VACANCY NOTICE
Administrative Assistant (ELA/AST/2026/09)
| Type of contract | Temporary agent |
|---|---|
| Grade | AST/SC 2 |
| Duration of contract | 5 years (renewable) |
| Area | Administration |
| Place of employment | Bratislava, Slovakia |
| Deadline for applications | 23/10/2026, 12:00 (midday, CET) |
| Reserve list valid until | 31 December 2028 |
The European Labour Authority
The European Labour Authority ('the Authority' or 'ELA') is a Union body in the area of cross-border labour mobility. Its aim is to facilitate access for individuals and employers to information on their rights and obligations; support cooperation between EU countries in the cross-border enforcement of relevant Union law, including by facilitating joint inspections; support Member States in tackling undeclared work and mediate and facilitate a solution in cases of cross-border disputes between national authorities.
Further information on the Authority is available on its website: www.ela.europa.eu.
The job
The Authority is launching a vacancy notice with a view to establishing a reserve list of Temporary Agents for the position of Administrative Assistant.
1. Profile
Reporting to the Head of Sector, Unit or Department, the jobholder will provide administrative, financial and logistical support to one or more organisational entities within ELA. The jobholder will contribute to the timely and compliant implementation of administrative and financial processes, support budget monitoring and procurement and contract-management activities, and act as a liaison with the relevant corporate-support services.
Tasks
The tasks of the Administrative Assistant will include, inter alia:
- Providing administrative and organisational support to the unit/sector/department;
- Preparing and maintaining administrative files, records, correspondence, briefings and reports;
- Managing functional mailboxes and incoming and outgoing correspondence;
- Providing administrative support to the organisation of meetings, events and other operational activities, including logistical arrangements and follow-up;
- Monitoring deadlines, commitments and administrative workflows, and following up with the relevant colleagues and services;
- Maintaining accurate financial, procurement and contract-management records in the relevant corporate systems;
- Carrying out the functions of Operational Initiating Agent, where designated and subject to the applicable requirements;
- Supporting staff and management with missions, mission procedures and verifications within the Unit;
- Performing any other related task in the interest of the service.
Qualifications and experience required
2. Eligibility criteria
By the closing date for applications to this vacancy notice, candidates must fulfil the requirements below:
2.1. General conditions
- Be nationals of a Member State of the European Union or EFTA countries;
- enjoy their full rights as citizens¹;
- have fulfilled any obligations imposed by national laws concerning military service;
- meet the appropriate personal and professional requirements for the duties involved;
- be physically fit to perform their duties²;
2.2. Language skills
Candidates must have a thorough knowledge of one official language of the European Union and a satisfactory knowledge³ (level B2) of another language of the Union⁴. As the predominant
¹ Prior to the appointment, the successful candidate will be asked to provide a certificate of good conduct, confirming the absence of any criminal record.
² Before taking up his/her duties, the successful candidate will undergo a medical examination by one of the institutions' medical officers.
³ The self-assessment of the candidate should be done in accordance with the Common European Framework of reference for Languages (CEFR).
⁴ Candidates must also have a satisfactory knowledge of another official language of the European Union to the extent necessary for the performance of his/her duties. The European Union has 24 official
working language of ELA is English, candidates must have an excellent command of spoken and written English⁵.
2.3. Education
Candidates must have, at the closing date for applications, a level of education which corresponds to:
a) a level of education which corresponds to post-secondary education attested by a diploma⁶;
or
b) a level of education which corresponds to secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education and after having obtained the diploma, appropriate full-time professional experience of minimum three (3) years.
Candidates must indicate in their applications the official graduation dates for all the diplomas they have obtained.
2.4. Professional Experience
Candidates must have, at the closing date for applications, professional experience of at least four (4) years (acquired after the education referred to in Section 2.3 Education) in a field relevant to this position.
3. Selection criteria
Essential:
- Proven professional experience of at least two years in carrying out tasks similar to those described in Section 1;
- Proven experience of at least two years in international and/or multicultural environment;
Advantageous:
- Previous professional experience in working with the EU tools, including mission management systems (e.g. MIPS, ARES, SharePoint).
Moreover, the following competencies may be assessed during the selection process:
- Driving for results;
- Effective Communication;
languages: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Irish, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian, Spanish and Swedish.
⁵ Please note that candidates whose mother tongue is English, as well as candidates whose mother tongue is not an official language of the European Union, will be required to demonstrate, at the assessment phase, their ability to work in a second official language of the European Union, as indicated in their application.
⁶ 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. In case of qualifications issued by authorities outside EU Member States, the proof of recognition of equivalence by the relevant EU Member State authorities must be specifically mentioned in the online application form under 'Additional information'.
- Prioritising and Self-Management.;
The selection process
4. How to apply
You must apply through the EU CV Online system$^{78}$ via this link: https://ec.europa.eu/dgs/personnel_administration/open_applications/CV_Cand/index.cfm?fuseaction=premierAcces&langue=EN
Before applying, you should carefully check whether you meet all the eligibility criteria.
Applications must include a motivation letter and a CV, both submitted in English to be considered. Applications not submitted in English will be excluded from the selection procedure.
To be able to apply via EU CV Online, you must first create an account or sign in to an existing account. If not done already, you must first fill in the electronic CV. Once the CV is completed, you may choose and apply to the call for expressions of interest of your choice. You are advised to fill out ALL relevant fields of the application. For guidance, please refer to the guidelines for applications to candidates in ELA's website.
It is your responsibility to complete your online registration in time. We strongly advise you not to wait until the last few days before applying, since heavy internet traffic or a problem with the internet connection could lead to your online registration being interrupted before you complete it, thereby obliging you to repeat the whole process.
After a correct submission of an application, you will receive an automated acknowledgement of receipt of your application to the email account indicated in your application and, you will receive on screen a registration number. If you do not receive a number, it means that your application has not been registered. Please note it is your responsibility to verify that you provided the correct e-mail address.
All technical questions concerning EU CV Online must be sent through the contact page of EU CV Online.
Once the deadline has passed, you will no longer be able to apply.
Deadline for applications: 23$^{rd}$ October 2026, at 12:00 (midday, Bratislava time)
If you require more information, please send an e-mail to: recruitment@ela.europa.eu.
5. Steps of the selection procedure
5.1. Admission to the selection procedure
After the deadline for online registration, the selection committee will check the submitted applications against the eligibility criteria described in Section 2.
The selection committee will analyse if the application was submitted in English. Applications not submitted in English will be excluded from the selection procedure.
Applications satisfying all these conditions will then be initially assessed against the selection criteria under Section 3.
5.2. Initial assessment of the eligible applications
The selection committee will assess each eligible application with reference to the selection criteria (“Essential” and “Advantageous”) described in Section 3.
Upon completion of the assessment, the selection committee will establish a shortlist of candidates to be invited to the assessment phase.
Please note that once the pre-assessment phase is completed, shortlisted candidates will be invited to the assessment phase. The remaining candidates will be notified, by email, that their application will no longer be taken into consideration.
5.3. The assessment phase
Following the initial assessment of the applications, shortlisted candidates will be invited to the assessment phase, which will be held online. The assessment phase will be conducted in English.
Details of the date and time of the assessment will be communicated to the shortlisted candidates in due time.
The assessment phase involves an interview with the selection committee and one or more test(s) related to the field of the vacancy. This phase will enable the selection committee to carry out an assessment of the pre-selected candidates according to the selection criteria described in Section 3.
5.4. Verification of documents and scrutiny
If, at any stage in the procedure, it is established that the information in an application has been knowingly falsified or incorrect, the candidate will be disqualified from the selection process. Candidates will also be disqualified if they do not meet all the eligibility criteria.
Prior to the signature of the contract, the successful candidates must present the documents proving the eligibility criteria and of their experience.
5.5. Reserve list
The selection committee will place the most suitable eligible candidates on a draft reserve list. This draft will be submitted to the Executive Director of ELA for approval. The adopted reserve list will be valid until 31 December 2028. The validity of the reserve list may be extended by decision of the Executive Director of ELA. The information on valid reserve lists of ELA is published on ELA's website.
Prior to being offered a post, candidates on a reserve list may be required to undergo further evaluation by ELA (e.g. including a further interview with the Executive Director).
ELA is a signatory to the Memorandum of Understanding on the sharing of reserve lists of suitable candidates among EU Agencies and Joint Undertakings. Accordingly, the reserve list established through this selection procedure may also be used by the participating EU Agencies and Joint Undertakings listed in Annex to this vacancy notice.
Only the participating EU Agencies and Joint Undertakings listed in the Annex may use the reserve list established through this selection procedure. Candidates placed on the reserve list will be duly informed of any request to share their application documents, and their prior explicit consent will be obtained before any application documents are shared with another participating Agency or Joint Undertaking.
Candidates should note that the inclusion on the reserve list does not imply any entitlement to employment in ELA.
Other important information
6. General information
6.1. Equal opportunities
The Authority is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from all candidates who fulfil the eligibility criteria and interested in the position. ELA ensures that its recruitment procedures do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, colour, race, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, nationality, age, sexual orientation or gender identity.
In case of a disability, please feel free to inform Human Resources at ELA RECRUITMENT recruitment@ela.europa.eu and indicate which arrangements or adjustments relating to your disability are necessary, so ELA can ensure your equal participation in the interviews and tests.
6.2. Selection committee
A selection committee is appointed for each selection procedure. The selection committee is composed of at least three (3) members, including a member designated by the Staff Committee.
Please note that the selection committee's internal proceedings are strictly confidential and that any contact with its members is strictly forbidden. Under no circumstances should candidates
approach the selection committee, either directly or indirectly, concerning the selection procedure. Any infringement of this rule will lead to the disqualification from the selection procedure.
6.3. Approximate timetable
The selection process may take some months to be completed. The selection committee intends to finalise the recruitment process for this vacancy by November 2026, with a view for the selected candidate to take office by January 2027.
Please note that once the pre-assessment phase is completed, shortlisted candidates will be invited to the assessment phase. The remaining candidates will be notified, by email, that their application will no longer be taken into consideration.
6.4. Engagement and Conditions of employment
The decision on appointment will be taken by the Authority's Executive Director as the Authority Empowered to Conclude Contracts of Employment on the basis of the reserve list of most suitable candidates.
Before engaging a temporary agent, the Executive Director will examine whether the candidate has any personal interest such as to impair his/her independence or any other conflict of interest. The candidate will inform the Executive Director, using a specific form of any actual or potential conflict of interest$^{9}$. If necessary, the Executive Director shall take any appropriate measures.
A contract as a temporary agent may be offered pursuant to Article 2(f) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS) for an initial period of 5 years, renewable once. After the second period, the contract may be renewed for an indefinite period. The jobholder will be subject to a probationary period of 9 months.
6.5. Interagency mobility
Filling a post by means of mobility between EU agencies in the grade AST/SC2 is also possible, with a view to attracting temporary staff 2(f) that are currently employed at other EU agencies. ELA is following the procedure for interagency mobility and engagement as outlined in the European Labour Authority Decision of 03.12.2019 laying down general implementing provisions on the procedure governing the engagement and use of temporary staff under Article 2(f) of the CEOS.
6.6. Job environment
The place of employment is Bratislava, Slovakia. Residence within reasonable distance of ELA's office is required in accordance with the Staff Regulations (Article 20).
The jobholder will work in a multicultural, respectful and appreciative environment, which offers the possibility to shape the work of the authority, where collaboration and open and constructive dialogue is encouraged, while building effective work relations.
Working time is based on a 40-hour working week. ELA offers flexible working arrangements such as teleworking, part-time work, and flexible working hours.
6.7. Pay and welfare benefits
The successful candidate who is offered a contract of employment will, on their entry into service, be placed in step 1 or 2 of grade AST/SC 2, according to the length of their professional experience.
The staff member's remuneration consists of a basic salary and allowances. It is paid in euro adjusted by the applicable correction coefficient (in Slovakia the correction coefficient is currently 85,1% compared to Belgium).
The gross basic salary, after correction coefficient is applied, is as follows¹⁰:
| Grade AST/SC 2 | Step 1 | Step 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly basic gross salary (without any allowances) | € 3,253.85 | € 3,390.66 |
In addition to the basic salary, staff may be entitled to various allowances depending on their particular situation. These may include:
- Household allowance (e.g. if you have a dependent child or you are married and your spouse's income is below a defined threshold);
- Dependent child allowance (e.g. if you have a child under the age of 18 or between 18 and 26, if in specified training programme);
- Education allowances (Pre-school or Education allowance) or Payment of the education fees applicable to selected educational institutions;
- Expatriation allowance or foreign residence allowance (16% of the sum of basic salary and other applicable allowances) or foreign residence allowance (4 %).
The salary is subject to a Community tax deducted at source and is exempt from national tax. The salary package includes contributions to the EU social security and pension schemes. Candidates are invited to familiarise themselves with the employment conditions as stated in the Staff Regulations of Officials and the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union.
Under certain circumstances, in particular where the jobholder is obliged to change his/her place of residence in order to take up employment, the Agency may also reimburse some expenses incurred on recruitment, notably removal expenses.
Additional benefits:
- Annual leave entitlement of two days per calendar month plus additional days for age, grade, 2.5 days' home leave, if applicable, and in addition on average 18 public holidays per year;
¹⁰ Amounts are indicated for information purposes and may vary by the time the selected candidate takes up his/her duties following the annual revision of the remuneration.
- Special leave granted for certain circumstances: e.g. removal, marriage, birth of a child, etc.;
- Various training opportunities;
- Social measures;
- EU Pension scheme (granted after 10 years of service);
- EU Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS), accident and occupational disease coverage, unemployment and invalidity allowance and insurance.
6.8. Protection of personal data
Personal data shall be processed exclusively for the purpose of this selection procedure. The purpose of processing the data submitted by candidates is to evaluate applications in view of possible recruitment at ELA.
As the body responsible for organising the competition, the Authority ensures that applicants' personal data are processed as required by 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, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data (Official Journal of the European Union, L 295/39 of 21 November 2018). This applies in particular to the confidentiality and security of such data. In this regard, please see ELA Privacy Statement on selection procedures.
6.9. Appeal procedure
Administrative complaints
If a candidate considers that they have been adversely affected by a particular decision, they 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.
Complaints shall be submitted at executive-director@ela.europa.eu.
Or by mail at the following address:
European Labour Authority
For the attention of the Executive Director of ELA, Mr Cosmin BOIANGIU
Landererova 12,
811 09 – Bratislava
SLOVAKIA
The complaint must be lodged within 3 months. The time limit for initiating this type of procedure (see Staff Regulations as modified by Council Regulation No 723/2004 of 22 March 2004 published in the Official Journal of the European Union L 124 of 27 April 2004 – http://europa.eu/eur-lex) starts to run from the time the candidate is notified of the act adversely affecting him/her. The complainant shall clearly indicate the selection procedure reference number and the decision they wish to contest and on what grounds.
Judicial appeals
Should the complaint be rejected, the candidate may request judicial review of the act adversely affecting him/her pursuant to Article 270 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and Article 91 of the Staff Regulations, before the General Court:
Court of Justice of the European Union
Rue du Fort Niedergrünewald
L-2925 Luxembourg
LUXEMBOURG
Please note that appeals against decisions taken by ELA will not be admissible before the General Court unless an administrative complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations has first been submitted and rejected by express decision or by implied decision.
European Ombudsman
It is also possible to complain to the European Ombudsman. Any citizen of the European Union or any natural or legal person residing in a Member State may direct a complaint concerning instances of maladministration to the European Ombudsman pursuant to Article 228(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and in accordance with the conditions laid down in the Decision of the European Parliament of 9 March 1994 on the regulations and the general conditions governing the performance of the Ombudsman's duties, published in the Official Journal of the European Union L113 of 4 May 1994:
European Ombudsman
1 Avenue du Président Robert Schuman – CS 30403
F-67001 Strasbourg Cedex FRANCE
https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu
Please note that complaints made to the Ombudsman have no suspensive effect on the period laid down in Articles 90(2) and 91 of the Staff Regulations for lodging, respectively, a complaint or an appeal with the General Court of the European Union under Article 270 TFEU. In addition, please note the European Ombudsman cannot open an inquiry on a complaint that is simultaneously subject to proceedings before the General Court of the European Union.
ANNEX
List of EU Agencies or Joint Undertakings which signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
- European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC)
- European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU)
- Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER)
- Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU)
- Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA)
- European Centre for the Development of Vocational training (Cedefop)
- European Banking Authority (EBA)
- Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CA JU)
- European Union Agency for Railways (ERA)
- European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (EUROJUST)
- European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA)
- Clean Hydrogen Partnership (Clean Hydrogen JU)
- Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)
- European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA)
- The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Training (CEPOL)
- Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking (GH EDCTP3 JU)
- SESAR Joint Undertaking (SESAR 3 JU)
- Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU)
- European Labour Authority (ELA)
- Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU)