The Secretariat of the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA 2006) was established in Brussels, Belgium, on 8 September 2008.

The Secretariat supports the Joint Committee and all the CEFTA Bodies established by the Joint Committee, in accordance with the mandate of the Secretariat. The CEFTA Parties and the European Commission currently finance the Secretariat and its activities.

The CEFTA Joint Committee in recent years has agreed on an ambitious agenda to further contribute to economic growth.  This includes additional liberalisation and trade facilitation, as well as advancing investment related issues outlined in the Agreement.

CEFTA plays an important role in delivering regional economic integration agenda in line with CEFTA Agreement, and other activities set in the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2025-2028 and each year translated in annual chairmanship priorities and working programmes of the CEFTA Bodies. CEFTA activities have three important pillars: trade in goods (free movement of goods), trade in services (free movement of services) and horizontal trade measures which are relevant for both goods and services. These include, but are not limited to: trade dispute settlement, competition, state aid, public procurement, statistics, trade related aspects of environmental policies and intellectual property rights and transparency.

Furthermore, the CEFTA Secretariat plays an important role in securing and managing additional financing for the functioning of the Secretariat and for CEFTA related activities.  To date, the Secretariat has secured substantial funding under the EC’s IPA programme.  Much of these funds are used to provide technical assistance and targeted expertise to assist the CEFTA Parties implement the Agreement and the various decisions of the Joint Committee. Thus, the Secretariat has an important role to play in the project management of technical assistance activities.

As the number of CEFTA structures has expanded, so too has the scope of the work programme. The Secretariat has adapted accordingly to support this broader mandate. In line with the Joint Committee Decision No. 10/2024 Amending Decision 1/2018 on the Functioning of the Secretariat, the core team of the CEFTA Secretariat is comprised of a Director, Trade Experts and administrative staff.  Since July 2015, the Secretariat has also benefited from a rotating system of secondments from the CEFTA Parties, which continues to this day.

Under the mandate of the CEFTA Secretariat, and in line with the Annual Work Programmes, the Senior Technical Expert on Trade Facilitation shall lead, coordinate, and deliver the work of the Trade Facilitation Unit, ensuring results in trade in goods and cross-cutting measures. The Expert will manage the assigned portfolio of priorities, supervise the Unit’s team, and contribute to advancing CEFTA’s objectives in regional trade integration.

The main tasks and responsibilities will include the following:

Leadership and Unit Management

• Provide overall leadership of the Trade Facilitation Unit, ensuring the effective management of staff and resources.
• Lead the agriculture portfolio and supervise customs and non-agricultural trade matters within the Unit.
• Define and coordinate policy objectives for trade facilitation, agriculture, and SPS measures, ensuring coherence with CEFTA’s strategic priorities.
• Organise regular team meetings, set annual objectives, monitor progress, and conduct performance evaluations, providing guidance and mentoring to staff.
• Ensure alignment of Unit activities with CEFTA Chairmanship priorities and the agreed Annual Work Programmes of CEFTA Bodies.

Policy and Technical Development

• Support the development, review, and implementation of CEFTA 2006, its Protocols, and Decisions, with a focus on trade in agricultural and food products and convergence with EU standards.
• Draft and review technical and procedural documents, including mechanisms for recognition (e.g., contingency plans, surveillance programmes, monitoring results), electronic certification (e.g., e-COI, veterinary and sanitary certificates), and categorisation of establishments of food of animal origin.
• Contribute to the establishment and functioning of regional mechanisms such as a CEFTA network of reference laboratories.
• Identify pilot sectors and propose practical measures to enhance regulatory convergence, reduce barriers, and promote regional cooperation in all areas of trade in goods.

Coordination and Cross-Cutting Integration

• Ensure coordination of the Unit’s activities with cross-cutting measures under the Trade in Services Unit (e.g., Green Lanes, e-commerce, Additional Protocol 7, digitalisation).
• Coordinate CEFTA’s trade facilitation activities with partner organisations such as FAO, GIZ, the Transport Community, and the World Bank, ensuring complementarity and impact.
• Foster close collaboration with public and private sector stakeholders, international organisations, and civil society to advance CEFTA’s trade facilitation agenda.

Governance, Support to CEFTA Bodies, and Reporting

• Support the functioning of CEFTA official bodies, including the Subcommittee on Agriculture and SPS and other trade in goods-related structures.
• Draft agendas, prepare background documentation, and ensure effective follow-up of conclusions from official meetings.
• Provide input for CEFTA annual reports, regional reporting (e.g., CRM Annual Report), reports to the European Commission, and project-related reporting.
• Develop analytical and policy documents, including needs assessments, decisions, background notes, and discussion papers.
• Lead consultations and facilitate the adoption of policy decisions, ensuring their translation into actionable implementation plans.

Project, Procurement, and Contractor Management

• Manage external contractors and experts by drafting Terms of Reference, evaluating bids, and supervising delivery of services.
• Review and approve reports, deliverables, and invoices in line with CEFTA rules and project specifications.
• Oversee the implementation of joint projects with partner organisations and ensure compliance with CEFTA’s financial and administrative procedures.

External Relations and Communication

• Represent the CEFTA Secretariat in meetings, conferences, and public events.
• Contribute to CEFTA’s communication activities by preparing content for press releases, communication materials, and social media campaigns.
• Engage with media through interviews and press briefings to promote CEFTA’s trade facilitation achievements and priorities.

Other Duties

• Carry out additional tasks assigned by the Director of the CEFTA Secretariat to support the effective functioning of the organisation and fulfil its mandate.

Required:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Economics, Law, Political science, Agricultural Economics, Veterinary Medicine, Food Safety, International Trade, Public Policy, or other fields directly relevant to the role.

Professional Experience

Required:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in one or more of the following policy areas: international trade agreements, World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, customs policy, trade facilitation, and/or international trade and customs policy.
• Proven experience specifically in trade in agriculture policy, including areas such as agricultural trade policies, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, and food safety standards.
• 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 in the areas of agriculture, SPS, customs, and trade facilitation is highly desirable.
• Previous professional exposure to trade integration processes or other EU approximation contexts.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

• Languages: Fluency in English at C1 level (written and spoken) is required. Knowledge of one or more CEFTA Party languages is considered an asset.
• Trade in Agriculture Expertise: Advanced and demonstrated expertise in trade in agriculture, including sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, food safety standards, veterinary and phytosanitary certification, and regulatory convergence with EU and international standards.
• Trade Facilitation Expertise: Solid knowledge of customs procedures, BCP/CCP agency cooperation, electronic data exchange, risk management, and implementation of CEFTA’s Additional Protocol 5 and related commitments.
• Institutional Knowledge: Familiarity with the functioning of public institutions and regulatory bodies, particularly ministries, customs authorities, and inspection agencies.
• Regional and International Frameworks: In-depth understanding of CEFTA’s institutional framework, protocols, and decision-making processes, as well as familiarity with the work of the European Commission (DG TRADE, DG AGRI, DG SANTE) and relevant international bodies (WTO, Codex Alimentarius, OIE, IPPC).
• Policy and Regulatory Alignment: Knowledge of EU acquis relevant to trade in goods, agriculture, SPS, and customs, combined with familiarity with WTO trade facilitation and SPS agreements.
• Analytical and Drafting Skills: Ability to produce high-quality policy, legal, and technical documents, including draft decisions, protocols, background notes, and monitoring frameworks.
• Digital and Technical Tools: Proficiency in digital platforms and tools relevant to trade facilitation (e.g., e-certification systems, customs IT platforms, risk management systems). Strong command of MS Office Suite and collaborative platforms.

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.

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 in 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.

Evaluation and Selection procedure

The Director of the CEFTA Secretariat will establish a Selection Committee, chaired by the Director and composed of a representative of the Secretariat and a representative of a contracted HR agency.

The Selection Committee will assess the applications received to make an initial selection of candidates who meet all eligibility criteria. The Committee will examine the qualifications, experience, and skills of these candidates against the selection criteria set out in the vacancy notice.

The Selection Committee will invite a shortlist of the 5 highest scoring candidates, who also meet the minimum requirements outlined in the vacancy notice, to the next phase. All candidates with a score equal to the 5th highest scoring candidate will also be included in the list of invited candidates.

The final evaluation will consist of technical and competency-based interviews, written technical test and psychometric assessments. This evaluation will be conducted to assess the candidates’ experience, qualifications, and whether they possess the key skills required for the role.

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.

Reserve list

After the selection procedure, the Selection Committee will identify a suitable candidate.

The selected candidate will be informed by the CEFTA Secretariat.