The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) is an international organisation which monitors compliance with the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, enabling those States to participate in the Internal Market of the European Union.
ESA's work helps remove barriers to trade and opens up new opportunities to over 450 million Europeans, creating jobs and growth and adding to the international competitiveness of the States.
ESA currently employs staff members of 21 different nationalities from across the EEA. Based in Brussels, ESA is collocated with in the EFTA House with its sister organisations the EFTA Secretariat and the EEA and Norway Grants (FMO).
Role Description
ESA is recruiting several Legal Advisers to join its Legal and Executive Affairs Department (LEA) in 2025. We are looking for EEA/EU law generalists with the ability to specialise in subject areas such as internal market, competition or State aid law.
Within ESA, LEA is responsible for providing legal advice and support with regard to policy formulation, co-ordination and communication. The Department reviews all decisions of ESA and conducts litigation before the EFTA Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). Day-to-day work covers all aspects of EEA law including internal market, State aid and competition law as well as the implementation and
application of EEA law in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
LEA is responsible for managing ESA’s formal decision-making process, including ensuring the adoption of decisions by College in compliance with ESA’s procedural rules. LEA also hosts the Communications Team, the Registry and Library. ESA’s Data Protection Officer is a member of the LEA team.
The role of Legal Adviser is a unique opportunity to handle a wide range of challenging and high-profile cases. It should appeal in particular to eloquent, dynamic and self-motivated lawyers who enjoy analysing legal problems while at the same time being interested in policy formulation and implementation at both national and European level.
The successful candidates will be responsible for the legal review of ESA’s draft decisions and will be called to act as agents before the EFTA Court, CJEU and other courts. Legal Advisers work in close cooperation with case-handlers in the other departments of ESA and with Members of the College.
A Legal Adviser may be assigned responsibility for maintaining an overview of cases and relevant legal developments in each of the participating States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) as a country coordinator. They use their knowledge of the legal order, national administration and language of the State to guide ESA’s stance, as well asenabling ESA to proactively engage with national counterparts to ensure effective application of EEA law.
The following are essential:
The following are desirable:
Conditions:
ESA offers a dynamic and diverse work environment, providing the chance to collaborate with a team of highly skilled professionals. You will be part of an organisation that values professionalism, cooperation, trust, responsibility and respect.
We offer:
This position will be filled in accordance with ESA’s policy on Recruitment available at: https://jobs.eftasurv.int. The position is placed at grade A4 of ESA’s salary scale, the precise step being determined depending on the relevant experience of the successful candidate, with a likely starting salary of between €112 780 and €118 650 per annum. Depending on personal situation and family status, additional allowances and benefits may apply. Tax conditions are favourable.
Type and duration of appointment: fixed-term contract of three years, renewable for a further three years if desirable and in the interest of ESA. Candidates must be nationals of the States party to the EEA Agreement (EU + EEA EFTA) at the point of application and the time of any offer being made.
ESA actively seeks to promote a healthy work/life balance and a working environment allowing its staff members to develop their professional skills and interests.
Application process:
Applications submitted in response to this vacancy notice may also be taken into account for the purpose of filling other vacancies arising for similar positions within ESA.
Questions regarding the post may be addressed to:
Melpo Joséphidès, Director on +32 (0)2 286 18 85 / mjos@eftasurv.int
Sigrun Gisladottir, Deputy Director on +32 (0)2 286 18 23 / sgi@eftasurv.int
Questions regarding the recruitment process may be addressed to:
Catherine Vandeput, HR Officer on +32 (0)2 286 1870 / cva@eftasurv.int