Head of Unit: a) Policy; b) Supervision; c) Supervisory Risk Assessment Methodology

WHO WE ARE

Money laundering and the financing of terrorism are major concerns for the EU. They pose significant risks to the EU economy, to the integrity of the EU financial system and, even more importantly, to the security of its citizens.

The Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Authority (AMLA) was established in June 2024 as a new European Union body to safeguard the European Union’s financial system and its citizens against money laundering and terrorist financing. It is located in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and will expand to over 400 staff members by the end of 2027.
AMLA’s key responsibilities include:

Directly supervising selected financial sector entities that operate on a cross border basis and present a high risk of money laundering and terrorism financing, as well as indirectly supervising other entities in the financial and non-financial sectors
Supporting and coordinating the activities of Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) by, for example, facilitating the joint analyses of cross-border cases, enabling information exchange, providing capabilities, advanced data analytics and managing the FIU.net information system
Complementing EU Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) rules by developing regulatory and implementing technical standards and issuing guidelines

For more information about the Authority, please visit our website. We are an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity and non-discrimination.

Are you interested to contribute to our mission? Then see below what it takes to accomplish the role.

YOUR ROLE

AMLA is launching a selection procedure to establish three reserve lists for the function of Head of Unit (Middle Management) in the following areas:

(a) Policy (reserve list of approximately 3 candidates)
(b) Supervision (reserve list of approximately 15 candidates)
(c) Supervisory Risk Assessment Methodology (reserve list of approximately 3 candidates)

Functions and duties

As a newly established EU agency, AMLA offers a unique opportunity to shape its activities. The selected candidates will lead teams of experts and contribute to AMLA’s strategic direction from its inception, in alignment with the Authority’s mandate. This leadership role requires strong managerial skills, deep subject-matter expertise, and a firm commitment to safeguarding the EU’s financial integrity.
As a member of AMLA’s middle management, the jobholder will, under the authority of the Executive Board, be responsible for, in particular:

a) Duties common to all three profiles:

Horizontal coordination:

Contribute to AMLA’s strategy, policies, governance, and decision-making as a member of the middle management team. Work closely with other managers and team leaders to ensure effective organizational cooperation and the achievement of strategic goals.

Policy Development:

Contribute to the Authority’s activities in support of the work and objectives delivering on the different mandates and on the broader agenda on proportionality and simplicity.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Represent AMLA in high-level meetings and forums, leading cooperation with EU institutions, Member States authorities, and other stakeholders.

People Management:

Provide leadership to the team, ensuring effective planning and delivery of tasks aligned with AMLA’s mandate, and manage the unit’s work plan, including setting objectives, coordinating efforts, and fostering team development.
Building and maintaining strong, complementary teams, and support career development and learning opportunities for unit members.

b) Policy development duties specific to each profile:

Profile (a) – Head of Policy

Coordinate the development of technical standards, guidelines, reports, opinions, and decisions applicable to the private sector, taking also into account developments and best practices at international level.
Lead and oversee interactions with the private sector to ensure consistent and effective application of the regulatory framework, whilst focusing on minimisation of administrative burden and costs.
Foster dialogue and cooperation with both financial and non-financial obliged entities with a view to leveraging the use of technology and enhance cooperation and relevant datasharing.
Coordinate with other EU agencies, institutions and bodies outreach activities towards the private sector in areas of common interest.
Coordinate with international bodies activities and outreach of common interest.

Profile (b) – Head of Supervision

The selected candidate may be called upon to perform one or more of the following tasks:

Lead staff efforts in the performance of AMLA’s supervisory tasks in relation to selected obliged entities, including the establishment and functioning of joint supervisory teams, the organisation of risk-based supervisory activities, and the identification of supervisory measures necessary to ensure compliance with AML/CFT requirements.
Coordinate, where relevant, supervisory activities with other EU institutions and bodies with a mandate to supervise the financial sector under other domains of Union law in the area of financial services, or with non-EU AML/CFT supervisors.
Plan, implement and oversee staff activities aimed at achieving consistent high-level supervision across the EU, including through the support of supervisory colleges, coordination of thematic reviews and fostering of information exchange, in the financial or the non-financial sector.
Oversee staff efforts to support the implementation of EU AML/CFT requirements by supervisory authorities through mutual assistance, mediation and peer reviews, in the financial or the non-financial sector.
Steer staff in the handling of cases where AML/CFT requirements are incorrectly applied by supervisors and propose adequate follow-up by AMLA to minimise adverse impacts on the EU’s financial system, in the financial or the non-financial sector.

Profile (c) – Head of Supervisory Risk Assessment Methodology

Lead the development of a supervisory risk assessment and methodology and contribute to the supervisory manual to be developed by AMLA with relevant taxonomies, formats and procedures.
Organise and implement the process of identification of financial sector entities eligible for direct supervision by AMLA, and their periodic risk assessment, leading to the identification of the final pool of entities under AMLA supervision.
Ensure seamless cooperation with financial supervisors in the design, implementation and review phases of both the risk assessment and selection processes.
Ensure, in cooperation with the IT service, the handling of supervisory data and the management, maintenance and development of relevant tools for supervisory risk assessment and implementation and planning of supervisory activities with a view to supporting high-quality risk-based supervision.

The successful candidates might be required to perform other duties as necessary under the responsibility of their line manager according to the evolution and development of AMLA’s structure and activities.

QUALIFICATIONS AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility criteria

To be admitted to the selection process you must meet the following eligibility criteria on the closing date for application and on the date of filling the vacant post:

a) General conditions

Be a national of a Member State of the European Union.
Enjoy full rights as a citizen and meet the character requirements for the duties involved [1].
Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by national laws concerning military service.
Meet the character requirements for the duties involved.
Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post [2].
Have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union[3] and satisfactory knowledge of a second of these languages (Level B2 of CEFR)[4] to the extent necessary to perform their duties.

b) Education

A university degree (minimum 4 years studies – Master level) in law, political science, economics and/or finance, statistics or a closely related discipline followed by at least 12 years of professional experience with tasks closely related to the ones described under ‘functions and duties’ for each function advertised in this vacancy;

OR:

A university degree (minimum 3 years studies) in law, political science, economics and/or finance, statistics or a closely related discipline followed by at least 13 years of relevant professional experience as indicated above.

Candidates must indicate in their applications the official graduation dates for all the diplomas they have obtained.

c) Professional Experience

Candidates must have, at the closing date for applications, professional experience of at least twelve (12) years[5] (acquired after the education referred to in Section b) Education).

This vacancy is external, but it is open for internal mobility at AMLA at the grade bracket AD9 - AD14.

[1] Prior to the appointment, the successful candidate will be asked to provide a certificate of good conduct, confirming the absence of any criminal record.
[2] Before taking up his/her duties, the successful candidate will undergo a medical examination by one of the institutions’ medical officers.
[3] The languages of the EU are Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Irish, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish and Swedish.
[4] Language levels of the Common European Framework of Reference: https://europass.europa.eu/en/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills.
[5] Professional experience will be counted from the date on which the applicant acquired the minimum education qualification for access to the profile in question. Only duly documented professional activity is taken into account. Part-time work will be taken into account in proportion to the percentage of full-time hours worked. Periods of education or training and unremunerated traineeships are not taken into account. Fellowships, grants and PhDs can be counted as professional experience up to a maximum of three (3) years

Essential Criteria

To be considered for the assessment phase you must meet the following essential criteria and clearly indicate how you meet the following criteria for each of the profiles selected:

For profile (a):

Thorough understanding of AML/CFT and in particular the requirements applicable to the private sector and the specificities of each different category of obliged entities.
Experience in the private sector or in public positions requiring interaction with the private sector.
Proven experience in dealing with a wide range of stakeholders including external high-level representatives.
Professional experience of at least 5 years in managing team(s) of not less than 7 staff members (for example: Head of Unit, Team leader or equivalent). Candidates must clearly indicate in their application the title of their managerial position(s), the size of the team(s) managed and the number of years related to each managerial position.

For profile (b):

Thorough understanding of AML/CFT and in particular risk-based supervision and tools for convergence of supervisory practices.
Experience in supervisory colleges and other operational cross-border supervisory activities.
Experience with coordination of supervision of cross-border financial institutions.
Proven experience in dealing with a wide range of stakeholders including external high-level representatives.
Professional experience of at least 5 years in managing team(s) of not less than 7 staff members (for example: Head of Unit, Team leader or equivalent). Candidates must clearly indicate in their application the title of their managerial position(s), the size of the team(s) managed and the number of years related to each managerial position.

For profile (c):

Thorough understanding of AML/CFT and in particular risk assessment methodologies, supervisory data quality.
Experience with developing and implementing supervisory methodologies and tools.
Proven experience in dealing with a wide range of stakeholders including external high-level representatives.
Professional experience of at least 5 years in managing team(s) of not less than 7 staff members (for example: Head of Unit, Team leader or equivalent). Candidates must clearly indicate in their application the title of their managerial position(s), the size of the team(s) managed and the number of years related to each managerial position.

Desirable Criteria

The following criteria are considered as nice to have for all profiles (a, b and c):

Familiarity with the FATF standards.
Experience in cross-border cooperation or activities.

For profiles (a) and (b):

Experience in coordinating the contribution of the applicant’s authority for Immediate Outcome 3 or 4 in the context of their Member State’s mutual evaluation by FATF or Moneyval.

For profile (c):

Participation in European or international projects or activities concerning supervisory risk assessments and methodologies.

Interpersonal Skills

Success in this role depends on strong interpersonal skills, which will be evaluated during the assessment phase:

General Management skills.
Ability to guide and coach colleagues to achieve common goals.
Excellent organisational and planning skills.
Ability to think strategically.
Ability to establish and develop good inter-personal relations with a broad range of stakeholders in cross-cultural environments.
Negotiation skills.

APPLICATION, SELECTION & RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please submit your application in English.

Before submitting your application look at our careers page and check out the Guide for candidates. Proof of compliance with specific criteria may be requested at any stage during the selection process. If you fail to comply with the eligibility and essential criteria, your application will be disqualified.

The candidate can apply for one or for more job profiles if they meet specific requirements for each profile. Failure to indicate for which profile(s) the candidate applies will result in the application being discarded. The application will be screened against each profile selected.

The selection process will be organised in several consecutive stages:

Screening and shortlisting: After the deadline for online registration, the selection committee will review the submitted applications to ensure they meet the eligibility and essential criteria. In the event of a very high number of applications, the advantageous criteria will be applied.

Upon completion of the initial assessment, the selection committee will establish a shortlist of the best candidates.

Phase 1 - General assessment: The shortlisted candidates will be invited to sit a written test aimed at testing the specific competencies and knowledge with reference to the selection criteria for each job profile of the present vacancy notice (15 October).

Phase 2 - Managerial assessment centre: The best candidates following phase 1 will be invited to take part in an online managerial assessment, run by an external service provider (17 November – 5 December).

Phase 3 - Interview: The same candidates will be invited to an interview with the selection committee mainly consisting of AMLA Executive Board members (15 December - January).

These 3 phases will be organised remotely and conducted in English. Please note that native English speakers will be required to demonstrate the ability to work in a second EU language at the assessment phase. Kindly note that mentioned dates are subject to change. Confirmed dates and time of the general and managerial assessments and of the interviews will be communicated to the shortlisted candidates in due time.

Appointment and reserve list: Upon completion of the assessment phase, the Executive Director will establish 3 reserve lists of candidates best matching the needs of the Agency for the functions and tasks/responsibilities mentioned in this vacancy notice. The adopted reserve lists will be valid until 31 December 2027. The validity of the reserve lists may be extended by decision of the Executive Director of AMLA.

Prior to being offered a post, candidates might be required to undergo further evaluation by AMLA (e.g. including a further interview with the Chair or Executive Board Member).

Candidates should note that the inclusion in the reserve list does not imply any entitlement to employment at AMLA. All candidates will be informed about the outcome of the procedure throughout the selection process. Recruitment is subject to budgetary availability.

DATA PROTECTION & APPEAL PROCEDURE

The information provided in the application form is collected for the purpose of the selection/ recruitment procedure(s) at AMLA. Consult the data protection notice for more information about the processing of personal data in the selection and recruitment process.

If you believe a decision made during the selection process has negatively impacted your interests, you can request a review of your application, lodge an administrative complaint, a judicial appeal or a complaint to the European Ombudsman. You can find more information on the appeal procedure in our Guide for candidates.

CONTACT

In case of questions related to careers at AMLA, email us at careers@amla.europa.eu