Head of Legal Unit (AD10)

Overview

Head of Legal Unit (AD10) Jobs in Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia at eu-LISA

Title: Head of Legal Unit (AD10)

Company: eu-LISA

Location: Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia

VACANCY NOTICE – Head of Legal Unit (AD10), ref. eu-LISA/26/TA/AD10/10.1

Unit and Department: Legal Unit

Contract Duration: Initial contract of 5 years subject to renewal

Function Group/Grade: AD10 (Temporary Staff)

Place of Employment: Tallinn (Estonia)

Working model: Hybrid working arrangements – Permanent relocation required

Level of Security Clearance: SECRET UE/EU SECRET

Deadline for Application: 05 October 2026 12:59 pm Tallinn time / 11:59 am Strasbourg time

Validity of the Reserve List: 31 December 2029

About the Agency

We are eu-LISA, the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. We help implement the European Union’s policies by designing, developing, and operating large-scale information systems in internal security, border management, and judicial cooperation. Our teams develop and manage the technological architecture of the Schengen area and the EU justice domain. By equipping law enforcement and border management operators and juridical practitioners with cutting-edge technological infrastructure, we help ensure security and justice for citizens. With a workforce of more than 24 nationalities, eu-LISA embraces an international work environment and values collaboration among colleagues from diverse backgrounds. Join us to become part of our organisational culture that fosters inclusivity and diversity. Our belief is ‘Together as one, we are making it happen’. We want our people to feel respected, valued and empowered. Please visit our website and discover more about eu-LISA’s core activities.

About the Role

As Head of the Legal Unit, reporting to the Deputy Executive Director and serving as a member of the organisation’s management team, you will play a pivotal strategic and operational leadership role in ensuring that the Agency’s activities comply with its legal obligations. You will ensure that legal services are aligned with organisational priorities, supporting the Agency’s operational excellence and long-term transformation. In this capacity, you will position legal services as a key enabler of the Agency’s mandate, driving efficiency, innovation, and high-quality, while strengthening the organisation’s ability to respond effectively to stakeholder needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Legal Unit, fostering a high-performance culture based on engagement, empowerment, and accountability, while ensuring effective staff development through regular feedback, coaching, and mentoring.
• Lead Agency’s legal function, ensuring alignment with its mandate, objectives and values, and establishing clear governance, accountability and quality standards across all legal processes.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks, ensuring timely escalation and informed decision-making by senior management, and promoting a proactive, risk-based approach across the organisation.
• Act as a strategic advisor to senior management, supporting sound decision-making and ensuring legally robust interactions with institutional counterparts (e.g. EU institutions, Member States), and external stakeholders.
• Strengthen corporate governance and decision-making processes, including support to the Executive Director and Management Board, ensuring compliance with applicable legal and procedural requirements.
• Provide legal advice on the interpretation and application of the Agency’s legal framework and on its regulatory and operational activities, including procurement, staff and administrative matters, and the legal aspects of large-scale Justice and Home Affairs information systems, ensuring consistency and legal robustness.
• Ensure compliance with applicable EU law, including emerging regulatory frameworks (e.g. the Artificial Intelligence Act), and monitor legal developments, case law, and guidance from oversight bodies to anticipate risks and advise on their impact.
• Represent the Agency in judicial and administrative proceedings, including before the Court of Justice of the European Union, and oversee disputes, complaints, and pre-litigation procedures in coordination with relevant stakeholders.
• Oversee transparency and accountability frameworks, including public access to documents, and contribute to the governance of the Agency’s document management function.
• Drive the continuous improvement and digitalisation of legal services, enhancing efficiency, consistency, and responsiveness to organisational needs.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for recruitment and selection, you need to meet the following formal criteria, which need to be fulfilled by the deadline for application:

General conditions

1. You are national of one of the EU Member States or Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland and you enjoy full rights as a citizen.
2. You produce the appropriate character requirements for the duties involved.
3. You are physically fit to perform your duties.
4. You have fulfilled any obligations imposed on you by the laws concerning military service.

Education

1. You 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
2. You have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is least three years or more and appropriate professional experience of at least one year.

* Only qualifications awarded in an EU Member State or that are subject to an equivalence certificate issued by an authority in a said EU Member State shall be taken into consideration.

Professional experience

1. You have at least twelve (12) years of proven full-time professional experience relevant to the duties after the award of the qualification certifying the completion of studies required as a condition of eligibility as above.

Language

1. You have a thorough knowledge (C1 level) of one of the 24 EU official languages and a satisfactory knowledge (B2 level) of another EU official language for the performance of your duties.

Selection criteria

eu-LISA aims to establish a reserve list from which to source the best talent. The suitability of candidates will be assessed during different stages of the selection procedure against the following criteria:

Leadership abilities

1. Proven ability to lead, motivate, and develop teams, fostering a positive and engaging working culture and translating this into a clear mission, objectives and a strong organisational commitment.
2. Ability to shape the strategic direction and vision for the Legal Unit, promoting innovation, efficiency, and forward-looking legal support and guide the unit through change and evolving priorities.
3. At least two (2) years of post-graduate management experience relevant to the position, with sound evidence of staff management, budget responsibility, and organisational impact5.

Experience

1. Extensive experience similar to the duties outlined in the section “Responsibilities”, preferably in an international or EU institutional context.

Education

1. University degree in the field of law.

Language

1. Strong drafting and communication skills in English, both orally and in writing, at least at the C1 level.

Soft Skills

1. Ability to act upon eu-LISA’s values and guiding principles (We get the job done – We take ownership – We are all role models – We act together as one).
2. Strong communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and contribute to sound, solution oriented decision-making across the organisation.
3. Embed a business-partnering approach, ensuring early involvement and delivery of pragmatic legal support aligned with operational needs.
4. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate and manage legal risks, exercise sound judgement, and take timely, well-founded decisions under pressure and competing priorities.

Advantageous

1. Good understanding of complex institutional and stakeholder environments, with the ability to navigate governance frameworks at national and European level.

Apply today: Head of Legal Unit