29 May 2012 - The ESPON Coordination Unit is looking for two trainees for a period of 5 months to join our international team, starting in August/September 2012.

The ESPON 2013 Programme

ESPON is a network providing European observation and evidence on territorial development and cohesion. The activities are implemented as a programme under the Structural Funds 2007-2013 and the objective of European territorial cooperation. The mission is to enhance European knowledge, data and indicators on territorial structures, trends, perspectives and impacts of sector policies which can meet policy demand related to EU Cohesion Policy and be useful for policy makers and practitioners around Europe.

The ESPON 2013 Programme is the second generation of ESPON. The budget of this programme amounts to around 47 million Euros in total. All 27 EU Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are partners in the programme, which is managed by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructures, Department for Spatial Development of Luxembourg. The European Commission is playing an active advisory role during the programme implementation.

Applied research projects and targeted analyses, defined by stakeholders and based on ESPON results, will be carried through until the end of 2014 by contracting Transnational Project Groups composed of scientists and consultants. A scientific platform for European territorial research shall be further developed, including the ESPON Database, tools and territorial indicators. The awareness and capitalisation of comparable information on European regions shall be ensured through publications and events etc. at European and transnational level.

You can find more detailed information about the ESPON 2013 Programme and the existing ESPON achievements and results on www.espon.eu.

The ESPON Coordination Unit

The ESPON CU currently includes 14 staff members and 2 trainees.

The CU is located in Luxembourg City, 5-10 minutes walk from the train station. During October/November 2012, the CU will move to Kirchberg, another part of the city.

The job for the trainees

The ESPON CU offers a five-month period of training for young academics in the final stage of their university studies related to territorial development and planning, geography, regional economics, European studies, political science and/or other relevant fields.

The work in the CU is organised in three clusters each dealing with a key area of the implementation of the ESPON 2013 Programme: 1) Programme, Finance and Budget, 2) Project Development and Coordination and 3) Capitalisation, Publication and Analysis.

During the traineeship period one trainee will be involved mainly in tasks related to the cluster on Capitalisation, Publication and Analysis. The other trainee will mainly be involved in tasks of the cluster related to Programme, Finance and Budget. The trainee jobs will accordingly include a variety of tasks related to the ESPON 2013 Programme.

At this stage of programme implementation, the ESPON 2013 Programme requires an enhanced effort concerning the communication and publication of ESPON results. Interest and commitment in work of the Capitalisation Cluster will therefore be required. Some support to the Project Cluster is also envisaged, among others, to support the preparation of responses on project reports.

The work in the Programme, Finance and Budget cluster includes a variety of financial and administrative tasks. Here the ESPON 2013 Programme at this stage has committed the large majority of funds. The main focus is therefore on spending and ensuring impeccable financial management, sufficient spending to avoid de-commitment of funds and correct use of funds leading to auditing without finding of irregularities.

Both trainees might in addition be involved in dissemination tasks related to the implementation of the communication plan, support the organization of events and preparation of meetings, seminars and workshops.

Please note that an allowance of 1.000 Euro per month will be available. It is considered and treated as an indemnity to support your living expenses during the traineeship at the ESPON CU.

Your profile

You are a student registered at a university during the entire period of the traineeship and carry a passport from Member States of the European Union or from Norway, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein (full partners in the ESPON programme).

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Interest and some knowledge in relation to European cooperation in the field of EU Structural Funds, regional policy and/or spatial development and planning, geography, regional economics, European studies, political science, public administration, communications and/or other fields related to territorial development.
• Motivation for learning and contributing to management, financial and administrative tasks, to content-related tasks related to project development and coordination as well as tasks related to communication and capitalisation on programme activities.
• Attention to detail and accuracy, capability to meet pre-defined deadlines, ability to quickly grasp new tasks would be irreplaceable in order to fulfil her/his tasks and duties successfully.
• An excellent understanding and fluency in spoken and written English and preferably good communication skills in other languages.
• Strong interpersonal skills, being keen team players, capable of taking direction and working on their own initiative, consulting if needed, open and capable of working in a complex multicultural environment, involvement in performing tasks and accuracy.
• Knowledge and experience of working with Microsoft Office.

For persons interested in the traineeship related to the cluster on Capitalisation, Publication and Analysis, experience in desk research (i.e. finding relevant literature and synthesising it) will be a key asset. Furthermore, with specific regard to the capitalisation activities, good communication skills and experience of promotional/marketing activities will be an advantage.

For persons interested in the traineeship related to the Programme, Finance and Budget cluster, specific attention will be devoted to candidates presenting administrative flair and motivation related to project management and/or financial management.

For both posts as trainee, communication competences, and experience in reporting, preparing presentations and organizing events will be considered an advantage.

How to apply

Your application shall include the following:

1. A motivation letter in English – not longer than 1 page. Your motivation letter may include the following: Why you would like to be a trainee at the ESPON CU? Which personal assets do you feel you can bring to the ESPON CU? Your expectations for the traineeship: what you hope to learn from it?
2. Your Curriculum Vitae in English– not longer than 3 pages;
3. A profile table duly filled-in (available below).

All the above mentioned documents are to be sent by e-mail to traineeship@espon.eu. Please specify in the subject of the e-mail the following information:

“Your First Name and Last Name – Profile you are applying for* - ESPON TRAINEESHIP APPLICATION”.

*Profile A: Capitalisation, Publication and Analysis cluster.

*Profile B: Programme, Finance and Budget cluster.

Deadline for submitting an application is 22nd June 2012.

You will be informed, latest by the end of July 2012, about the outcome of the selection. Please be informed that copies of your relevant university certificates and diplomas as well a proof of being registered at your University will be necessary for the contracting, in case you are selected.

The ESPON Programme applies the principle of equal opportunities between men and women.

Further information

You can get further information about the job and the ESPON Coordination Unit by contacting:

Andre Isidro (e-mail: andre.isidro@espon.eu)

Tereza Valaskova (e-mail: tereza.valaskova@espon.eu)

Traineeships at the ESPON Coordination Unit Luxembourg

29 May 2012 - The ESPON Coordination Unit is looking for two trainees for a period of 5 months to join our international team, starting in August/September 2012.
The ESPON 2013 Programme

ESPON is a network providing European observation and evidence on territorial development and cohesion. The activities are implemented as a programme under the Structural Funds 2007-2013 and the objective of European territorial cooperation. The mission is to enhance European knowledge, data and indicators on territorial structures, trends, perspectives and impacts of sector policies which can meet policy demand related to EU Cohesion Policy and be useful for policy makers and practitioners around Europe.

The ESPON 2013 Programme is the second generation of ESPON. The budget of this programme amounts to around 47 million Euros in total. All 27 EU Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are partners in the programme, which is managed by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructures, Department for Spatial Development of Luxembourg. The European Commission is playing an active advisory role during the programme implementation.

Applied research projects and targeted analyses, defined by stakeholders and based on ESPON results, will be carried through until the end of 2014 by contracting Transnational Project Groups composed of scientists and consultants. A scientific platform for European territorial research shall be further developed, including the ESPON Database, tools and territorial indicators. The awareness and capitalisation of comparable information on European regions shall be ensured through publications and events etc. at European and transnational level.

You can find more detailed information about the ESPON 2013 Programme and the existing ESPON achievements and results on www.espon.eu.
The ESPON Coordination Unit

The ESPON CU currently includes 14 staff members and 2 trainees.

The CU is located in Luxembourg City, 5-10 minutes walk from the train station. During October/November 2012, the CU will move to Kirchberg, another part of the city.
The job for the trainees

The ESPON CU offers a five-month period of training for young academics in the final stage of their university studies related to territorial development and planning, geography, regional economics, European studies, political science and/or other relevant fields.

The work in the CU is organised in three clusters each dealing with a key area of the implementation of the ESPON 2013 Programme: 1) Programme, Finance and Budget, 2) Project Development and Coordination and 3) Capitalisation, Publication and Analysis.

During the traineeship period one trainee will be involved mainly in tasks related to the cluster on Capitalisation, Publication and Analysis. The other trainee will mainly be involved in tasks of the cluster related to Programme, Finance and Budget. The trainee jobs will accordingly include a variety of tasks related to the ESPON 2013 Programme.

At this stage of programme implementation, the ESPON 2013 Programme requires an enhanced effort concerning the communication and publication of ESPON results. Interest and commitment in work of the Capitalisation Cluster will therefore be required. Some support to the Project Cluster is also envisaged, among others, to support the preparation of responses on project reports.

The work in the Programme, Finance and Budget cluster includes a variety of financial and administrative tasks. Here the ESPON 2013 Programme at this stage has committed the large majority of funds. The main focus is therefore on spending and ensuring impeccable financial management, sufficient spending to avoid de-commitment of funds and correct use of funds leading to auditing without finding of irregularities.

Both trainees might in addition be involved in dissemination tasks related to the implementation of the communication plan, support the organization of events and preparation of meetings, seminars and workshops.

Please note that an allowance of 1.000 Euro per month will be available. It is considered and treated as an indemnity to support your living expenses during the traineeship at the ESPON CU.
Your profile

You are a student registered at a university during the entire period of the traineeship and carry a passport from Member States of the European Union or from Norway, Switzerland, Iceland or Liechtenstein (full partners in the ESPON programme).

Applicants should demonstrate:

Interest and some knowledge in relation to European cooperation in the field of EU Structural Funds, regional policy and/or spatial development and planning, geography, regional economics, European studies, political science, public administration, communications and/or other fields related to territorial development.
Motivation for learning and contributing to management, financial and administrative tasks, to content-related tasks related to project development and coordination as well as tasks related to communication and capitalisation on programme activities.
Attention to detail and accuracy, capability to meet pre-defined deadlines, ability to quickly grasp new tasks would be irreplaceable in order to fulfil her/his tasks and duties successfully.
An excellent understanding and fluency in spoken and written English and preferably good communication skills in other languages.
Strong interpersonal skills, being keen team players, capable of taking direction and working on their own initiative, consulting if needed, open and capable of working in a complex multicultural environment, involvement in performing tasks and accuracy.
Knowledge and experience of working with Microsoft Office.

For persons interested in the traineeship related to the cluster on Capitalisation, Publication and Analysis, experience in desk research (i.e. finding relevant literature and synthesising it) will be a key asset. Furthermore, with specific regard to the capitalisation activities, good communication skills and experience of promotional/marketing activities will be an advantage.

For persons interested in the traineeship related to the Programme, Finance and Budget cluster, specific attention will be devoted to candidates presenting administrative flair and motivation related to project management and/or financial management.

For both posts as trainee, communication competences, and experience in reporting, preparing presentations and organizing events will be considered an advantage.
How to apply

Your application shall include the following:

A motivation letter in English – not longer than 1 page. Your motivation letter may include the following: Why you would like to be a trainee at the ESPON CU? Which personal assets do you feel you can bring to the ESPON CU? Your expectations for the traineeship: what you hope to learn from it?
Your Curriculum Vitae in English– not longer than 3 pages;
A profile table duly filled-in (available below).

All the above mentioned documents are to be sent by e-mail to traineeship@espon.eu. Please specify in the subject of the e-mail the following information:

"Your First Name and Last Name – Profile you are applying for* - ESPON TRAINEESHIP APPLICATION".

*Profile A: Capitalisation, Publication and Analysis cluster.

*Profile B: Programme, Finance and Budget cluster.

Deadline for submitting an application is 22nd June 2012.

You will be informed, latest by the end of July 2012, about the outcome of the selection. Please be informed that copies of your relevant university certificates and diplomas as well a proof of being registered at your University will be necessary for the contracting, in case you are selected.

The ESPON Programme applies the principle of equal opportunities between men and women.
Further information

You can get further information about the job and the ESPON Coordination Unit by contacting:

Andre Isidro (e-mail: andre.isidro@espon.eu)