The post of Specialist – Data Protection is located in the Data Protection Function.
The Data Protection Function (DPF) of Europol provides objective assurance and consultation activities designed to add value and improve data processing operations at Europol.
The Data Protection Officer is an independent function appointed by and accountable to the Management Board. The Data Protection Officer heads the DPF, whose main task is to ensure lawfulness and compliance with Europol’s legal framework as far as the processing of operational and administrative personal data is concerned.
Purpose of the post:
As a Specialist – Data Protection, the incumbent will play an important role in ensuring Europol’s compliance with data protection laws and regulations.
With reference to Article 41b of the Europol Regulation 2022/991 of 8 June 2022, the role will involve developing and implementing policies, procedures, and controls to protect data, conducting risk assessments, and providing guidance on data protection matters.
Reporting lines:
The incumbent reports to the Head of the DPF.
2. Functions and duties
The incumbent carries out the following main functions and duties:
- Handle data subject requests in the operational area, such as access, rectification and erasure, ensuring timely responses and compliance with individuals' rights;
- Liaise with the competent authorities of the Members States and national supervisory authorities in the area of data protection matters in the law enforcement field;
- Provide advice to EDPS complaint cases in relation to handling data subject access requests;
- Contribute to the preparation, development and update of data protection policies, procedures and guidelines in line with relevant regulations and best practices;
- Contribute to reporting & compliance activities in relation to the protection of administrative and operational personal data;
- Contribute to regular assessments of data processing activities to identify potential risks, vulnerabilities and compliance gaps;
- Contribute to tasks deriving from other legal instruments such as the PNR Regulation, the SIS Regulation or the Directive on the use of financial and other information in the fight against serious crime;
- Contribute to responses to requests from the EDPS and implement EDPS recommendations;
- Perform any other duties in the area of competence as assigned by the line management.
3. Requirements - Eligibility criteria
a. Candidates must
- Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and enjoy full rights as a citizen;
- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws on military service;
- Produce appropriate character references as to his or her suitability for the performance of the duties;
- Be physically fit to perform the duties pertaining to the post as further specified in Article 13 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS);
- Produce evidence of a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the Union and a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the Union to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties.
b. Candidates must have
- A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma;
OR
- Professional training of an equivalent level in a relevant area and after having completed the training, at least the number of years of relevant professional experience as indicated below:
Duration of professional training Additional professional experience required for equivalency
More than 6 months and up to 1 year 3 years
More than 1 year and up to 2 years 2 years
More than 2 years 1 year
- In addition to the above at least 3 years of total professional work experience gained after the award of the diploma.
4. Requirements - Selection criteria
a. Professional experience:
Essential:
- Experience in a data protection role within a public authority, law enforcement authority or international organisation;
- Experience in implementing the data protection safeguards of Regulation EC 2018/1725 (EUDPR) and/or EC 2016/680 (LED) and/or 2016/794 (Europol Regulation) and/or 2016/679 (GDPR);
- Experience in drafting and implementing decisions, formal opinions or regulatory instruments in the area of data protection.
Desirable:
- Experience in handling DSARs or complaints related to the processing of personal data in a law enforcement or security context;
- Experience working in EU public administration;
- Experience in dealing with data security related matters.
b. Professional knowledge:
Essential:
- Ability to understand and apply personal data protection law, in particular Regulation (EU) 2018/1725, Directive (EU) 2016/680 and/or Europol Regulation;
- Knowledge of data protection principles; Knowledge of technical and organisational measures for protecting operational personal data and compliance with personal data protection regulations.
Desirable:
- Data protection and/or data privacy certification or qualification (issued by e.g. EIPA, IAPP, ECPC).
c. General competencies
Essential:
Communicating:
- Very good communication skills in English, both orally and in writing;
- Ability to draft clear and concise documents on complex matters for various audiences.
Analysing & problem solving:
- Keen eye for detail with the ability to maintain standards of accuracy under pressure of tight deadlines;
- Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;
- Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the internet.
Delivering quality and results:
- High degree of commitment and flexibility;
- High level of customer and service-orientation.
Prioritising and organising:
- Good administrative and organisational skills.
Resilience:
- Very good interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well, both independently and in a team;
- Ability to remain effective under a heavy workload and demonstrate resistance to stress.
Living diversity:
- Ability to work effectively in an international and multi-cultural environment.
d. Additional conditions:
Fulfil the condition stipulated in Article 5 of the Decision of the Executive Director on the Duration of contracts of employment for Temporary Agents, on the start date of the possible contract of employment which may be offered.
5. Selection procedure
All applications for Temporary Agent posts must be submitted through the online recruitment system accessible via Europol’s website. For further information, please consult the Europol Recruitment Guidelines.
The Authority Authorised to Conclude Contracts of Employment (AACC) sets up a Selection Committee, composed of at least three members, consisting of one chair and at least one member from the administration and one member designated by the Staff Committee.
The selection criteria, set out in this Vacancy Notice, will be assessed by the Selection Committee throughout the different stages of the selection procedure. Before the start of the selection procedure, the Selection Committee will decide which selection criteria will be used at each stage of the selection procedure. Certain selection criteria will be assessed only for shortlisted candidates during a written test and/or a competency-based interview.
The Selection Committee will assess the applications received in order to make an initial selection of those candidates meeting all eligibility criteria and matching best the selection criteria (suitability).
The minimum pass-mark for being shortlisted, i.e. invited to participate in a post-related selection procedure, consisting of a written test and a competency-based interview, is established as 60% of the total maximum score.
The Selection Committee will shortlist the 8 highest scoring candidates. All candidates having a score equal to the 8th highest scoring candidate will be invited to take part in the selection procedure. At shortlisting stage, the Selection Committee will establish the pass-mark for the selection procedure.
It is intended for the selection procedure to be conducted remotely. Should the Selection Committee consider it necessary to conduct the selection procedure on-site at Europol in the interest of the proceedings, and subject to budget availability, the candidates invited to participate in the selection procedure will be informed accordingly.
After the selection procedure has taken place, the Selection Committee will establish a list of successful candidates, i.e. those scoring above the pre-defined pass-mark, which is shared with the AACC.
The Selection Committee makes a proposal to the AACC on the candidate(s) to appoint. Following that proposal, the AACC makes a decision of appointment.
Candidates who participated in the interview will be informed of the outcome, i.e. whether they have been successful or not. In view of the list of successful candidates established by the Selection Committee, the AACC retains the discretion to constitute a Reserve List. A Reserve List is valid for 24 months.
The Selection Committee’s work and deliberations are confidential. It is forbidden for candidates to make direct or indirect contact with the members of the Selection Committee or for anyone to do so on their behalf.
All enquiries related to a selection procedure should be addressed to the Europol HR Operational Support Team at the following email address: C2-12@europol.europa.eu. Detailed information on the selection procedure- including enquiries, measures of redress and their applicable deadlines is available in the Europol Recruitment Guidelines, which can be found on Europol’s website.
6. Compensation and benefits
Scale: AD6
The gross basic monthly salary is EUR 6961.29 (step 1) or EUR 7253.84 (step 2).
The step-in grade is determined on the basis of professional experience gained after the education required for the post and in line with applicable implementing rules.
Staff pay EU tax at source but salaries are exempt from national taxes. Compulsory deductions are made for health insurance, pension and unemployment insurance.
Subject to the applicable conditions being met, as defined in the EU Staff Regulations (EUSR)/CEOS and further specified in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, allowances such as expatriation allowance (16% of basic gross salary) or foreign residence allowance (4% of basic gross salary), household allowance, dependent child and / or education allowance may be granted.
Staff enjoy worldwide insurance coverage by the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) and are insured against sickness, the risk of occupational disease and accident.
Europol offers flexible working arrangements, a comprehensive provision for annual leave as well as parental leave supporting a healthy work-life balance.
Indicative net salary sample calculation AD6/step 1:
a) Staff member (single) in receipt of expatriation allowance (16%): EUR 7240.58
b) Staff member with two dependent children in their custody in receipt of expatriation allowance (16%): EUR 9436
The above information is indicative and for information purposes only. It is merely meant to give an indication of the possible net salary in light of the currently applicable amounts of the related allowances and the level of taxation. It has no legal value and no rights can be derived from it.
The information is based on figures applicable as of July 2025.
7. Terms and conditions
Contract of employment
The successful candidate will be engaged in the type of post Administrator and function group AD, grade 6 pursuant to Article 2(f) CEOS and Annex I to the EUSR.
The initial contract will be concluded for a period of 4 years (full-time – 40 hours a week). The contract may be renewed, in principle, for a period of 2 years. Any further renewal shall be for an indefinite duration.
If the successful candidate is already a member of temporary staff 2(f) in the relevant function group, he/she may be offered the opportunity of contract continuity, should the relevant conditions be fulfilled.
Conditions of engagement
Before the employment contract is concluded by Europol, the successful candidate will have to:
- declare any conflict of interest.
- undergo a pre-employment medical examination to confirm that he/she is physically fit to perform the duties pertaining to the post or, alternatively, receive the confirmation from Europol that he/she fulfils the conditions laid down in the Decision of the Deputy Executive Director of the Capabilities Directorate on the pre-employment medical examination available on Europol’s website;
The place of employment will be The Hague, The Netherlands.
In exceptional cases, where justified in the interest of the service, the AACC may recruit a candidate who is a successful candidate in a selection procedure for temporary staff 2(f) CEOS as contract staff 3(a) CEOS, if the selection procedure is considered to be appropriate to the duties to be performed.
For further information on terms and conditions, please consult the EUSR/CEOS available Europol’s website.