Legal Officer - Internal Market Division - VA 08/2025

Do you want to be a part of a dynamic and ambitious intergovernmental organisation working for the promotion of free trade and economic integration across Europe and globally? The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) offers the opportunity for a motivated and highly skilled professional to join the Internal Market Division in Brussels as a Legal Officer. Here, you will be part of an organisation based on professionalism, cooperation, trust, responsibility and respect.

The EFTA Secretariat serves the four EFTA States – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – and has offices in Geneva, Brussels and Luxemburg. The Brussels Office supports the EEA EFTA States in the management of the EEA Agreement and assists in preparing new legislation for integration into the Agreement.

The Internal Market Division (IMD) is responsible for providing support and assistance to the EFTA States in their work related to the EEA Agreement and their contribution to the development of EEA-relevant legislation.

Division Internal Market Category/Level A4 Duration of Appointment Fixed term three years. If considered desirable and in the organisation’s interest, an additional three-year contract may be offered. Start Date Summer 2025 Closing Date 23-03-2025 Job Reference VA 08/2025

Role Description

We are looking for a highly motivated and qualified candidate to take on the challenging post as legal officer in IMD. The successful candidate will play an important role in IMD, cooperating closely with and providing legal advice to colleagues and to the EEA EFTA States.  

The main tasks of the successful applicant will be to:

• Provide legal services and advice to the EEA EFTA States and colleagues in IMD within a wide selection of policy areas covered by the EEA Agreement
• Draft Decisions of the EEA Joint Committee to incorporate EEA-relevant EU legal acts into the EEA Agreement,
• Draft legal and explanatory notes related to the management of the EEA Agreement,
• Cooperate closely with the IMD policy officers, administrative coordinators, Registrar and other members of EFTA’s EEA legal team,
• Cooperate closely with Ministries in the EEA EFTA States, the EFTA Missions to the EU and EU counterparts regarding the incorporation of EU legislation into the EEA Agreement, and
• Contribute to EFTA’s outreach activities, sharing knowledge and building competence on how the EEA Agreement functions and its legal implications, by giving trainings and presentations in meetings and seminars.

The successful candidate should be flexible and willing to take on other tasks, including non-legal and administrative tasks, as required, and depending on the workload and needs within IMD.

Essential Skills

• University master degree in law
• Minimum five years relevant work experience in a national administration, international organisation,  or other relevant private sector company
• Experience working with EEA or EU law
• Excellent analytical skills and focus on results
• Ability to draft legal texts and opinions concisely, clearly, and swiftly in English
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• Self-reliance and autonomy, together with a facility for teamwork in a task-oriented environment
• Flexibility with a positive, service-minded, and proactive attitude

Ideal Skills

• Experience working in an international and multicultural environment
• A postgraduate degree in EEA and/or European Union law
• Proficient user of standard Microsoft Office software
• Interest and knowledge of new IT tools, included AI-based solutions
• Working knowledge of German, Norwegian, Icelandic or French 

Employment Terms

EFTA has a dynamic and diverse work environment with the opportunity to work in a team of highly qualified people. Here you will be part of an organisation based on professionalism, cooperation, trust, responsibility and respect.

EFTA also offers:

• International career and learning opportunities.
• An inclusive environment with high regard for cultural differences.
• Competitive benefit package.

Grade: A4
Annual salary: EUR 112,786.56

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. Through its recruitment policy, the EFTA Secretariat wants to ensure diversity in terms of gender, age and culture.

EFTA is an international organisation, and the salaries and related payments are normally exempt from income taxation by the EFTA Member States and in the host states of the EFTA duty stations. Depending on the candidate’s family status, benefits and allowances may apply.

This position is open to nationals of all the EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). Applicants must apply via the EFTA e-recruitment tool. EFTA plans to recruit an additional Legal Officer for the EEA Coordination Division (ECD) later this year and will create a reserve list of candidates for consideration.

For further information on this post, please contact:

• On substance:
• Ms Marit Schage Andria, Director of IMD Internal Market Division, [email protected] , tel. +32 2 28 61 740  
• On process:
• HR Support, [email protected]

Deadline for applications: 23 March 2025