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Head of Human Resources Department

Type of Selection:  External
Contract Type:  Temporary agent
Grade:  AD10
Deadline for application:  09/11/2025 at 23:59 CET
Experience Level:  Managerial
Approx. number of candidates on reserve list:  5
Location:  Cologne, Germany
Monthly gross compensation (€):  11,075.76 - 11,541.15

Our employees are our most valuable asset. We therefore offer a wide range of benefits.

 

EASA is the leading aviation authority in Europe. A career at EASA means contributing to our vision for an ever safer and greener civil aviation. As an EASA employee, you will be making a difference to the lives of about 500 million fellow Europeans: this is our shared purpose and it could be yours, too. From our headquarters in Cologne, Germany, you will work with top experts in a multicultural work environment. Diversity and Inclusion are part of our DNA and innovation is at the heart of what we do. We ensure that aviation is safe in all phases: beginning with the certification of the aircraft to the rules for the air operation and crew. For more information about the Agency please consult our website and take a look at our organisation structure. Are you interested to contribute to our mission? Then see below what it takes to accomplish the role.

We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity and non-discrimination. To further enhance the diversity of our workforce, we particularly encourage applications from female candidates. 

Job Overview

Lead and guide the Human Resources Department, within the Resources and Support Directorate, establishing a forward thinking agenda to drive a modern HR function in EASA. Define strategic priorities and objectives for the services delivery, while ensuring the Department’s overall capacity, capability and competence to meet the organisational needs.

General Accountabilities

•    Provide leadership and direction to the Department to ensure successful execution of the Directorate’s strategic objectives and priorities.
•    Promote the Agency’s mission, activities, values and image.
•    Foster innovation by seeking opportunities for change, ensuring appropriate management of risks.
•    Encourage a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and development of staff, building trust, using open and transparent communication, and providing regularly constructive feedback.
•    Regularly evaluate and optimise processes and resource allocation to increase and maintain efficiency, effectiveness and seamless business continuity.
•    Engage with stakeholders to understand their needs and expectations, maintain open communication, building trust, and honour commitments to drive desired results.
•    Ensure cooperation and knowledge-sharing throughout the organisation.
•    Foster an inclusive and diverse workforce, promoting equal opportunities, and valuing diversity.

Specific Accountabilities

•    Human Resources Strategy and Policy Development: Develop and implement strategies and policies to meet the Agency’s mission and long-term goals and to promote the Agency as employer of choice.
•    Strategic Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive plans that align with the strategic and department’s objectives, ensuring clarity in goals, milestones, and deliverables.
•    Priority Setting: Evaluate tasks and projects to determine their urgency and importance, creating a structured approach to focus on high-impact activities.
•    Resource Allocation: Make effective use of staff and budget by taking decisions to target resources towards the delivery of key strategic priorities while ensuring the highest quality standards.
•    Performance Monitoring: Track progress against plans, identify potential bottlenecks, and proactively adjust priorities to maintain momentum and achieve objectives.
•    Proactively develop and promote modern best practices, processes and tools in line with anticipated business needs, aiming to increase organisational impact and efficiency. Focus areas include strategic workforce planning, leadership growth, diversity and inclusion, promoting employees’ wellbeing, talent acquisition, competence and career development, learning and development, reward and recognition programs and HR day-to-day operations.
•    Digitalisation: Develop and implement effective methods and tools, to advance HR digitalisation initiatives, enhancing the optimisation of HR services portfolio along the Digitalisation Roadmap. 
•    Facilitate the relationships with social partners building on and further strengthening the existing work relationships.
•    Ensure correct interpretation, implementation and compliance of the Staff Regulations of Officials and Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (‘CEOS’) as well as the applicable General Implementing Provisions across the Agency.

 

Admission Criteria

The following constitute eligibility and essential criteria for the role to be admitted to the selection process. Candidates not fulfilling these criteria by the deadline for applications will be excluded from the selection process:

  • Have a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the European Union (at least level C1) and a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the EU to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties (at least level B2). One of the required languages shall be English.*
  • Be a national of a Member State of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.
  • Completed university studies of at least 4 years in the scope of the job profile. After obtaining the degree, at least 12 years of relevant professional experience acquired in positions corresponding to the nature of the duties of the job profile. Alternatively, completion of at least 3 years of university studies as above, followed by at least 13 years of relevant professional experience.
  • At least 4 years of recent managerial experience with proven capacity to successfully lead teams of professionals, manage resources (budget and staff planning), and change, while maintaining delivery.
  • Proven experience in areas such as strategic workforce planning/business planning, talent acquisition, performance management, reward and recognition, digitalisation of HR/business operations.

 

The following constitute advantageous criteria for the role. Candidates not fulfilling these criteria will not be excluded from the selection process: 

  • Proven track record in the field of public service/administration

 

* English oral and written skills will be assessed throughout the assessment phase. Mother tongue English speakers will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of a second EU language. 

Selection Criteria

The selection process is based on the assessment of the Professional Skills and Behavioural Competences listed below. While these are considered critical to perform the role effectively, candidates who do not meet all criteria may still be considered.

Professional Skills

Human Resources Management
Workforce Management
Organisational Development
Performance Management
Staff Well-Being - Diversity & Inclusion
HR Rules and Regulations incl. conditions of employment
Stakeholder Management

Behavioural Competences

Engaging Staff
Guiding Staff
Managing Ambiguity
Strategic Agility
Communication
Flexibility & Change Adaptability

Mandatory Pre-Employment Requirements

Prior to recruitment, you will be requested to demonstrate that you:  

  • Are entitled to the full rights as a citizen.
  • Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws on military service.
  • Meet the character requirements for the duties involved (you will be asked to provide a police certificate confirming the absence of any criminal record) .
  • Are physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post (you will be asked to undergo a medical examination in a centre indicated by EASA).

Conditions of employment

Contract: 5 years contract as Temporary Agent 2 (f) with possibility of extension. 
Working hours: 40 hrs per week (on a full-time working pattern). Flexible working arrangements. 
Salary: Depending on work experience. Additional allowances depending on personal situation.
Location: Cologne, Germany (relocation is required). 

Application & Selection Process

How to apply

We can only accept applications that are submitted in English through our Recruiting tool. Before sending your application, make sure it is complete and contains the document(s) specified in the vacancy notice. Please also ensure that your candidate profile, all relevant fields and the answers to the pre-screening questions are correct. You may review and amend data demonstrating compliance with the eligibility and selection criteria only until the closing date of applications for the respective selection procedure.

For further information take a look at How we hire. In case of questions or technical issues, email us at recruit@easa.europa.eu. Attach a description and screenshot of the error. 

To check if you are meeting the minimum education qualifications required for the job, consult the information published by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO): Examples of minimum qualifications

Important note on diplomas obtained outside the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or Norway: If your application is found eligible on the basis of diploma(s) obtained outside these countries, we might ask you to provide proof of accreditation by one of the European Union Member States. This applies also to diplomas obtained in the UK after 31 December 2020.

Make sure you are meeting the language requirements: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and assess your language skills. Language certificates are not required at the stage of application, unless specified in the vacancy.

Selection Process

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted via E-mail. If your application has been rejected following the initial screening, the status in your candidate profile will be automatically updated to "Not admitted". Invitations to the shortlisted candidates are sent once the evaluation of applications is completed (this may take up to two months after expiry of the deadline to apply). Pre-selection exercises, online tests and interviews with the Selection Board usually take place remotely. If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list from which you might be considered for similar positions within EASA. Learn more about our Selection and Onboarding process. Take a look also at our comprehensive information on Benefits, get to know Our people and find out what Life in Cologne is like.

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