Senior Specialist - Media Relations & News Coverage - EUROPOL

Head of Team, Corporate Communications Unit(AD7)

1. Organisational context

Organisational setting:

The post of Senior Specialist - Media Relations & News Coverage – Head of Team is located in the Corporate Communications Unit in the Corporate Affairs Bureau Department.

The CAB Department is responsible for:

• Providing the full range of services expected of a cabinet, including administrative, logistic and policy support to the Executive Director;
• Supporting the senior management team and coordinating key corporate interests, including inter-departmental cooperation, stakeholder management and financial administration;
• Coordinating, as Europol’s central point of contact, the preparation, execution and Europol's response to audit activities and findings, performing internal control related functions, as well as maintaining Europol's corporate risks and coordinating the related risk mitigation across the organisation;
• Dealing with and coordinating all internal and external communication, media, and public relations activities, as well as managing open sources in relation to key corporate interests.

The Corporate Communications Unit at Europol is responsible for the development and implementation of the agency’s internal and external communication strategies. The Unit plays a key role in promoting Europol’s mission, operations, and achievements to a wide range of stakeholders, including EU institutions, Member States, law enforcement partners, the media, and the general public. It provides strategic communication advice to senior management and ensures consistent, impactful messaging through a variety of channels such as digital platforms, publications, media relations, events, and audio-visual content. Operating as a dynamic and multidisciplinary team, the Unit contributes to enhancing Europol’s visibility and reputation, supporting the agency’s operational effectiveness and strategic goals.

The Media Relations & News Coverage Team (CAB-21) manages Europol's interactions with the media, including drafting press releases, organising press events, and responding to media inquiries. The team monitors and analyses news coverage to identify reputational risks and keep senior management informed on Europol related narratives.

Purpose of the post:

The Senior Specialist – Head of Team will shape and safeguard Europol’s public voice. The postholder will lead the Agency’s engagement with international media, oversee real-time news monitoring and analysis and ensure accurate, timely and impactful communication of Europol’s operational achievements and strategic priorities.

The role contributes directly to strengthening trust in EU law enforcement cooperation, enhancing transparency and protecting the Agency’s reputation in a fast-moving and high-risk information environment.

Reporting lines:

The incumbent reports to the Head of the Corporate Communications Unit.

Job environment:

This post might require participation in a shift system including weekends and nights as well as on-call duty.

2. 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: 

• Develop and implement Europol’s media relations and news coverage strategy in line with the Agency’s mandate, strategy and priorities;
• Provide communication advice to the Head of Unit and if requested to the Executive Director and senior management, particularly on media relations and related matters;
• Act as one of Europol’s spokespersons and represent the Agency in interactions with national and international media;
• Lead the preparation and prioritisation of press releases, media briefings, interviews, speeches, Q&A material and other external communication products;
• Monitor and analyse the international media coverage, providing the Head of Unit and senior management with insights and early warning of reputational risks and on Europol related narratives;
• Coordinate communication related to major operational actions, ensuring accuracy, consistency and compliance with security and data protection requirements to enable smooth execution and maintain organizational trust and accountability;
• Support the Head of Unit in crisis communications responses during critical incidents, including rapid messaging, risk assessment and coordination with operational units and external partners;
• Represent Europol in interinstitutional communication networks and maintain professional relationships with EU institutions, national law enforcement agencies, EU Member States and international stakeholders;
• 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 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;

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

4. Requirements - Selection criteria

a. Professional experience

Essential:

• Experience in media relations, public affairs, strategic communications or journalism;
• Experience acting as spokesperson and working in the media relations preferably in a public institution, international organisation, ministry or law enforcement body;
• Experience coordinating or managing a team;
• Experience managing communication in highly sensitive or crisis situations;
• Experience designing and implementing communication strategies at organisational level.

Desirable:

• Experience in justice and home affairs environment;
• Experience selecting, implementing and managing new technologies, including AI, to improve corporate communication.

b. Professional knowledge

Essential:

• Sound knowledge of the European media landscape, global news dynamics and media trends;
• Ability to handle communication in sensitive or crisis situations;
• Ability to engage effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders including international and government institutions and the general public;
• Basic knowledge of data protection, confidentiality requirements and fundamental rights considerations in communications;
• Knowledge of digital media analytics and monitoring tools.

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.

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.