Deputy Director - EFTA Statistical Office

The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) is an intergovernmental organisation set up for the promotion of free trade and economic integration to the benefit of its four Member States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The EFTA Secretariat provides services to the EFTA States. The EFTA Statistical Office (ESO) in Luxembourg is a liaison office between the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) and the EFTA National Statistical Institutes (NSIs), coordinating cooperation in the field of statistics both within and outside the European Economic Area (EEA).

The EFTA Secretariat offers the opportunity for a highly motivated and qualified professional to join the EFTA Statistical Office in Luxembourg as Deputy Director of the Office. We are looking for an individual who is ready to take on a challenging position in a dynamic international environment and to contribute to the coordination of EFTA-EU cooperation in the field of statistics.

Applicants must be nationals of one of the EFTA Member States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Scope

The successful applicant will be responsible with the Director for the coordination of EFTA-EU cooperation in the field of statistics and for the overall management of the Office. The position includes the supervision of temporary staff employed by the Office (Junior Professionals and/or Seconded National Experts) as well as assisting the Director in his/her managerial role and acting in his/her absence. The position furthermore involves servicing the Working Group of the Heads of the EFTA National Statistical Institutes, which includes:

• Elaborating an EEA annual statistical programme in concertation with Eurostat and the EFTA National Statistical Institutes;

• Fostering participation by the EFTA National Statistical Institutes and other EFTA national authorities in European Statistical System meetings organized by Eurostat;

• Supporting incorporation into the EEA Agreement of relevant EU legal acts in the field of statistics with the necessary adaptations and derogations;

• Monitoring inclusion of EFTA Member States’ data in Eurostat’s dissemination channels and supervising the elaboration of corresponding reports;

• Contributing to the elaboration of an EFTA annual technical cooperation work programme in the field of statistics, and supporting as well as reporting on its implementation in cooperation with the EFTA National Statistical Institutes, Eurostat and relevant international organizations;

• Fostering participation by the EFTA National Statistical Institutes in the European Statistical Training Programme (ESTP);

• Representing with the Director the EFTA Secretariat at Eurostat, in high-level meetings of the European and Global Statistical Systems, as well as vis-à-vis the authorities of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and of other EFTA partner countries.

Education

• University degree (Master or equivalent) in economics, politics, social sciences, statistics or a related discipline with a significant statistical methods component.

Experience

• Several years of professional experience in the development, production and dissemination of official statistics, at national and/or international levels.

• Solid knowledge of the European and Global Statistical Systems, of the EU and EEA institutional settings and decision-making processes, and of EEA legislation in the field of statistics.

Skills

• Excellent managerial, organisational and communication skills.

• Excellent analytical skills with an eye for detail without losing sight of the bigger picture.

• Ability to negotiate with internal and external partners with a view to achieving mutually acceptable results.

• Ability to draft reports and notes concisely and clearly in English at a high standard.

• Ability to make presentations in front of diverse audiences.

• Autonomy, self-management and ability to take initiatives.

• Ability to teamwork and provide appropriate guidance to other team members in a multicultural and diverse professional environment.

• Ability to represent the EFTA Secretariat vis-à-vis external partners and to establish and maintain productive working relationships with them.

Languages

• High level of oral and written proficiency in English.

• Working knowledge of other EU and/or EFTA languages is an asset.

Employment terms

EFTA offers a dynamic and diverse work environment with the opportunity to work in a team of highly qualified people. The EFTA Secretariat is committed to professionalism, cooperation, trust, responsibility and respect, and its recruitment policy aims to ensure diversity in terms of gender, age and culture.

Grade: A5
Annual salary: EUR 158,673.36

Appointments are normally made at the first step of the grade. The Secretary-General reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a level different from that advertised.

EFTA is an international organization and the salaries and related payments are normally exempt from income taxation by the EFTA States and the host States of the EFTA duty stations including the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Depending on the candidate’s family status, benefits and allowances may apply.

Applicants must apply online via the EFTA e-recruitment tool.

For further information on this position, please contact:

• On job content: Mr Michel A. Di Pietro, Director ESO: [email protected]

• Process & technical issues: HR Support: [email protected]

Any questions about the application and selection process should be directed to HR Support.

Deadline for applications: 13 September 2026