Applications invited for Executive Director position at CEPOL - Deadline extended

The European Commission has published the vacancy for the function of the Executive Director of CEPOL (AD14). 

The Executive Director will lead and manage the Agency and take overall responsibility for its operations ensuring the achievement of its objectives. The Executive Director will shape, promote and implement a modern, transparent and identifiable vision for the Agency, with a strong focus on its EU added value, fully in line with its founding Regulation, the EU values and the European Union’s internal security acquis.

The Executive Director will:

• adhere to the strictest integrity and ethical principles;
• reflect strategic policy developments of the EU in the Agency’s activities, in close collaboration with the Commission and the Management Board and will need to set clear priorities to ensure that CEPOL delivers tangible impact;
• prepare, propose and implement the Agency’s work programme and multi-annual programmes as well as the decisions of the Management Board;
• report on the implementation of the Agency’s activities and ensure that CEPOL’s training and learning products correspond to evolving law enforcement needs, including in an ad hoc and flexible manner;
• be responsible for the day-to-day administration of CEPOL, establishing and managing the administrative, operational and financial measures necessary for the efficient functioning of the Agency;
• oversee the Agency’s corporate governance and culture, both in terms of internal management and vis-à-vis external counterparts;
• motivate and lead staff to excel and deliver within its legal framework and the resources available;
• act as CEPOL’s legal representative and public face, engaging with stakeholders and the public as necessary on all matters within the mandate of the Agency

The Executive Director is accountable to the Management Board and is responsible for the implementation of its decisions. The Executive Director shall report to the European Parliament on the performance of their duties when invited to do so. The Council may also invite the Executive Director to report on the performance of their duties.

Without prejudice to the powers of the Commission and of the Management Board, the Executive Director shall assume full responsibility for the implementation of the tasks assigned to CEPOL and shall be subject to the procedure for annual discharge and closure of accounts by the European Parliament for the implementation of the budget.

The Executive Director shall be responsible for specific tasks laid down in the CEPOL Regulation for which a more detailed description can be found in its Article 14. 

The Executive Director’s further specific tasks include:

• Ensuring high-quality, future-oriented law enforcement training for law enforcement authorities, including through the development of research relevant for training activities, in line with CEPOL’s mandate, while continuously adapting to evolving threats and the operational needs of Member States, and effectively positioning the Agency within the EU internal security landscape;
• Engaging in a constant dialogue with the European Commission, other EU institutions, and stakeholders, with a view to following and implementing all the EU policies in the relevant fields CEPOL is involved in;
• Embracing all challenges the Agency is facing, including, but not limited to, efficiently managing its resources, enhancing its overall effectiveness, capitalising on its training investments to maximise impact, and improving internal workflows. The latter includes, where necessary, making proposals for the modification of CEPOL’s internal structures. Strong coordination between the Agency’s internal and external dimensions is required, with priority given to strengthening the internal dimension;
• Demonstrating resilience and fostering trust by delivering visible results in the Agency’s core mandate, maintaining a high level of secure ICT management, ensuring the Agency’s Law Enforcement Education Platform is fully operational and trusted by Member States, and engaging in close, transparent communication with Member States.

The place of employment is Budapest, Hungary, where CEPOL is based. The working language of CEPOL is English. Therefore, the ability to communicate in English is an essential requirement. Knowledge of other languages of the European Union, in addition to those indicated in the eligibility criteria, would be an asset.

The closing date for registration is 24 October 2025, 12.00 noon Brussels time, following which registration is no longer possible.

Update: Deadline extended, the new closing date for registration is 21 November 2025, 12.00 noon Brussels time, following which registration is no longer possible.

For more information please consult the vacancy notice from the Official Journal by clicking here.