Senior Specialist – Head of Team – Economic or Financial Crime

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.

Organisational setting:

The post of Senior Specialist – Head of Team Economic Crime or Financial Crime is located in the Economic or Financial Crime Unit, Economic and Financial Crime Centre (EFECC), 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 MS. This requires close cooperation with the Liaison Bureaux 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 (EFECC).

EFECC provides support and coordination to MS in the fight against financial and economic crimes in the European Union, delivering operational and investigative services on complex financial investigations. It also provides support to the European Union’s institutions and MS in building operational and analytical capacity for investigations and in strengthening the cooperation with external partners, both in the public and private sector.

The Financial Crime Unit consists of the Financial Crime Team and the Stakeholder Management Team.

The Financial Crime Team is dedicated to fight all major crimes that jeopardise the integrity and core values of our political and financial systems, drag economic growth (by creating business uncertainty, slowing processes, and imposing additional costs), distort legitimate competition and erode trust in public authorities, the financial and legal systems. Additionally the team implements and instigates the execution of the seizure and confiscation of criminal profits as the only way to open the avenues for confiscation - the follow the money approach.

The Stakeholder Management Team is managing the networks for which Europol provides a Secretariat (AMON and CARIN) and is focusing on asset recovery, corruption, economic crime affecting private interests (such as CEO fraud or mass marketing fraud) and IP crimes in close cooperation with the EUIPO. In addition, the team covers all AML/CFT questions, cooperation with private partners and customs cooperation.

The Economic Crime Unit is comprised of the Serious Fraud Team and the Counterfeiting and IP (Intellectual Property) Crime Team .

The Serious Fraud Team focuses on fighting all serious forms of fraud with an emphasis on VAT fraud, excise fraud, and the most prevalent fraud and scam campaigns targeting society, e.g. investment fraud. Fraud is the fastest growing crime area in the EU with an increasing global dimension and rapidly rising numbers of victims, and it is detrimental to the financial interests of the MS and the EU. Of particular importance is the protection of the financial interests of the EU and the close cooperation with EPPO and increasing operational support to its investigations.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

The Counterfeiting and IP Crime Team deals with IP crime affecting the growth of the European economy, with serious impact on the health and safety of consumers and the environment. To strengthen the fight against IP crime and infringements, Europol works closely with the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). As a result, the Intellectual Property Crime Coordinated Coalition (IPC3) was created and operates within Europol.

The Team is also in charge of currency counterfeiting. Europol is the EU’s central office for combating euro counterfeiting and the Team acts as the worldwide contact point for the subject, in close cooperation with the ECB and the MS.

The Economic Crime Unit also manages operational task forces (OTFs) within its mandate. In addition, the Unit is engaged in the EMPACT OAP Excise, MTIC fraud and counterfeiting and IP Crime.

Purpose of the post:

As Head of Team, the incumbent will supervise, coordinate and give guidance to a Team in the Economic Crime or Financial Crime Unit, in particular to the Financial Crime or Counterfeiting Team . S/he will be responsible for the planning, coordination and delivery of services and products provided by the team and be directly accountable for key milestones that support organisational objectives.

Reporting lines:

The incumbent reports to the Head of Unit Economic Crime or Head of Unit Financial Crime.

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

The incumbent carries out the following main functions and duties:

General Head of Team responsibilities

- Coordinate the work of a group of individuals by effective and efficient planning, prioritisation, and scheduling of tasks and responsibilities;

- Monitor progress of work in line with key performance indicators; ensure work being produced is of high quality and meets business needs; apply corrective measures where needed;

- Define and supervise the accurate and timely execution of processes and procedures to ensure adherence to corporate policies, fundamental rights, standards and data protection regulations;

- Set clear expectations and objectives and direct work towards a common goal;

- Identify, address and propose resolutions to issues affecting the team;

- Provide constructive feedback, guidance and support and coach team members;

- Encourage continuous learning and development of team members;

- Create an open, honest and inclusive team culture with respect for diversity, where team members are encouraged to perform at their best.

Specific responsibilities

- Head or take a key role in project-related activities, with specific emphasis on counterfeiting or financial crime;

- Provide subject matter expertise to operational activities aimed in the respective crime area;

- Identify, initiate and assist in producing analytical outputs and reports related to respective crime area;

- Enhance Europol’s ability to exploit data with the aim of supporting investigations of MS;

- Establish, maintain and foster close contacts with MS and Third Parties’ Liaison Officers to encourage and support operational activities related to respective crime area;

- Support the Head of Unit in policy and other strategic matters in the respective crime area;

- Represent Europol at meetings, trainings and other events and deliver presentations, increase awareness and provide expert knowledge and advice in relation to respective crime area;

- Organize and facilitate working groups, meetings or conferences in the respective crime area;

REQUIREMENTS - ELIGIBILITY AND SELECTION CRITERIA

FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

- Perform any other duties in the area of competence as assigned by line management.

REQUIREMENTS - ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

a. Candidates must

• Be a member of a competent authority within the meaning of the Article 2(a) of the Europol Regulation and enjoy full rights as a citizen of a Member State;

• 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

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

REQUIREMENTS - SELECTION CRITERIA

a. Professional experience

Essential:

• Experience conducting financial investigations or investigations in relation to counterfeiting currency and/or IP crime;

• Experience conducting or coordinating international investigations;

• Experience managing or coordinating a team.

Desirable:

• Experience in dealing with judicial authorities at the national and international level in the context of financial crime investigations;

• Experience implementing strategic projects or initiatives (e.g. EMPACT).

b. Professional knowledge

Essential:

• Knowledge of criminal techniques and methods in relation to financial crime and/or counterfeiting (currency and/or IP crime);

• Knowledge of complex investigative techniques and methods in relation to financial crime and/or counterfeiting (currency and/or IP crime);

• Knowledge of international law enforcement cooperation in the area of financial crime and/or counterfeiting (currency and/or IP crime);

• Knowledge of the EU and Europol’s legal framework in relation to financial crime and/or counterfeiting (currency and/or IP crime).

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:

• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills;

• Structured approach to work aimed at getting results;

• 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 organisational 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.

Team supervision:

• Ability to manage a diverse team including the ability to motivate staff, effectively plan and monitor the work of other staff members and to provide guidance.

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.