Senior Technical Expert on Trade in Services (Fixed-term)

Job Description

Under the mandate of the CEFTA Secretariat, the Senior Technical Expert on Trade in Services will lead the implementation of the Annual Work Programmes related to trade in services and horizontal trade measures. The Expert will manage the assigned portfolio of priorities and official CEFTA bodies, supervise the work of technical experts in the unit, and ensure the delivery of results linked to Additional Protocols, Joint Committee Decisions, and CEFTA’s broader regional economic integration commitments.

The main tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

Strategic Leadership and Unit Management

• Provide strategic leadership of the Trade in Services and Horizontal Trade Measures Unit, ensuring effective management of staff and resources.
• Set and coordinate policy objectives for trade in services and horizontal trade measures, aligning activities with CEFTA Chairmanship priorities and the agreed Annual Work Programmes of CEFTA Bodies.
• Lead the portfolio on freedom to provide services, recognition of professional qualifications, and financial and related services.
• Supervise and provide guidance to team members (Technical Trade Experts on services and horizontal measures), ensuring effective implementation of their assigned portfolios.
• Organise regular team meetings, monitor progress, set annual objectives, and conduct performance evaluations. Support recruitment processes and provide continuous mentoring to staff.

Policy Development and Technical Expertise

• Support the development, review, and implementation of CEFTA 2006, its Additional Protocols (notably AP6 on Trade in Services and AP7 on Dispute Settlement), and Joint Committee Decisions related to services and horizontal trade measures.
• Develop high-quality policy documents through analysis of emerging issues, needs assessments, and preparation of background notes, draft decisions, and discussion papers.
• Lead consultations, facilitate consensus-building among CEFTA Parties, and ensure timely adoption of policy measures. Translate adopted decisions into actionable plans and monitor their implementation.
• Oversee the maintenance and update of Transparency Pack databases, ensuring accuracy and accessibility of information for CEFTA Parties.

Coordination of CEFTA Structures

• Coordinate the work of CEFTA Bodies in the area of trade in services and horizontal trade measures, including preparing agendas, documentation, minutes, and follow-up reports.
• Provide secretariat support to the Subcommittee on Trade in Services, related Working Groups (e.g. on Recognition of Professional Qualifications, Trade in Services Statistics), and other relevant bodies.
• Ensure effective coordination and alignment of the unit’s work with cross-cutting CEFTA measures (e.g. Green Lanes, e-commerce, digitalisation) and with initiatives under the Common Regional Market.

Regional and International Cooperation

• Coordinate activities with partner organisations such as the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the Transport Community, and others to ensure complementarity and impact of CEFTA’s initiatives.
• Represent the CEFTA Secretariat at international and regional meetings, conferences, and events, presenting CEFTA’s positions and contributing to policy dialogues.
• Support CEFTA’s engagement with the European Commission, EU Member States, EFTA, WTO, OECD, World Bank, and other international partners in areas related to trade in services.

Reporting and Communication

• Provide inputs for CEFTA Bodies’ annual reports, regional reporting (e.g. Common Regional Market Annual Report), and reports to the European Commission.
• Contribute to project reporting related to trade in services and horizontal measures, ensuring quality and compliance with donor requirements.
• Engage in public relations and external communication by giving interviews, participating in press conferences, and drafting content for press releases, communication materials, and social media.

Meetings, Capacity-Building, and Support to Parties

• Support the organisation of official meetings, technical workshops, and capacity-building events, ensuring their effective delivery and follow-up.
• Assist CEFTA Parties by preparing technical documents, organising dedicated events, and providing guidance on the implementation of the Annual Work Programme.
• Collaborate with public and private sector stakeholders, international organisations, and civil society to promote CEFTA’s objectives and strengthen regional cooperation.

Project and Contractor Management

• Manage external contractors and experts by identifying procurement needs, drafting Terms of Reference, evaluating offers, and supervising the delivery of services.
• Review and approve reports and invoices, ensuring compliance with CEFTA’s rules and project specifications.
• Work with external experts from partner organisations on joint initiatives and projects.

Other Duties

• Carry out other tasks assigned by the Director of the CEFTA Secretariat, as required.

Qualifications

Required:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Law, Political science, International Trade, International Relations, Public Policy or another field directly relevant to the role.

Professional Experience

Required:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in international trade and trade agreements in services, including familiarity with the WTO General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
• Proven experience in one or more relevant policy areas, such as freedom to provide services under EU rules, recognition of professional qualifications, financial or related services, or other aspects of services trade.
• Demonstrated experience in the design, management, or implementation of technical assistance projects financed by the European Union or other international donors (e.g. World Bank, GIZ, UN agencies).
• Experience in regional trade agreements (RTAs) or multilateral trade frameworks; direct experience with CEFTA or comparable regional initiatives will be considered a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or coordinate multidisciplinary teams and to supervise technical experts in complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Familiarity with the EU acquis relevant to services trade, professional qualifications, and digital/e-commerce policies.
• Previous professional exposure to trade integration processes or other EU approximation contexts.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Languages: Fluency in English (C1) level (written and spoken) is required. Knowledge of one or more CEFTA Party languages is considered an asset.
• Expertise in Trade in Services: Advanced knowledge of trade in services frameworks, including market access, regulatory disciplines, professional qualifications, and digital trade.
• Policy and Regulatory Knowledge: Familiarity with EU Single Market rules on services, WTO disciplines, and regional best practices in services trade liberalisation.
• Institutional Understanding: Familiarity with the functioning of public institutions and respective inter-institutional processes, and CEFTA’s institutional framework, as well as with the work of the European Commission (DG TRADE, DG GROW, DG CONNECT).
• Analytical and Drafting Skills: Ability to prepare high-quality analytical papers, technical notes, Joint Committee decisions, and background documents.
• Coordination and Communication: Strong capacity to coordinate across CEFTA structures, build consensus, and communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Digital Competence: Proficiency in MS Office Suite and collaborative platforms; familiarity with digital tools relevant to trade in services and regulatory transparency databases.

Soft Skills

• Result orientation – consistently aligns actions with the secretariat’s mission, delivers timely and quality work, demonstrates perseverance and initiative, seeks to add value, operates independently while recognizing personal limitations, and remains resilient under stress.
• Working with people – demonstrates proactive communication and knowledge sharing within the team, consistently treats colleagues with respect, offers support, addresses issues openly, avoids non-constructive behaviours, and celebrates team achievements.
• Planning and organising – strategically plans and organises tasks based on objectives, considering timelines, contingencies, and others’ workloads, while setting clear standards and adhering to internal principles and procedures.
• Integrity – prioritizes the organisation’s interests over individual or unit interests, promotes fairness, upholds the secretariat’s image externally, adopts a constructive approach in conflicts, and maintains confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Communication – effectively communicates by presenting information clearly and concisely, simplifying complex topics, actively listening for understanding, and adapting messages based on the audience’s feedback, all while emphasizing key points.
• Learning and development – actively recognizes and addresses personal knowledge and skill gaps, seeks out feedback and adjusts behaviour accordingly, continuously pursues professional growth, and capitalizes on lessons learned to inform future actions.
• Diplomacy – demonstrates empathy towards stakeholders’ perspectives, approaches delicate issues with tact, maintains composure in challenging situations, seeks collaborative and mutually beneficial outcomes, and exhibits flexibility in pursuit of shared goals.
• Operational management – strategically aligns team objectives with the secretariat’s goals, assigns clear roles and SMART goals, communicates the purpose behind objectives, considers individual strengths and workloads in task allocation, establishes and monitors KPIs, and ensures quality delivery.
• Leading people – exemplifies desired behaviours, aligns tasks with individual motivations, establishes clear performance expectations and criteria, rewards positive behaviours, addresses issues proactively, and supports team members while considering their individual needs.
• Analytical thinking – effectively analyses complex information and problems, foresees solution impacts, innovates with creative solutions, applies analogical thinking to practical scenarios, and proactively identifies and mitigates potential risks or issues.

Compensation, Terms and Conditions

The place of employment is Brussels, and the position is based on a 40-hour work week. The role requires approximately 30 % travel.

Given CEFTA Secretariat is publishing two senior experts’ positions (i.e senior trade facilitation expert and senior expert on trade services) one of the posts will be with granted with a diplomatic status and the other one will be a regular employee (subject to Belgian employment and tax laws):

• The monthly salary for the post with diplomatic status is paid on a basis of 13.92 months per year. No Belgian social security contributions and taxes are due on professional revenue (taxes may however be due in the last country/party of residence). The minimum salary for this post is EUR 3,998 per month (subject to potential taxes, if any, in the last country/party of residence). (equivalent to annual EUR 55,646)
• The monthly salary for the post without diplomatic status (regular employee) is paid on a basis of 13.92 months per year. That salary is subject to Belgian social security contributions (with potential opting-out) and taxes. The minimum gross salary for this post is EUR 7,284 per month. (equivalent to annual EUR 101,400)

The matter of the employee’s status is under the Director’s consideration.

• The salary is supplemented with competitive benefits package.

Employees are entitled to 20 days of annual leave per year, plus 1 additional day per month worked, and 10 official public holidays observed in Belgium and the ones observed by the European Commission.

The position allows for telework, subject to organisational needs and based on prior approval of the Director of the CEFTA Secretariat.

The type and duration of the contract is a fixed-term contract of 3 years, with the possibility of a one-time extension for up to 3 additional years, based on the needs of the service and the availability of funds. The exact duration of any extension will be determined according to the respective ministerial decision.

All new staff must successfully complete a 6-month probationary period.

The Secretariat is an equal opportunities employer.

How to apply

Applications must be received by the CEFTA Secretariat no later than the deadline specified in this vacancy notice. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Receipt of all applications will be confirmed by an email acknowledgment.

Eligible applicants include individuals from public administrations, international organisations, the private sector, civil society, and academia. The successful candidate will be offered a competitive employment contract by the CEFTA Secretariat.

Interested candidates should upload a completed application form as provided below (both in English).

The deadline for receipt of applications is 23:59h (CET), 30 October 2025. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.