Head of Unit – Counter-Terrorism Operations (AD9)

Europol; Den Haag; On-site; EUR 121,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working arrangements

Annual leave

Parental leave

Job summary

Europol seeks a dynamic Head of Unit – CT Operations in The Hague to lead cross-border counter-terrorism activities, cluster EU MS and TP CT investigations, and provide strategic, operational, and policy leadership. The role requires strong engagement with EU MS and partners, and supervision of a high-performing team within the ECTC framework.

The incumbent will steer operational activities, manage resources and risks, and ensure compliant, rights-respecting operations.

Qualifications

• Recent experience leading counter terrorism investigations and operations with an international component.
• Experience working with CT security services beyond law enforcement.
• Proven staff management experience.

Responsibilities

• Set vision, goals and objectives for the Unit aligned with Europol strategy.
• Develop and implement policies to ensure compliant operations and fundamental rights.
• Manage delivery of Europol work programme products and services.
• Oversee staffing, KPIs and staff development.
• Ensure efficient use of financial and human resources and risk mitigation.
• Foster teamwork and zero tolerance for harassment; coordinate with units and stakeholders.
• Represent the Unit in external engagements and negotiations; prepare reports and presentations.

Skills

Counter-terrorism leadership

International cooperation

Staff management

Policy development

Strategic planning

Change management

Multicultural teamwork

Job description

1. Organisational Context

This selection procedure is intended to fill 1 currently available post. Europol retains the right to make use of the reserve list to select candidates for similar posts within the organisation, should business needs require so.

Organisational setting:

The post of Head of Unit – Counter Terrorism (CT) Operations is located in the European Counter Terrorism Centre, Operations Directorate.

The Operations Directorate deals with the core business of Europol, improving the effectiveness and cooperation of the competent authorities in the Member States (MS) in preventing and combating serious and organised crime, as well as terrorism affecting the MS. This requires close cooperation with the Liaison Bureaux at Europol and via them with the Operational Teams in the MS. Europol delivers a number of products and services to national law enforcement agencies to support them in their fight against international serious and organised crime, as well as terrorism.

The Operations Directorate hosts six distinct Departments: Operational and Analysis Centre (OAC), European Serious Organised Crime Centre (ESOCC), European Cyber Crime Centre (EC3), European Counter Terrorism Centre, European Financial and Economic Crime Centre (EFECC) and European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS).

The European Counter Terrorism Centre (ECTC) is responsible for facilitating CT cooperation and information exchange among the CT authorities as well as for providing operational analysis. It was established in 2016 with the aim of maximising operational, technical and overall information exchange capabilities in the area of counterterrorism. ECTC strives to ensure added value for EU MS and third party (TP) CT cooperation by providing:

• An information hub for CT with strong analysis and information sharing capabilities, effective operational support and expertise for MS and TPs CT investigations;
• Proactive mitigation of the use of social media for radicalisation purposes through terrorist/violent (right-wing) extremist online propaganda, also promoting private-public partnerships;
• A central strategic support capability to identify European wide CT implications and outreach with relevant international partners. A support office for the ATLAS network (Special Interventions Units) is also set up within ECTC Expertise & Stakeholder Management Unit.

The CT Operations Unit strives to add value for EU MS and TP CT investigations by providing an operational data hub for CT with profound analysis capability, pragmatic operational support by means of rapid field deployment and highly specialized expertise and by detecting and ensuring bi- and multilateral connectivity of relevant CT services. CT operations is divided into several thematic teams and analysis projects (APs). One of the Unit’s main responsibilities is to provide agile and tailor-made operational support to the MS proactively to prevent violent extremism and terrorists acts but also reactively by supporting MS investigations after committed crimes.

Purpose of the post:

The Head of Unit – CT Operations is responsible for the effective discharge of his/her responsibilities under the supervision of the Head of the Department - ECTC.

The Head of Unit – CT Operations ensures operational engagement with the EU MS and TP CT competent actors by constant scoping for opportunities to detect, facilitate and create multilateral cooperation instruments and momentum in the field of CT.

The incumbent develops concrete proposals for clustering of the EU MS and TP’s CT investigative activity aiming at an encompassing sustainable approach targeting high priority individuals, networks or organisations that represent a threat to the EU security.

The Head of Unit – CT operations maintains intense networking with designated EU MS and TP’s CT experts embedded within Europol Liaison Officer structure, leads the CT Joint Liaison Team and ensures a trusted and qualitative support entity ready to act upon EU MS confrontation with terrorist attacks and threats.

The Head of Unit – CT operations instigates cooperation by supervising and leading the recurrent different operational activities.

Reporting lines:

The incumbent reports to the Head of Department, ECTC.

Job environment:

This post might 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:

• Set vision, goals and objectives for the Unit in alignment with Europol’s organisational strategy and inspire staff;
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to facilitate seamless operations and ensure compliance with relevant legal framework and fundamental rights outlined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union;
• Manage the delivery of relevant products and services included in the Europol work programme; ensure the quality and timeliness of the products and services delivered;
• Manage staff within the Unit; establish and monitor the achievement of key performance indicators and identify and address areas for improvement; provide constructive feedback, guide and empower staff in order to grow and develop;
• Ensure the effective management and efficient use of all financial, human and other resources, in support of Europol's program delivery; identify risks and ensure appropriate mitigation;
• Manage conflicts by effectively applying techniques and strategies that identify and address conflicts early and to find satisfactory solutions that promote positive outcomes;
• Ensure that data entrusted to the unit are protected and used in accordance with the relevant Europol regulations;
• Cultivate a culture of teamwork and cooperation with zero tolerance for harassment; put into place effective communication and collaboration between the Unit and other Units/stakeholders inside or outside of Europol;
• Make development opportunities available and ensure staff members have the know-how, resources, environment and support necessary to achieve results in an effective manner;
• Represent the Unit in external and cross-departmental engagements and negotiations and provide advice on matters relating to area of responsibility; deliver presentations and prepare reports;
• Act as role model for the Unit and champion diversity and inclusion matters inside and outside Europol;
• Perform any other duties in the area of competence as assigned by the line management.

3. Requirements - Eligibility criteria

a. Candidates must

• Be a member of a competent authority within the meaning of the Article 2(a) of the Europol Regulation and enjoy full rights as a citizen of a Member State;
• 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 attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more;

OR

• A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is three years;

OR

• Professional training of an equivalent level in a relevant area (e.g. Police Officer’s School) 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 - 4 years

More than 1 year and up to 2 years - 3 years

More than 2 years and up to 3 years - 2 years

More than 3 years - 1 year

• In addition to the above at least 12 years of professional work experience gained after the award of the diploma.

4. Requirements - Selection criteria

a) Professional experience
Essential

• Recent experience leading counter terrorism (CT) investigations and operations with an international component, preferably of at least 5 years;
• Experience in cooperation with competent CT security services beyond law enforcement;
• Experience in managing staff of at least 5 years;
• Experience in the role of liaison and cooperation on operational, strategic and policy matters;
• Experience with administration, finances and planning at management level.
• Experience working in a multicultural environment;
• Experience in change management.

b) Professional knowledge
Essential

• Sound knowledge of the present operational CT environment;
• Sound knowledge of the EU legal framework in general and in particular in the area of CT;
• Sound knowledge of international police cooperation;
• Sound knowledge of the Europol legal framework.
• The ability to set and revise objectives for the unit within the overall strategic framework and priorities of the Agency;
• The ability to determine and focus on priorities and to monitor and evaluate the progress made towards achieving the Department’s and Units/Team members’ objectives set, in cooperation with managers;
• The ability to organise, assign and manage the Department’s work among the members of the Units/Teams and to set them challenging but realistic objectives;
• The ability to empower members of the Units and Teams while ensuring that they understand what is expected of them and how their work contributes to the unit’s objectives;
• The ability to choose co-workers and to build strong teams with complementary strengths suited to the efficient pursuit of the Department’s objectives;
• The ability to motivate members of the team to achieve the desired results and also to provide regular feedback, acknowledge success and the need for improvement in order to enable them to achieve their objectives and greatest potential;
• The ability to develop and support career development and learning opportunities for the members of the team.
• The ability to communicate clearly and present complex subjects simply, both orally and in writing, including to the members of the team;
• The ability to solicit inputs from and listen to staff, partners, and stakeholders.

Interpersonal skills

• The ability to deal with people effectively, respectfully and courteously;
• The ability to build productive and cooperative working relationships with hierarchy and other units and colleagues.
• The ability to steer discussions and generate the best possible results without compromising productive working relationships with the other parties involved.

d) 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

6. Compensation and benefits

Scale: AD9

The basic monthly salary is EUR 10,082.77 (step 1) or EUR 10,506.46 (step 2).

The step in grade is determined on the basis of professional experience gained after the education required for the position and in line with applicable implementing rules.

Staff pay EU tax at source but salaries are exempt from national taxes. Compulsory deductions are made for medical insurance, pension and unemployment insurance.

Subject to the applicable conditions being met, as defined in the EU Staff Regulations (EUSR)/CEOS and further specified in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union, allowances such as expatriation allowance (16% of basic gross salary) or foreign residence allowance (4% of basic gross salary), household allowance, dependent child and / or education allowance may be granted.

Staff enjoy worldwide insurance coverage by the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS) and are insured against sickness, the risk of occupational disease and accident.

Europol offers flexible working arrangements, a comprehensive provision for annual leave as well as parental leave supporting a healthy work-life balance.

Indicative net salary sample calculation AD9/1:

a) Staff member (single) in receipt of expatriation allowance (16%): EUR 10,048.93

b) Staff member with two dependent children in their custody in receipt of expatriation allowance (16%): EUR 12,573.89

The above information is indicative and for information purposes only. It is merely meant to give an indication of your possible net salary in light of the currently applicable amounts of the related allowances and the level of taxation. It has no legal value and no rights can be derived from it. The information is based on figures applicable as of July 2025.

7. Terms and conditions

Contract of employment

The successful candidate will be recruited in the type of post Head of Unit or equivalent, grade AD9 pursuant to Article 2(f) CEOS and Annex I EUSR.

The initial contract will be concluded for a period of 5 years (full-time – 40 hours a week). The contract may be renewed only once, in principle, for a period of 5 years.

The overall duration of the contracts on restricted posts of Europol staff members will be taken into account if they are successful in the selection procedure.

Conditions of engagement

• declare any conflict of interest;
• undergo a pre-employment medical examination to confirm that he/she is physically fit to perform the duties pertaining to the post or, alternatively, receive the confirmation from Europol that he/she fulfils the conditions laid down in the Decision of the Deputy Executive Director of the Capabilities Directorate on the pre-employment medical examination available on www.europol.europa.eu;
• in case of candidates for restricted posts (including restricted - Annex II posts) who had indicated membership of a competent authority in one of the Member States, provide confirmation of his/her membership of a competent authority in one of the Member States within the meaning of the Article 2(a) of the Europol Regulation.

The place of employment will be The Hague, The Netherlands.

For further information on terms and conditions, please consult the EUSR/CEOS available on www.europol.europa.eu.

Probation period

Engagement for this post is subject to the successful completion of a probationary period of 9 months.

Europol reserves the right to terminate the contract of employment during or at the end of the probation period in accordance with Article 14 of CEOS.

Trial period

All newly appointed heads of unit shall serve a management trial period of nine months as a ‘probationer head of unit’, unless they have already successfully passed such a management trial period in a previous function in the EU institutions as referred to in Article 1(a), paragraph 2, of the EUSR.

This trial period shall provide a formal opportunity to make a definite judgement as to whether the temporary staff has the necessary managerial ability and can remain in this function.

Security screening and certificate of good conduct

Candidates who have been recruited to a post at Europol are required to furnish a valid certificate of good conduct before the start of their employment. The certificate of good conduct must be provided to Europol prior to the signature of the employment contract. The certificate of good conduct must be issued by the relevant authorities of the country of nationality of the candidate and must not be older than three months at the time of submission to Europol. Europol reserves the right not to proceed with the signature of the contract based on the content of the certificate or if the candidate fails to provide the certificate to Europol.

The certificate of good conduct does not substitute a valid security clearance required for all Europol staff at the level indicated in the vacancy notice. Failure to obtain the requisite security clearance may be cause for termination of the employment contract.

Candidates who currently hold a valid security clearance at the level indicated in the vacancy notice or above do not need to obtain a certificate of good conduct or a new security clearance and must provide a copy of the current security clearance certificate to Europol prior to the signature of the employment contract. Europol shall verify and confirm the continued validity of the security clearance.

In case Europol determines that the security clearance is not valid, the candidate will be required to provide a valid certificate of good conduct prior to the signature of the employment contract. Europol may at any time terminate the employment contract if the result of the security screening is not positive and the necessary clearance level is not granted or extended.

The requested level of security clearance for this post is: SECRET UE/EU SECRET.

8. Additional information

Equal opportunity

Europol is an equal opportunity employer. Europol accepts applications without distinction on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, national, ethnic or social origin, religion or beliefs, family situation, age, disability, or other non-merit factors. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and qualifications, experience and skills.

Europol lives diversity and provides an inclusive work environment to all. Europol strives to recruit, develop and retain a diverse and talented workforce through application of equal opportunity and impartiality.

Privacy Notice

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, applies to the processing of personal data carried out in the process of selection and recruitment of staff at Europol, following the application of this Regulation to all administrative personal data held by Europol in accordance with Article 27a of the Europol Regulation.

For additional information, please consult the applicable privacy notice available on Europol’s website, also inserted in the EUROPOL RECRUITMENT GUIDELINES.

Statutory obligations upon leaving the service

Pursuant to Article 16 of the EUSR, EU officials and, by analogy, temporary agents, continue to be bound by the duty to behave with integrity and discretion as regards the acceptance of certain appointments or benefits after leaving the service. Those staff members intending to engage in an occupational activity within two years of leaving the service shall inform their institution, so that it may take an appropriate decision in that respect. In cases where the intended activity is related to the work carried out by the staff member during the last three years of service and could lead to a conflict with the legitimate interests of the institution, the decision to be taken may include forbidding the staff member from undertaking it or giving its approval subject to any conditions it thinks fit.

Main dates

Publication date: 20 October 2026

Deadline for application: 17 November 2026, 23:59 CET

Recruitment procedure: November-December 2026

Contact details

For further details on the application process please call [phone] or [phone]