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 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.

In recent years, the CEFTA Joint Committee 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 the regional economic integration agenda set out in the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan 2025-2028 and translated each year into 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 relevant to both goods and services. These include, but are not limited to, trade dispute settlement, competition, public procurement, statistics, trade-related aspects of environmental policies, 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 European Commission’s IPA programme. Much of these funds are used to provide technical assistance and targeted expertise to assist the CEFTA Parties in implementing 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 programmes. 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, the Trade Expert (Services) oversees the “Trade in Services” portfolio, ensuring the timely implementation of CEFTA commitments in this area. The Expert acts as the lead technical expert for digital trade initiatives, including but not limited to electronic commerce, trust services and telecommunications regulatory alignment. The role supports CEFTA bodies in implementing CEFTA 2006, its Additional Protocols, and related decisions, contributing to a transparent, predictable, and fully integrated services market within the Common Regional Market.

The main tasks and responsibilities include the following:

Policy Development and Planning

• Develop policy objectives and technical roadmaps for the digital trade and services portfolio, ensuring alignment with the Common Regional Market (CRM) Action Plan and the EU integration process.
• Propose and refine strategic initiatives focused on Additional Protocol 6 (AP6) implementation, electronic commerce facilitation, and the elimination of digital trade barriers in areas such as geo-blocking and trust services.
• Draft documents, including Joint Committee (JC) Decisions, technical non-papers, and discussion materials, to align CEFTA frameworks with the EU acquis and international standards.

Technical Analysis and Needs Assessment

• Conduct “state-of-play” assessments and comprehensive analyses on digital trade priorities, including e-commerce, trust services, and telecommunications.
• Perform technical needs assessments across CEFTA Parties to design customized regulatory approaches and implementation strategies.
• Translate adopted policy decisions into measurable action plans and integrate them into the Annual Work Programmes.

Stakeholder Engagement and Technical Liaison

• Lead technical consultations among CEFTA Parties to drive consensus and align CEFTA trade in services with EU Single Market best practices.
• Serve as the technical liaison with international organizations (e.g., RCC, ITC, GIZ, World Bank) to harmonize initiatives and leverage external expertise.
• Coordinate the work of external contractors and technical experts to ensure high-quality deliverables.

Representation and Meeting Management

• Organize and support official portfolio meetings, expert-level workshops, and seminars.
• Represent the CEFTA Secretariat at high-level political meetings, technical forums, and international events.
• Perform other related duties assigned by Secretariat management.

Reporting and Project Support

• Contribute inputs to annual reports of CEFTA bodies, regional reports (e.g. CRM Annual Report), reports to the European Commission, and project-related reports in the area of trade in services.
• Manage external contractors and experts by preparing Terms of Reference, evaluating offers, and supervising the delivery of services in line with CEFTA rules.
• Collaborate with external experts from partner organisations on joint digital trade facilitation-related projects and initiatives.

Other Tasks

• Perform other related duties assigned by management.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in economics, political science, law or sciences including but not limited to telecoms, digital services and other fields related to trade of services.

Preferred:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) specialised in areas relevant to the duties and responsibilities of the position will be considered an advantage.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Required:

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in trade policy, specifically related to either GATS framework, international trade in services agreements, or EU internal market rules for services.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in digital trade policy or e-commerce regulation, with proven expertise in at least one of the following areas: – Electronic commerce facilitation – Digital trust services (e.g. e-signatures, e-seals, or eIDAS-aligned frameworks) – Telecommunications regulatory frameworks and digital connectivity policy.
• Demonstrated professional knowledge of EU Digital Single Market policies and relevant EU acquis in services with the ability to translate these into policy recommendations.

Preferred:

• Prior experience working within the framework of Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs), particularly those involving deep regulatory integration or EU alignment, will be considered an advantage.
• Proven track record in project management, including the ability to oversee complex deliverables, manage consultancy contracts, and meet institutional milestones, is desirable.
• Experience in implementing or managing technical assistance projects financed by the European Commission or other international donors is considered an advantage.

TECHNICAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Languages: Fluency in English at C1 level (written and spoken) is required.
  Knowledge of CEFTA Party languages is considered an asset.
• Services Trade Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in trade in services policy and regulation.
• Institutional Knowledge: Familiarity with the work of public administrations and international organisations.
• CEFTA & European Commission Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of CEFTA frameworks and familiarity with the work of the European Commission.
• GATS Framework: Knowledge of the overall GATS framework, and regulatory cooperation mechanisms.
• Digital Trade: Expertise in designing and implementing regulatory frameworks for digital trade and e-commerce facilitation, technical familiarity with digital trust services (e-signatures/e-seals), knowledge of telecommunications regulatory frameworks.
• EU Acquis: In-depth knowledge of the EU acquis in services and the digital economy, specifically EU Digital Single Market policies, and their relevance to regional alignment.

SOFT SKILLS

• Results orientation – Consistently aligns actions with the Secretariat’s mission, delivers timely and high-quality work, demonstrates perseverance and initiative, seeks to add value, operates independently while recognising limitations, and remains resilient under pressure.
• 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 contributes to a positive work environment by recognising collective achievements.
• Planning and organising – Plans and organises work strategically in line with objectives, taking into account timelines, contingencies, and the workload of others, while setting clear standards and adhering to internal principles and procedures.
• Integrity – Prioritises the organisation’s interests over individual or unit interests, promotes fairness, upholds the Secretariat’s external image, adopts a constructive approach in conflict situations, and maintains confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Communication – Communicates effectively by presenting information clearly and concisely, simplifying complex topics, actively listening to ensure understanding, and adapting messages based on audience needs and feedback while emphasising key points.
• Analytical thinking – Analyses complex information and problems effectively, anticipates the impact of potential solutions, develops innovative approaches, applies analytical reasoning to practical scenarios, and proactively identifies and mitigates risks.
• Learning and development – Actively identifies and addresses personal knowledge and skill gaps, seeks feedback and adjusts behaviour accordingly, pursues continuous professional development, and applies lessons learned to future actions.
• Diplomacy – Demonstrates empathy towards stakeholders’ perspectives, approaches sensitive issues with tact, maintains composure in challenging situations, seeks collaborative and mutually beneficial outcomes, and exhibits flexibility in the pursuit of shared goals.

The place of employment is Brussels, and the position is based on an effective 40-hour work week (38 hours per week on average taking into account compensatory time off). The role may require travel.

The monthly salary for this post (regular employee) is paid on a basis of 13.92 months per year (taking in account vacation pay and 13th month as per Belgian legislation). The salary is subject to Belgian social security contributions (with a potential opt-out) and taxes. The minimum gross salary is EUR 5,992 per month (equivalent to EUR 83,400 annually).

The salary is supplemented by a competitive benefits package.

Employees are entitled to 20 days of annual leave per year and 10 official public holidays observed in Belgium, as well as those observed by the European Commission. In addition, one additional day per month worked is granted (compensatory time-off so as to respect an average working time of 38 hours per week).

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

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

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

The Secretariat is an equal opportunities employer.

Applications must be submitted through the CEFTA Secretariat’s designated online Application Form, accessible at the following link.

Applications must be received no later than the deadline specified in this Vacancy Announcement. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. Receipt of all applications will be confirmed by email acknowledgment.

Candidates may review the CEFTA Candidate Journey here, outlining the key stages of the recruitment process.

A Selection Committee shall be established in accordance with CEFTA Joint Committee Decision No. 2/2019 and other applicable internal rules.

The Selection Committee will conduct the procedure in line with the provisions set out in the above-mentioned Decision and the Secretariat’s internal recruitment framework.

Applications will first be assessed against the eligibility requirements and minimum qualifications specified in this Vacancy Announcement. Only candidates meeting the mandatory criteria will proceed to further evaluation.

Eligible applications will then be evaluated against the selection criteria outlined in the Vacancy Announcement.

Shortlisted candidates may be invited to participate in one or more assessment stages, which may include a written technical test and/or competency-based assessments.

The final stage of the procedure will consist of structured interviews with the highest-ranked candidates.

Applicants must be able to provide, upon request, professional references attesting to their ability to perform the duties of the position.

Applicants must have no personal interest (financial, family relationship, or other) that could conflict with the impartial performance of their duties within the CEFTA Secretariat.

The CEFTA Secretariat and/or CEFTA Parties may request documentary evidence supporting the information provided in the application (e.g. diplomas, certificates, and employment records), particularly from shortlisted candidates.