Senior Specialist – Data Quality

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

This selection procedure is intended to establish a reserve list of successful candidates. It is envisaged to start using the reserve list in Q4 2024/Q1 2025.
Europol retains the right to make use of the reserve list to select candidates for similar posts within the organisation, should business needs require so.
The post of Senior Specialist – Data Quality & Compliance is considered a restricted post that may be filled without limitation to candidates coming from a competent authority, as stipulated in Annex II of the relevant Decision of the Management Board of Europol of 19 March 2024. The Europol Recruitment Guidelines may be consulted for further details.

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

The post of Senior Specialist – Data Quality & Compliance is located in the Data Quality Office in the Data Analysis Development and Support Team, Analysis and Strategic Coordination Unit, Operational & Analysis Centre, Operations Directorate.
The Operations Directorate deals with the core business of Europol, improving the effectiveness and cooperation of the competent authorities in the Member States (MS) in preventing and combating serious and organised crime, as well as terrorism affecting the Member States. This requires close cooperation with the Liaison Bureaux (LBx) at Europol and via them with the operational teams in the MS.
Europol delivers a number of products and services to national law enforcement agencies to support them in their fight against international serious and organised crime, as well as terrorism.
The Operations Directorate hosts five distinct Departments: The Operational & Analysis Centre, European Serious Organised Crime Centre, European Cyber Crime Centre, European Counter Terrorism Centre, and The European Financial and Economic Crime Centre.
As part of the Operational & Analysis Centre, the Analysis & Strategic Coordination Unit focuses on enhancing coordination of cross-departmental aspects of analytical work in relation to operational and strategic analysis, such as analysis training, analysis standards and quality control, data analysis support and analysis processes. The Unit also coordinates horizontal topics such as EMPACT support activities, Europol Liaison Officers, support to MS and Third Party LBx and other Europol operational and strategic stakeholders

The Data Analysis Development & Support Team is responsible for the following main areas: identification, development, validation and implementation of business requirements for analysis, in consultation with other Directorates; development and enforcement of standards in relation to the processing of operational information, and acting as a contact point for data protection matters; coordination and maintenance of the portfolio of Europol’s Analytical Projects, data quality control and compliance.

Purpose of the post:
As part of the Data Analysis Development & Support Team, the post holder ensures that Europol processes operational data in compliance with the applicable legal framework and that data processing operations and procedures meet regulatory and policy standards. S/he advises on the implementation or prepares guidelines and policies, establishes process descriptions, communicates and advises on requirements, monitors data quality, carries out compliance checks and proposes corrective action where needed.
Reporting lines:
The incumbent reports to the Head of the Data Analysis Development and Support Team/Head of the Analysis and Strategic Coordination Unit.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

The incumbent carries out the following main functions and duties:

• Draft and review guidelines with the aim of improving data quality and compliance;

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

• Monitor that principles of data retention and deletion as laid out in the legal framework are safeguarded and applied correctly; make recommendations for corrective action where needed;
• Develop, implement and advise on data quality and compliance-related policies and procedures;
• Review data and analytical reports to ensure compliance with Europol’s legal framework;
• Evaluate internal operational and procedural compliance; contribute to the review, development, and enhancement of operational procedures and methods in relation to data quality and compliance; establish and maintain documentation; develop and monitor the implementation of operational data standards;
• Establish and regularly review and update data quality and compliance-related processes;
• Provide quality assurance against established practice for data quality across the Operations Directorate, reflecting an aligned approach;

• Prepare reports, presentations and other documents in area of responsibility, for internal and external purposes;
• Effectively engage and cooperate with partners and stakeholders relevant to area of responsibility, and represent Europol in meetings and conferences;
• Review work and provide advice, guidance and support to Analysts and Specialists in relation data processing and compliance;
• Contribute to the production and review of training and awareness material concerning data quality & compliance;
• Deliver training and/or awareness sessions concerning data quality & compliance.
• Act as a contact point for staff in Operations Directorate to provide guidance regarding handling and processing of personal data;
• Perform any other duties in the area of competence as assigned by the line management.

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 attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more;
OR
• A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is at least three years;
OR
• Professional training of an equivalent level in a relevant area (e.g. Police Officer’s School) and after having completed the training, at least the number of years of relevant professional experience as indicated below:

Duration of professional training Professional experience
More than 6 months and up to 1 year 4 years
More than 1 year and up to 2 years 3 years
More than 2 years and up to 3 years 2 years
More than 3 years 1 year

REQUIREMENTS - ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

• In addition to the above at least 6 years of total professional work experience gained after the award of the diploma.

a. Professional experience:
Essential:
• Experience in data quality management and data compliance obtained in a law enforcement, intelligence or security services or military context;
• Experience in process management in relation to data handling or processing;
• Experience in quality control of personal data.
Desirable:
• Experience in cooperating with data protection and/or compliance offices or functions;
• Experience with risk management.
b. Professional knowledge
Essential:

• Sound knowledge of the European legal frameworks, particularly in relation to processing of personal data and data protection;
• Knowledge of data quality management in relation to processing of personal data;
• Knowledge of process management;
• Knowledge of risk management.
Desirable:
• Completed training/qualification on data protection;
• Completed training/qualification on process management;
• Completed training/qualification as compliance analyst.

c. General competencies
Essential:
Communicating
• Excellent communication skills in English, both orally and in writing;
• Excellent presentation skills;
• Ability to draft clear and concise documents on complex matters for various audiences.
Analysing & problem solving:
• Structured approach to work aimed at getting results;
• 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:
• Excellent organizational skills including the ability to plan own work load, establish clear priorities and exercise initiative;
• Ability to manage projects and familiarity with project management terminology and methodology.
Resilience:
• Strong ability to work well both independently and in a team;
• Very good interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively liaise with other departments, groups and teams as well as with external partners;
• Ability to remain effective under a heavy workload and demonstrate resistance to stress.
Living diversity:
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers in an international and multi-disciplinary work environment.
Advising:
• Ability to synthesise various data into a coherent and relevant whole, transforming it into a valuable and correct conclusion;
• Building constructive relationships with clients, adequately identifying and managing their needs and expectations, and giving well-grounded advice.
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.