Director – Corporate and Operational (two profiles), AD 12

If you are an individual with management and leadership experience in the private or public sector, in a national, EU or international organisation and are interested in joining a dynamic, expanding organisation, then this job could be for you. ECHA launched its new organisational structure in March 2026 and this introduced operational directorates addressing delivery of our chemicals mandate; corporate services, administration and IT. We also established a new directorate on data services to further enhance our data capabilities and deliverables in line with strategic goals and technological advances. The person appointed as a Director will be initially assigned to one of ECHAs operational Directorates, however, the role may change as business and strategic requirements evolve.

2.Key responsibilities
To establish the reserve list, we are looking for enthusiastic, dynamic and highly skilled leaders who are experienced in fundamental management responsibilities and are capable of working at senior and management board levels. The successful candidates will demonstrate sound judgement in complex situations, a collaborative leadership style, and the capacity to guide and implement change with confidence and clarity. The individuals we are looking for also have broad experience relevant to either corporate (finance, people and organisational management, data management, digital and IT technologies) or operational (chemicals or environmental management, involving the use of scientific advice in a policy or regulatory context) functions. A Director can be recruited from the reserve list to serve in different areas under ECHAs remit or may be required to take up different roles at the senior management level over time. In the application form you will be requested to choose the profile that suits best your skills and experience – either corporate or operational.

We cannot accept simultaneous applications for both profiles, nor would you be able to change your choice during the selection process.

The ideal candidate will understand the business of the Agency, possess the necessary vision and communicate it clearly, are open to different points of view and engage others in the forming of the vision. The expectation is that the Director will play a key role in leading and adapting the Agency in line with strategic vision and goals and driven by existing and new EU policies and challenges. The Director, reporting to the Executive Director, will be a member of ECHAs senior management team, responsible for ensuring the effective overall management of the Agency, and will be responsible for managing and leading one of the Directorates and coordinating the achievement of its objectives within the framework of the overall strategic planning of the Agency.

Shared responsibilities for Corporate and Operational Director profiles:

As a member of the senior management team of the Agency, ensure constructive
cooperation and communication with other Directors and Directorates;

Manage the (multi)annual planning, corporate identity, stakeholder engagement,
overall governance and decision-making in alignment with the Agency’s strategy,
priorities and policies;

Promote collaboration and engagement with internal and external stakeholders,
including but not limited to the European Institutions (Commission, Parliament, Council
and Court of Auditors) and other European Agencies on matters related to ECHAs
mandate;

Ensure sound financial management, in accordance with the financial regulation of the
Agency, coordinate budget forecasting and monitoring of budget execution, and
ensure timely procurement of necessary services, in accordance with public
procurement procedures;

Manage the resourcing through planning, organisation, performance parameters,
flexible deployment, prioritization, capable balancing of opportunities and constraints,
in line with the overall strategic planning framework of the Agency;

Determine the staffing requirements, participate in the selection of personnel and
ensure sound and continuous professional development, including learning activities,
knowledge sharing and mobility of staff;

Ensure the achievement of deliverables according to required deadlines and quality
standards, and monitor, evaluate and regularly report on progress;

Determine the working procedures in line with the Agency’s Quality Management
System and, in coordination with the Executive Director, the delegation of
responsibilities and their compliance;

Ensure solid management of organisational preparedness to address security and
business continuity risks;

Handle external requests for information, including requests from other European
Institutions, European Commission services, International Bodies, Member States and
the general public.

Lead innovation and transformation initiatives to respond to changing external policy,
new technologies and stakeholder demands.

Unique responsibilities of an Operational Director profile:

Ensure that policy and regulatory requirements stemming from ECHAs mandate in
chemicals management are translated into processes and outputs in line with with the
Agencys strategy and policies, the (multi)annual planning, stakeholder engagement,
overall governance and decision-making;

Ensure strategic decision-making based on robust data analysis and advanced
expertise in regulatory science, resulting in scientifically sound and legally compliant
outcomes.

Unique responsibilities of a Corporate Director profile:

Ensure the adequate planning, implementing and reporting of the Agencys financial
and human resources and their correct allocation over the different activities and
regulations assigned to the Agency as well as providing safe and healthy facilities for
staff and stakeholders that are cost efficient and serve the needs of a hybrid work
environment;

Ensure efficient delivery and operations of ECHAs digital applications and services.
Manage the Digital and IT strategy, medium to long-term planning, IT sourcing
strategy, partnerships and cooperation in the IT domain with other EU Agencies and
the European Commissions IT services, IT related policies, IT security and
Information security management as well as IT governance.

Tagged as: Administrative & office work