Specialist – Data Storage & Infrastructure Operations, Infrastructure Services Team, ICT Operations Unit (AD6)

This vacancy is being advertised simultaneously internally and externally. Please note that if the post is filled internally, no appointment will be made from the external publication. Instead, the external selection process may be used to establish a reserve list of qualified candidates who may be considered for the same or similar opportunities in the future.

1. Organisational context

Organisational setting:

The post of Specialist – Data Storage & Infrastructure Operations is located in the Infrastructure Services Team, ICT Operations Unit, ICT Department, Capabilities Directorate.

The C1 ICT Department has the responsibility for devising, delivering and operating critical technology capabilities and solutions supporting the core mission and support processes of Europol. Over 150 internal staff members and a significant number of domain-specific consultants are responsible for devising, developing, delivering and operating information management and communication technology capabilities that ensure enhanced criminal information analysis and exchange among Europol, Member States and third parties.

The ICT Operations Unit is responsible for the operations and management of the Europol ICT Infrastructure. This includes Workplace services, Service Management, Network Services, Platform Services, Application Services, Infrastructure Services and ICT Security.

Purpose of the post:

The role of the Specialist – Data Storage & Infrastructure Operations is in charge of installing, maintaining and supporting of ICT Infrastructure with particular focus on Server-based computing technologies, including data backup/restore, enterprise email services and archiving solutions.

Further tasks include the implementation of the infrastructure solutions in line with design and the provision of 2nd/3rd level support for the solutions in scope.

Reporting lines:

The incumbent reports to the Senior Specialist - Head of Team – Infrastructure Services / Head of Unit – ICT Operations.

Job environment:

This post will require participation in a shift system including weekends and nights as well as on-call duty.

2. Functions and duties

The successful candidate will have to carry out the following main duties:

• Installation and configuration activities in accordance with engineering designs and specifications, performing installation and configuration activities in testing, pre-production and production environments;
• Contribute to the technical design of ICT infrastructure solutions in accordance with solution architecture guidelines and standards, translating high-level solution architectures into the implementation of concrete designs, procedures and specifications of ICT infrastructure solutions;
• Actively review Architecture and Engineering guidelines to ensure manageability and full understanding of technical consequences;
• Review and implement technical requirements for ICT infrastructure solutions including relevant security controls;
• Develop and maintain sufficient knowledge about the interdependencies of all infrastructure components deployed in the production environment in order to prevent incidents and problems;
• Acting as a second and third level support, perform technical analysis, investigation, troubleshooting and resolution of incidents or problems affecting the Europol ICT infrastructure;
• Provide support to capacity management activities, recommending changes in ICT infrastructure in order to address capacity demands;
• Provide technical advice and engineering support to other teams in the Department;
• Monitor technology developments maintaining up-to-date knowledge of state-of-the-art solutions;
• Perform any other tasks in the area of competence as assigned by the line management.

3. Requirements - Eligibility criteria

a. Candidates must

• Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws on military service;
• Produce appropriate character references as to his or her suitability for the performance of the duties;
• Be physically fit to perform the duties pertaining to the post as further specified in Article 13 of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS);
• Produce evidence of a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the Union and a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the Union to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties.

b. Candidates must have

• A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma;

OR

• Professional training of an equivalent level in a relevant area and after having completed the training, at least the number of years of relevant professional experience as indicated below:

Duration of professional training Additional professional experience required for equivalency

More than 6 months and up to 1 year 3 years

More than 1 year and up to 2 years 2 years

More than 2 years 1 year

• In addition to the above at least 3 years of total professional work experience gained after the award of the diploma.

4. Requirements - Selection criteria

a. Professional experience:

Essential:

• Experience of working in large and complex IT infrastructure environments, including the installation and maintenance of large-scale and high-availability servers and data storage solutions;
• Experience with data Backup/Restore and Disaster Recovery;
• Experience with server and application virtualization implementation and support, such as VMware technologies;
• Hands-on experience, preferably five years or more, with installation and maintenance of Microsoft Exchange Server on-premises (2016/2019);
• Experience with email archiving and with backup and recovery for Microsoft Exchange such as VSS-based backups, database restore and mailbox restore requests.
• Experience with scripting and implementing of automation solutions in large infrastructure environments.

Desirable:

• Experience with Server-based computing technologies (e.g. Citrix, XenApp or others);
• Experience with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and certificate maintenance

b. Professional knowledge

Essential:

• Knowledge of recent Microsoft (and/or RedHat) Server Operating systems and their security and maintenance aspects;
• Knowledge of Microsoft Exchange Server on-premises (2016/2019) and integration with Microsoft Active Directory;
• Knowledge of Active Directory Domain Services and integrated systems on large and complex environments;
• Knowledge of server and application virtualization with VMware configuration and related troubleshooting;
• Knowledge of data backup and restore.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of mobility platforms (e.g. BlackBerry UEM/BEMS or equivalent) integrated with Microsoft Exchange services;
• Knowledge of Dell EMC PowerMax (SAN) and Dell PowerScale (NAS), including maintenance, best practices, and platform capabilities;
• Knowledge of Netbackup.

c. General competencies

Essential:

Communicating:

• Very good communication skills in English, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to draft clear and concise documents on complex matters for various audiences.

Analysing & problem solving:

• Keen eye for detail with the ability to maintain standards of accuracy under pressure of tight deadlines.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Competent user of Microsoft Office applications (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and the internet.

Delivering quality and results:

• High degree of commitment and flexibility.
• High level of customer and service-orientation.

Prioritising & organising:

• Good administrative and organisational skills.

Resilience:

• Very good interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively liaise with other departments, groups and teams as well as with external partners.
• Ability to remain effective under a heavy workload and demonstrate resistance to stress.

Living diversity:

• Ability to work effectively in an international and multi-cultural environment.

d. Additional conditions:

Fulfil the condition stipulated in Article 5 of the Decision of the Executive Director on the Duration of contracts of employment for Temporary Agents, on the start date of the possible contract of employment which may be offered.

5. Selection procedure

All applications for Temporary Agent posts must be submitted through the online recruitment system accessible via Europol’s website**. For further information, please consult the** Europol Recruitment Guidelines**.**

The Authority Authorised to Conclude Contracts of Employment (AACC) sets up a Selection Committee, composed of at least three members, consisting of one chair and at least one member from the administration and one member designated by the Staff Committee.

The selection criteria, set out in this Vacancy Notice, will be assessed by the Selection Committee throughout the different stages of the selection procedure. Before the start of the selection procedure, the Selection Committee will decide which selection criteria will be used at each stage of the selection procedure. Certain selection criteria will be assessed only for shortlisted candidates during a written test and/or a competency-based interview.

The Selection Committee will assess the applications received in order to make an initial selection of those candidates meeting all eligibility criteria and matching best the selection criteria (suitability).

The minimum pass-mark for being shortlisted, i.e. invited to participate in a post-related selection procedure, consisting of a written test and a competency-based interview, is established as 60% of the total maximum score.

The Selection Committee will shortlist the 10 highest scoring candidates. All candidates having a score equal to the 10th highest scoring candidate will be invited to take part in the selection procedure. At shortlisting stage, the Selection Committee will establish the pass-mark for the selection procedure.

It is intended for the selection procedure to be conducted remotely. Should the Selection Committee consider it necessary to conduct the selection procedure on-site at Europol in the interest of the proceedings, and subject to budget availability, the candidates invited to participate in the selection procedure will be informed accordingly.

After the selection procedure has taken place, the Selection Committee will establish a list of successful candidates, i.e. those scoring above the pre-defined pass-mark, which is shared with the AACC.

Should the internal selection procedure referenced above be unsuccessful, the Selection Committee makes a proposal to the AACC on the candidate to appoint. Following that proposal, the AACC makes a decision of appointment.

Should the post be filled through the internal selection procedure, no appointment proposal will be made.

Candidates who participated in the interview will be informed of the outcome, i.e. whether they have been successful or not. In view of the list of successful candidates established by the Selection Committee, the AACC retains the discretion to constitute a Reserve List. A Reserve List is valid for 24 months.

The Selection Committee’s work and deliberations are confidential. It is forbidden for candidates to make direct or indirect contact with the members of the Selection Committee or for anyone to do so on their behalf.

All enquiries related to a selection procedure should be addressed to the Europol HR Operational Support Team at the following email address: C2-