Vacancy: Policy Adviser Prudential Policy and Supervision

EBF (the European Banking Federation) works at the heart of the European banking sector. Our daily activities are determined by the dynamics between European integration, finance, public policy and financial regulation. It is our job to bring together 32 national banking associations in Europe and represent some 3,500 banks – large and small, wholesale and retail, local and international.

We create a platform for representation and for a constructive exchange of ideas and expertise between banks, regulators, supervisors and other entities that drive the innovation and sustainability of the banking sector. As a team, we tend to aim higher and work, deliver and learn together in an informal, impact-driven manner.

Position

The EBF is seeking to recruit a full-time Policy Adviser to join the Prudential Policy and Supervision (PPS) team in Brussels, contributing to a variety of tasks: developing policy positions, building consensus with international groups, designing and delivering banking industry advice, analysing carefully and rapidly the positions of co-legislators and stakeholders, and organising large meetings with the participation of senior managers from banks and EU authorities.

The Policy Adviser will perform his/her duties in a rapidly changing environment working with EBF members from banks and banking associations on the strategic themes which are defined on a yearly basis. The PPS team works flexibly across a wide array of matters, sharing information and responsibility between team members who contribute to the overall objectives from their varied profiles and expertise.

The Policy Adviser will:

• manage directly the Retail Committee which covers legislation and practices on consumer protection, in particular the Consumer Credit Directive and the Mortgage Credit Directive and their transposition by Member States;
• position the EBF on credit loan origination, both in legislative scope and with the supervisors (mainly the Single Supervisory Mechanism in Frankfurt);
• contribute to an increasing scope of prudential policy dossiers, in collaboration with other policy advisers, including the Banking Package that will shape the banking regulatory landscape in the next years.

Detailed responsibilities

As a Policy Adviser on Prudential Policy and Supervision, you will be responsible for the development of advocacy on selected strategic themes, helping the Senior Director of Prudential Policy and Supervision (PPS). This involves:

• Coordinating meetings and steering the discussion of EBF expert groups on issues related to Retail Banking & Consumer Protection;
• Collaborating on other strategic themes of the PPS department depending on the priorities set by the department;
• Recognising and assessing interactions between consumer protection obligations and banking objectives across the wide banking legislative framework;
• Understanding of the situation of consumer protection aspects across Member States depending on the terms of the transposition of the Mortgage Credit Directive and the Consumer Credit Directive;
• Drafting EBF positions, responses to public consultations, letters to policy makers, and other material that might be useful for the EBF and its members;
• Closely following the positions of co-legislators on the relevant dossiers during the trilogue negotiations, obtaining up-to-date information, analysing rapidly the different views and mapping them into the EBF advocacy priorities;
• Collaborating on the organisation of large public events involving policymakers and bank executives, with the help of the EBF Events team;
• Establishing a professional working relationship and maintaining fluid and regular communication with managers and staff from the Commission, the European Banking Authority, the Council and the Parliament, as well as the ECB;
• Helping the Senior Director of PPS on the preparation of external speaking commitments;
• Collaborating with other team members, sharing information and expertise with them and promoting a work team atmosphere that facilitates the achievement of common objectives;
• Advising the Communications team on press releases, interpretation of media news and other events that might require joint work;
• Leading and contributing to the further development of the EBF knowledge base on matters relating to retail banking and consumer protection as well as anticipating regulatory developments.

The performance of advisory duties also includes building and maintaining a cooperative relationship with EBF member associations and banks trying to understand with anticipation what their concerns are, getting insight from their points of view and leading them to common positions.

Successful candidates fit for the following profile:

• University degree preferably in Finance, Economics, Law or Political Sciences;
• Knowledge of EU banking regulation and EU public affairs preferably with 1-3 years of relevant experience;
• Relevant exposure to consumer issues in the financial sector gained in previous positions at European institutions, consultancy firms or credit institutions;
• Excellent organisational skills and capacity to prepare large meetings, setting out agendas, discussing with experts about relevant content, overseeing the administrative work and taking responsibility on the development of the meeting/event;
• Effective communication and team working skills;
• Excellent influencing skills, persuasiveness and sense of diplomacy;
• Ability to blend the views and inputs provided by EBF members to draft joint position papers in response to public consultations;
• Capacity to adopt pragmatic viewpoints including on the implementation of regulation in credit institutions across EU Member States;
• Excellent writing skills in English;
• Good interpersonal and bridge builder skills;
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to work under pressure;
• Openness to assume responsibilities on a variety of technical matters;
• Strategic and analytical thinking skills in a project-driven environment;

The ideal candidate will show considerable commitment to his/her work, enthusiasm and a positive attitude towards the various projects for which he/she will be responsible.

Organisation structure

The person will report to the Senior Director of Prudential Policy and Supervision. The department covers the interests of European banks on all prudential developments at global and European level, as well as the implementation of the regulation in the Banking Union, in close collaboration with the Single Supervisory Mechanism and the Single Resolution Board.

The position is based in Brussels. Occasional travelling, especially to Frankfurt but also to other European destinations, may be required.

Internal Career Development

At EBF, we take the professional and personal development of Policy advisers and all other staff members very seriously. As part of that development, policy advisers may be asked to move to different files after 1-2 years of employment and will be asked to assume project roles and activities in addition to their assigned policy area.

Starting Date

1 March 2022

How to apply

Please send your curriculum vitae with a letter of motivation to EBF Recruitment at email address: recruitment@ebf.eu

Deadline: : 15 February 2022

Disclaimer: Please note that, due to high interest in positions at the EBF, we may not be able to respond to every application. If you have not heard from us before 28 Febraury 2022, you may assume that we will not move your application forward. We really appreciate your interest in working with us and wish you best of luck in your search. Thank you for your understanding