Post: EMSA/AD/2026/09 - Officer - Sustainability (Alternative Fuels)
Directorate/Unit: Unit 1.1: Sustainability
Type of post: Temporary agent post
Grade: AD6
Location: Lisbon
Closing date for applications: 30 September 2026

The selection of candidates will follow the EMSA Staff Recruitment Procedure. Candidates must apply for this post via the EMSA website http://www.emsa.europa.eu - vacancies. Please note that to make an EMSA on-line application you will need to create your EMSA profile using a valid e-mail address and a password.

1. Background

The European Maritime Safety Agency was established for the purpose of ensuring a high, uniform and effective level of maritime safety that aims at a maximum reduction of accidents, a high, uniform and effective level of maritime security, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships and the environmental sustainability of the maritime sector as well as the prevention of and response to pollution caused by ships and the response to marine pollution caused by oil and gas installations. The Agency supports digitalisation and the reduction of the administrative burden in the maritime sector by facilitating the electronic transmission of data and supports simplification and the provision of integrated maritime surveillance and maritime situational awareness systems and services to the European Commission and the Member States.

The Agency was established by Regulation (EU) 2025/2434 of the European Parliament and of the European Council of 26 November 2025 on the European Maritime Safety Agency and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1406/2002.

2. Tasks of the agency

The Agency provides technical, operational and scientific assistance to the European Commission and Member States in the fields of maritime safety, maritime security, prevention of, and response to, pollution caused by ships as well as response to marine pollution caused by oil and gas installations.

The Agency also contributes to the overall efficiency of maritime traffic and maritime transport and supports European cooperation on coastguard functions.

EMSA's activities can be broadly described as:

  • providing technical and scientific assistance to the Member States and the European Commission in the proper development and implementation of EU legislation on maritime safety, security, prevention of pollution by ships and maritime transport administrative simplification;
  • monitoring the implementation of EU legislation through visits and inspections;
  • improving cooperation with and between Member States;
  • building capacity of national competent authorities;
  • providing operational assistance, including developing, managing and maintaining maritime services related to ships, ship monitoring and enforcement;
  • carrying out operational preparedness, detection and response tasks with respect to pollution caused by ships and marine pollution by oil and gas installations;
  • at the request of the European Commission, providing technical operational assistance to non-EU countries around relevant sea basins.

3. Unit 1.1: Sustainability

Unit 1.1 is responsible for tasks related to Sustainability and provides Member States and the Commission with technical assistance on matters related to the impact of shipping on the environment as well as assistance for preparedness and response to pollution from ships and offshore oil and gas installations.

In particular, the Unit supports the development and implementation of relevant EU and international climate and environmental legislation, and develops practical guidance and tools for its implementation, ensuring the participation of the wider European maritime cluster in this process.

The Unit develops and maintains an effective response toolbox to top up Member States capacity to respond to pollution from ships and offshore oil and gas installations, being attentive to support Member States also with regards to incidents involving HNS and other emerging threats to the marine environment.

To achieve these objectives, the Unit maintains a close working relationship with the Member States and the Commission at IMO and within the Regional Agreements for the protection of the marine environment, when relevant.


4. Functions and duties

In the context of the European Green Deal agenda and in particular the Fit for 55 package, including the EU Ports Strategy and EU Industrial Maritime Strategy, there is a need for developing knowledge, undertaking research and disseminating technical documentation to assist the EU Member States and the European Commission in the promotion of sustainable alternative sources of power including alternative fuels.

Research:

Under the responsibility of the Head of Unit 'Sustainability', the Officer - Sustainability (Alternative Fuels) will be responsible for the following tasks:

  • Keeping up-to-date with ongoing developments in the field of deployment of alternative fuels or sources of power (ashore and onboard ships), both at institutional level (IMO, EU) and within the industry;
  • Contributing to the definition of research projects at EU level in cooperation with relevant services of the European Commission aiming at facilitating the uptake of alternative fuels or sources of power for shipping;
  • Contributing to the analysis and assessment of results from ongoing and future EU-funded projects aimed at developing a network of green shipping lanes and hubs;
  • Contributing to the development of the standards and/or certification frameworks necessary to ensure the safe and environmentally sound use of alternative fuels and sources of power for shipping, at both EU and international level. This includes contributing to ongoing discussions at EU level on fuel certification, the determination of actual emissions values and related matters, as well as to the work at IMO level on the development of guidelines for the implementation of the IMO Net-Zero Framework.

Capacity Building:

Reporting to the Head of Unit 'Capacity Building', and adhering to the standards of the EMSA Academy management system, the Officer - Sustainability (Alternative Fuels) will be also responsible for the following tasks: 

  • Designing learning services outside formal education in the maritime domain with a focus on specific learning outcomes and competencies for selected job profiles related to the use of alternative fuels in his field of competency;
  • Developing learning services outside formal education in the maritime domain using inter alia the facilities of the eLaboratory, the Maritime Knowledge Centre (MaKCs) and the Virtual Reality Environment for Ship Inspection (VRESI):
  • Delivering learning services outside formal education in the maritime domain in a blended approach (in-person, online synchronous and asynchronous modes);
  • Contributing to the work of the EMSA Academy as Course Coordinator, Course Designer and/or Subject Matter Expert, and developing scenarios and case studies for learning services in accordance with the annual Harmonised Training Program (HTP) in their field of expertise.

5. Eligibility and Selection Criteria

A. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

A.1 Education and experience

  • A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies, attested by a diploma, when the normal period of university education is four years or more AND at least three years proven professional experience acquired after the award of university diploma, or; A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is at least three years AND at least four years of proven professional experience acquired after the award of university diploma.

It should be noted that due to the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on the 31/01/2020, candidates from the United Kingdom who do not hold the nationality of another European Union Member State, are not eligible.

Only qualifications that have been awarded in EU Member States or that are subject to the equivalence certificates issued by the authorities in the EU Member States will be taken into consideration. Please note, that degrees awarded by the United Kingdom up to 31/12/2020 are considered as valid.

A.2 Language skills

  • The main working language in the field of maritime safety is English. Candidates must therefore have a very good command of oral English as well as in writing with a satisfactory knowledge of at least one other official language of the European Union to the extent necessary for the performance of the above-mentioned duties.

B. SELECTION CRITERIA

B.1. Essential

  • A relevant university degree in Engineering (mechanical, energy electrical engineering or naval architecture including marine engineering);
  • A minimum of three years of proven professional experience relevant to the functions and duties of the position, acquired within at least one of the following: a public administration, international organisation, EU institutions and bodies, classification society, shipping company (ashore or onboard), marine engine manufacturer, energy provider, shipyard, research institute, or relevant professional association.

B.2. Advantageous

  • Proven professional experience in the field of nuclear energy;
  • Proven professional experience in conducting comparative cost analysis.
  • A good knowledge of Chemistry.

Applicants must meet the required eligibility criteria concerning the required educational qualifications and years of experience, as well as the essential criteria by the deadline for this call for applications.

The advantageous criteria will be considered by the Selection Board depending on the number of applicants meeting the essential criteria.

In addition to the requirements above, candidates invited to the interview and test phase may also be assessed against the following supplementary requirements (soft skills):

  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills including the ability to anticipate potential problems, determine and implement solutions;
  • The ability to work under pressure and to respond quickly to new demands;
  • Good communication, presentation and reporting skills in English. 

6. General conditions

In order to be eligible the candidate must:

  • Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union or of Iceland or Norway;
  • Be entitled to his/her full rights as a citizen;
  • Have fulfilled the obligations imposed on him/her by the laws concerning military service;
  • Meet the character requirements for the duties involved; and
  • Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.
 

7. Conditions of employment

The Officer - Sustainability (Alternative Fuels) will be appointed by the Executive Director, upon recommendation of the Chairperson of the Selection Committee.

This vacancy notice concerns a Temporary Agent position, pursuant to Article 2f) of the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Communities.

The initial duration of the contract is three years, with possibility of renewal.

The successful candidate will be recruited in the grade AD6.

The basic monthly salary, before any deductions or allowances, weighted for Lisbon, at 1 July 2025 for grade AD6 first step is 6432.23EUR.

In addition to the basic salary, staff members may be entitled to various allowances, such as an expatriation allowance (16% of basic salary), household allowance, dependent child allowance and education allowance. The salary is subject to a Community tax deducted at source and staff members are exempt of national taxation.

Please note that recruitment is done in the first or second step of the indicated grade, depending on the duration of the acquired professional experience. EMSA offers a comprehensive welfare package including pension scheme, medical, accident and occupational disease insurance coverage, unemployment and invalidity allowance. Further information regarding rights and conditions of employment can be found in the following document.

Please note that in line with the Staff Regulations recruited candidates shall be required to demonstrate before their first promotion the ability to work in a third European Community language.

The place of employment is Lisbon, Portugal.

Candidates are advised that if they are offered a post, and accept, they must undergo a compulsory medical examination to establish that they meet the standard of physical fitness necessary to perform the duties involved.

EMSA is an Agency focused on gender balance and a harmonic workplace and strongly encourages the applications of women for the positions where they are underrepresented.

8. Submission of applications

Candidates should ensure that they clearly indicate how they meet the selection criteria in their application and motivation letter.

Candidates must submit their application electronically solely via the EMSA website within the deadline. Applications by any other means (hard copy or ordinary e-mail) or submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

All candidates will receive an acknowledgement of receipt for their application.

EMSA is an equal opportunities employer. Staff is selected without prejudice as to sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

You may apply in any of the official languages of the European Union, but it would be helpful to apply in English in order to facilitate the selection process.

9. The selection process

For each selection process a Selection Committee is nominated. The selection is carried out in two phases:

1. In the first phase all eligible applications will be evaluated by the Selection Committee and scored against the selection criteria. Please note that non-compliance with at least one of the essential selection criteria will result in the exclusion of the candidate from the selection process. Advantageous criteria constitute additional assets and will not result in exclusion, if not fulfilled. The advantageous criteria will be considered by the Selection Committee depending on the number of applicants meeting the essential selection criteria.

On this basis, the Selection Committee will invite to the interview and to the test phase the best qualified candidates (maximum of 15), on condition that they have achieved at least 60% of the highest possible score during the evaluation of applications. Should the case arise that there are various candidates scoring the same number of points in the 15th ranking, the number of candidates to be invited will be increased accordingly to accommodate this. 

2. In the second phase, the selected candidates will be invited to pass one or several written tests related to the job profile and to take part in a selection interview.

During this recruitment phase, the selected candidates will be evaluated by the Selection Committee. After the interviews and tests, the Selection Committee will draw up a list of the most suitable candidates to be proposed to the Appointing Authority. Only candidates receiving at least 70% of the maximum points at interview and at the test phase will be included in the list of the most suitable candidates. The Appointing Authority will select the successful candidate and decide whether to also adopt a reserve list. The successful candidates will be informed accordingly.

Candidates are strictly forbidden to make any contact with the members of the selection committee, either directly or indirectly. Any infringement of this rule will lead to disqualification from the selection procedure.

All candidates will receive an information letter of the outcome of their application.

Please be informed that the interviews and/or the written tests will be organised remotely. Further information on the organisation of the  test and interview will be provided upon invitation.

Please note that a binding commitment can only be made after verification of all conditions and will take the form of a contract signed by the Executive Director.

If established, the reserve list will remain valid until 31/12/2027, with the possibility of renewal. Therefore, candidates whose name will be put on a reserve list could be offered a contract during this time. Please note however, that inclusion in the reserve list does not guarantee recruitment. 

Please note that the selection process may take several months to be completed and that no information will be released during this period. Once a selection process has been completed, its status will be displayed in the e-recruitment.

Please note that once you have created your EMSA profile, any correspondence regarding your application must be sent or received via your EMSA profile.

For any prior enquiry, please refer to the FAQ (Frequently asked questions) section, or send an e-mail to recruitment@emsa.europa.eu

Requests for information:

An applicant who would like further information or considers that he/she has grounds for complaint concerning a particular decision of the selection procedure may send a request by e-mail to recruitment@emsa.europa.eu preferably within 10 working days from the date he/she was notified.

EMSA Human Resources will forward the request to the Chairperson of the Selection Committee and the applicant will receive a reply as soon as possible.

How to lodge a complaint:

An applicant may lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities and Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities by email to recruitment@emsa.europa.eu or registered mail at the following address:

Human Resources Unit

EMSA

Praca Europa 4

1249-206 Lisbon

Portugal

The time limit for initiating this type of procedure is three months (see Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations as amended by Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 1023/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2013, OJ L 287, 29.10.2013 from the time you become aware of the act allegedly prejudicing your interests.

Applicants can make a complaint to the European Ombudsman. Before submitting a complaint to the European Ombudsman applicants must already have contacted EMSA about the matter and used all the internal administrative options for review and/or complaints provided for in the Staff Regulations.

More information: https://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/en/home

Personal Data protection:

 

The processing of personal data in the Community institutions and bodies like agencies is regulated by Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC.

The Applicant shall have the right of access to his/her personal data and the right to rectify any such data that is inaccurate or incomplete. Should the Applicant have any queries concerning the processing of his/her personal data, (s)he shall address them to the delegated controller of the data, Head of Human Resources Unit. The Applicant shall have right of recourse at any time to the European Data Protection Supervisor.

For more on personal data protection and related documents see the Personal Data Protection page.