Contracts and secondments

Contracts

Temporary Agents

Temporary Agents tend to be recruited for specialised positions through direct selection procedures. These contracts of employment have a duration of three years. They can be renewed for a further three years and for a second time for an indefinite period. They can either be at administrator (AD) or assistant (AST) level depending on the job and nature of the duties.

Temporary Agent posts are classified according to the nature of the duties, current levels of expertise in the Agency and budget availability, in the following groups:

Temporary Agents are required to serve a probationary period of nine months.

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Contract Agents

In general, Contract Agents are recruited for tasks related to support activities in the Agency such as legal affairs, finance, human resources and ICT as well as more operational profiles. These contracts have an initial duration of three years. They can be renewed for a further three years and for a second time for an indefinite period.

Contract Agents are also recruited for specific projects. These contracts are aligned with the duration of the project, which can be renewed.

Contract Agent posts are classified in four different function groups corresponding to the duties and responsibilities involved.

Contract Agent posts are classified in four function groups corresponding to the duties and responsibilities involved:

Function group IV: comprises six grades corresponding to administrative, advisory and equivalent technical tasks.
Function group III: comprises five grades corresponding to executive tasks, drafting, accountancy and other equivalent technical tasks.
Function group II: comprises four grades corresponding to clerical and secretarial tasks, office management and other equivalent tasks.
Function group I: comprises three grades corresponding to manual and administrative support service tasks.

Contract Agents are required to serve the following probationary periods:

6 months if employed in function group I, 9 months if employed in function group II-IV

EMSA publishes recruitment procedures for contract agents through the announcement of vacant posts on the Agency's website. The notice of the selection procedure will provide information on the conditions and essential requirements needed for the post. The Agency may also recruit contract agents from the European Personnel Selection Office – EPSO's CAST reserve lists.

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Secondments at EMSA

Seconded National Experts (SNEs)

Staff from Public Bodies can work at EMSA as ‘Seconded National Experts’. Seconded National Experts are seconded to the Agency while remaining in the service of their national employer and continuing to be paid their national salary by their employer. Depending of the circumstances, they may receive from the Agency subsistence allowances for the duration of their secondment. Therefore, candidates for a SNE post must be supported by their national authorities.

The Agency uses National Experts in the technical areas where advanced experience is available in National Administrations (e.g. Port State Control). At the same time, the exchange of expertise through Seconded National Experts contributes to the development of effective and smooth working relationships between Member States’ Maritime Administrations and EMSA.

Important: Your application for a secondment to EMSA must be submitted by the Permanent Representation of the Member State that intends to second you.

National Expert in Professional Training

This is a professional traineeship for staff working in national administrations across the EU, allowing them the opportunity to work at EMSA for a period of between three and five months.

Please note that NEPTs shall continue to be paid by their employer without any financial compensation from EMSA.

People who have already been seconded as an SNE or worked under an employment contract in one of the Community institutions or bodies shall not be eligible for professional traineeships.