  Excellent written and oral command (level C2) of the English language;

candidates are invited to specify in their CV possible language certificates they

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dispose of which can demonstrate this language skill (no copies needed at this stage);

• 9. 

  Good written and oral command (level B2) of a second official language of the European Union including the mother tongue; for languages other than the mother tongue; candidates are invited to specify in their CV possible language certificates they dispose of which can demonstrate this language skill (no copies needed at this stage);
• 10. 

  Familiarity with the mission, organisation and functioning of ACER.

Advantageous

• 11. 

  Relevant professional certifications or proven knowledge in IT security or working experience as IT Security Officer;
• 12. 

  Good practical knowledge and experience with the RUP (Rational Unified Process) application development methodology;
• 13. 

  Good knowledge of any of the following products: Oracle RDBMS, Oracle PL/SQL, Microsoft SQL Server, working experience in development, administration of databases;
• 14. 

  Work experience in managing contracts and drafting the IT technical specifications under procurement and financial rules and procedures applicable to EU institutions and agencies;
• 15. 

  Familiarity with the current developments in the European energy market and the role assigned to Agency under REMIT;
• 16. 

  Good written and oral command (B2) of a third official language of the European Union; candidates are invited to list in their CV possible language certificates they obtained which can demonstrate this language skill (no copies needed at this stage);
• 17. 

  Knowledge of and experience with the organisation, structure and working procedures of the European Union, its institutions and decision making processes; Candidates are invited to briefly specify in their CV or motivation letter any studies (including post graduate studies) and experience relevant for acquiring sufficient familiarity with the European Union, its institutions and decision making processes such as past professional experience in one of the European institutions (including a traineeship);
• 18. 

  Previous experience within an international and multicultural environment.

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4. SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT

The Regulation which provides the legal basis for ACER was adopted in July 2009 (Official Journal of the European Union L 211 of 14.8.2009).

A Selection Committee will evaluate the applications and select those candidates meeting the eligibility criteria and matching best the selection criteria. The Selection Committee will invite the selected candidates to an interview.

The interview will focus on the following aspects:

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  General aptitudes and language abilities to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties in accordance with article 12.2.e. of the Conditions of Employment of other Servants of the European Communities (CEOS);
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  Knowledge on European integration, the institutions and in particular in the domain of ACER;
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  Specific competences with reference to the applicants' profiles in line with the selection criteria of the present Vacancy Notice.

The Selection Committee will propose a short list of successful candidates to the Appointing Authority. Candidates will be informed of the outcome of the interview.

5. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

ACER applies an equal opportunities policy and accepts applications without distinction on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation.

6. CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The successful candidate will be appointed by the Director of ACER as a temporary agent at grade AD5 pursuant to Article 2a of the CEOS for a period of 5 years which may

be renewed.

The place of employment will be Ljubljana (Slovenia), where ACER is based.

7. APPLICATION P

ROCEDURE

For applications to be valid, candidates must submit:

a detailed curriculum vitae in European CV format

a letter of motivation (2 page maximum)

Applications, preferably in English, French or German should be sent by email to selections-ACER-2012-002@acer.europa.eu quoting the reference number of the vacancy notice.

Supporting documents (e.g. certified copies of degrees/diplomas, references, proof of experience etc.) should not be sent at this stage but must be submitted at a later stage of the procedure if requested.

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In order to facilitate the selection process, all communications to candidates concerning this vacancy will be in English.

Under no circumstances should candidates approach the selection committee, directly or indirectly, concerning this recruitment. The authority authorised to conclude contracts reserves the right to disqualify any candidate who disregards this instruction.

Applications must be sent by e-mail by 6 of February 2012 (closing time 23:59 Ljubljana time).

If at any stage in the procedure it is established that any of the information a candidate provided is incorrect, the candidate in question will be disqualified.

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