Job Description

Function title: Principal Adviser to the Director Central Route Charges Office & Finance (CF)
Reference: NOC-CF-2025-AD/1060
Location: Brussels
The selected candidate must reside either at this location or within a reasonable proximity that allows for the satisfactory execution of their duties.
Information about living in Brussels
Nature of competition: Internal and external competition
Applicable regulations: Staff regulations governing officials of the EUROCONTROL Agency
Type of post: Head of Unit or equivalent
Job level: AD11-AD12 - Check salary simulations for the basic grade
Generic job title: Principal Adviser
Number of posts: 1
Duration of appointment: 3 Year(s) - extension or conversion of the contract is possible – see “Useful information” section
Security clearance: EUROCONTROL, NATO or EU Secret
Directorate/Service: CF/OFF - Office of the Chief Financial Officer
Working arrangement: EUROCONTROL operates a hybrid working model that combines onsite presence with remote work opportunities. Remote working is subject to specific limits set out in internal rules and must align with business needs and managerial approval. Please note that full-time remote work is not permitted.
Competition publication date: 13/11/2025
Competition closing date: 11/12/2025 (23:59 Brussels time)
Reserve list: Applicable - See details in the "Useful information" section

Your team

Within the Directorate Central Route Charges Office and Finance, the Office of the Director Central Route Charges Office and Finance (CF) is responsible for the overall coordination of the Directorate’s activities and provides support and advice to the Director on strategic and policy matters.

Your role

Your role will be to:

Represent the Director CF in key meetings with the Board of Directors, Senior Management, Stakeholders and CF leadership. Actively lead and participate in bilateral meetings with Member States.
Establish a centralised office function to manage a portfolio of projects related to process improvement and efficiency within the Agency and the Directorate.
Oversee and lead cross-directorate projects and initiatives, collaborating with senior management, teams, and stakeholders to monitor progress, address challenges, and deliver timely updates.
Oversee, lead and drive strategic initiatives across various domains ensuring coordination, alignment, and progress toward achieving organisational objectives.
Provide strategic expert advice, problem solving and guidance on a broad spectrum of topics including business activities, strategy, policy development and organisational priorities, delivering actionable insights to support informed decision-making.
Monitor and analyse trends, policies, and external developments to identify potential impacts on the CF Directorate and advise the Director and his management team on strategic responses to maintain organisational effectiveness.
Drive, lead and coordinate cross-functional and/or cross-directorate initiatives, collaborating with internal teams, working groups, and committees to ensure alignment with organisational goals and successful project execution.
Conduct research and analyse complex strategic reports or papers, generating well-founded recommendations and coordinate with relevant teams and stakeholders to ensure comprehensive and aligned outputs.
Advise on organisational and transformational change initiatives, ensuring effective implementation and smooth transition to new strategies, structures, or ways of working.
Represent the CF Directorate at executive meetings, negotiations, conferences, and events, serving as a trusted liaison and spokesperson for the Directorate.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders such as Member States, ANSPs, the EU, governmental bodies and internal business units, guiding mutually beneficial outcomes, assuring collaboration and proactively taking the lead on emerging issues.
Carry out any other tasks in line with the main purpose of the job.

Required qualifications, experience & competencies

Candidates must fulfil one of the following requirements:

Completion of third level studies in a relevant field (e.g. Business Administration, Public Administration), meeting European Qualifications Framework (EQF)Level 7 followed by at least 15 years of relevant professional experience including 10 years in management or strategic activities, or
Completion of third level studies in a relevant field (e.g. Business Administration, Public Administration), meeting European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Level 6 followed by at least 16 years of relevant professional experience including 10 years in management or strategic activities.

Internal candidates can check on the intranet to see what level of in-house experience is considered equivalent to educational qualifications where appropriate.
Proficiency and experience in a strategic advisory role at senior level.
Proficiency and experience in strategy development.
Experience in managing or overseeing cross-functional projects, coordinating high-level initiatives, and engaging with senior stakeholders.
Proficiency in managing a wide range of stakeholders.
Experience in programme or project management.
Experience in or understanding of a regulatory-driven environment.
Political awareness and sensitivity of the current international aviation environment.
Communication: You adapt your communication to different situations and audiences.
Strategic focus: You develop business/service strategy in line with the Agency’s strategy.
Analytical thinking: You apply a methodical approach to complex information.
Organisational Awareness: You understand influences and operate effectively in the broader context.
Networking: You design networks with a view to developing strategic connections.
Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
Professional conduct in line with the corporate behaviours of the Agency, i.e. result-driven, readiness to change, customer focus, integrity and team-player approach.
The working languages of the Agency are English and French. For this particular job, candidates must be proficient users of English at level C1 (oral/writing). The selected candidate will be required to acquire at least a basic knowledge of French (level A1) before the end of the probation period.
The levels relate to the European-framework-reference Common European Framework of References for languages (CEFR).

Useful information

Applications will be accepted from nationals of EUROCONTROL Member States only.
The selected candidate may be required to provide documentary evidence confirming they meet the minimum education requirements. They will be informed if and when specific evidence is needed. Please note that no offer (for external candidates) or appointment (for internal candidates) will be made until the necessary evidence, if required, is validated.
The selected candidate will be offered a contract for a duration of 3 Year(s) in accordance with the provisions of the Staff Regulations governing officials at EUROCONTROL. This contract may be renewed for a total duration of up to nine (9) years, or it may be converted into an undetermined contract.
The selected candidate must successfully complete a probationary period of nine (9) months before being established in the post.
Internal candidates

If selected, the person will keep their current type of appointment duration (undetermined or determined).
The internal staff member with a determined contract will be offered, in principle, an appointment for 3 Year(s) with a maximum total duration of 9 years.
This post entails management activities. Established staff members will therefore have to serve a confirmation period of 9 months. This period may be shortened to 6 months if the successful candidate is appointed following a competition preceded by a previous temporary assignment to the post for which s/he was selected. The Director General may also decide not to make subject to this provision if that official has previously been assigned, for a period of 2 years or more, to a post similar to that for which he has been selected and which entailed the same level of management responsibilities.

The successful candidate shall be appointed at the grade set out in this vacancy notice, or if a group of grades has been published for a job level, in principle at the basic grade of the published job level.
Candidates declared suitable who are not selected for the post will be placed on a reserve list for similar roles. The reserve list will be valid for one year from the closing date of applications.
Information on salary and benefits can be found on our Careers site
EUROCONTROL is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality and diversity. In the event of equal merit, preference may be given to the applicant from the under-represented diversity characteristics in order to complement diversity of teams and rebalance the workforce.
Candidates should go to our Careers site and read the tips on how to apply.