Seconded National Expert – Communications Officer

OPEN CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR SECONDED NATIONAL EXPERTS AT THE EUROPEAN CHEMICALS AGENCY (ECHA), HELSINKI

Seconded National Experts (SNEs) are drawn from the civil services of EU countries. They bring their unique skills and knowledge to ECHA for a period of time before taking the experience acquired during their stay at the Agency back to their home administration.

ECHA offers job opportunities for Seconded National Experts (SNEs) in the following profile:

Profile Reference: ECHA/SNE/2026/002

Profile Title: Seconded National Expert – Communications Officer

1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Candidates for secondment must:

· Have current employment in the national, regional or local public sector or international civil service. Alternatively candidates may be employed in a non-profit or voluntary sector;

· Hold a university degree in a field relevant to the areas of work described in this call;

· Be a national of an EU or EFTA Member State or a candidate country as decided by the Council;

· Be able to communicate in written and spoken English as this is the working language of ECHA.

2. SECONDMENT

The secondment will be subject to an exchange of letters between the Head of People and Development of ECHA and the applicants employer. The duration of the first secondment is a maximum of one year. This period may be renewed for a maximum of three additional years.

Seconded National Experts remain in the service of their employer throughout the period of their secondment. The sending organisation must continue remunerating the SNE, who will thus benefit from social security coverage. During their secondment, SNEs will receive subsistence allowances and reimbursement of expenses as set out in the Rules on the secondment of national experts to the European Chemicals Agency (Decision ED-0050).

The SNE Rules

3. PROFILE

Seconded National Expert – Communications Officer; ref.: ECHA/SNE/2026/002

Our ideal candidate is a communications professional with experience gained working in a national authority, national ministry, European institution or European agency. Comfortable in a changing environment, you are adaptable, resilient and have good interpersonal and networking skills. You are curious about developments in your field and communications more broadly.

The Unit is responsible for ECHAs communications activities, including press relations, external and internal communications, social media, digital communications and its website. We focus on delivering professional proactive, clear and strategic communications services, that support the Agency's activities and promote ECHAs work and achievements.

Job description:

The Seconded National Expert will work in the Communications Unit – G3.

The Communications Officer will contribute to the Units daily interaction with internal and external stakeholders. The jobholder will also be responsible for relations with internal business areas on specific regulatory topics in support of ECHAs external communications strategy. The role for this profile will be assigned according to the Units needs and the jobholders competencies.

Duties will include, depending on needs:

External Communications:

Drafting press releases, briefings, speeches etc.;

Developing content for ECHAs website;

Dealing with press queries, interviews and briefings;

Supporting senior management with media appearances;

Organizing and supporting events for external stakeholders;

Support the production of webinars and videos;

Support the management of the Agency's corporate communication channels and social media presence; ,

Acting as a spokesperson when required; and

Working with colleagues across ECHA to determine communication priorities and key messages to be delivered to internal and external stakeholders.

Internal Communications:

Cooperating with colleagues in determining communications priorities;

Content development for ECHAs Intranet;

Organizing and supporting internal staff events; and

General support to internal communication initiatives.

Project Work

The Unit is responsible for a number of ECHA wide projects, where input may be required, including:

Building a new website;

Implementing the new ECHA corporate identity;

ECHAs 2027 Conference – 20-21 May 2027;

ECHAs 20th Anniversary 1 June 2027-31 May 2028;

Chairing the EU Agencies Heads of Communications & Information Network – 1 March 2027-28 February 2028;

Requirements:

Successful completion of a full course of university studies attested by a degree, where the normal duration of university education is three (3) years or more.

Of your total professional experience, at least one (1) year must be in a field or fields relevant to the areas of work mentioned above e.g. for example, external/internal communications or stakeholder relations.

Only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities or EEA authorities and qualifications recognised as equivalent by the relevant EU or EEA Member State authorities will be accepted.

Selection criteria:

If you meet the requirements set out above, you will be assessed on the basis of the following selection criteria. The candidates who are judged to be the most suitable on the basis of the selection criteria will be invited to a (remote) interview.

The following will be considered as assets:

· Ability to communicate effectively in English at all levels both orally and in writing;

· Experience of working in a communications/stakeholder relations function in a complex regulatory environment; and

· Demonstrated understanding of the link between your current experience, the Communications Officers role and ECHAs strategic priorities.