About ENTSO-E

ENTSO-E is the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity. ENTSO-E is an association which was established and given legal mandates by the EU’s Third Legislative Package for the Internal Energy Market in 2009, which aims at further liberalising the gas and electricity markets in the EU; the legal mandates include the Europe-wide electricity network development plans, network codes and the transparency platform. ENTSO-E has 43 members, all electricity transmission system operators (TSOs) and covers 36 countries.

The ENTSO-E Secretariat in Brussels is focal point for technical, market and policy questions for all European TSOs in their cooperation with each other. It is the place where they jointly fulfill their legal mandates and where intensive interactions with European Commission, regulatory agencies, associations representing network users and other stakeholders takes place. The ENTSO-E Secretariat is a multinational team of more than 70 staff, and is composed, in addition to the three operational teams (Market, System Development, System Operation) of the following transversal teams: Strategy and Communication; Legal and Corporate; Digital and HR and Finance.

The role of the TSOs and their cooperation in ENTSO-E is crucial to ensuring security of supply, completing the largest and most competitive electricity market in the world and successfully introducing large volumes of renewable energy into the system. The scope and diversity of ENTSO-E’s work has grown rapidly and is expected to grow further with implementation of network codes and the current energy policy discussions. The Team Lead we are seeking for the Legal Section will contribute to these challenges.

General position description The successful candidate will work at the ENTSO-E Secretariat in Brussels, in the Legal team which currently has 7 permanent staff and is supported by experts from Members TSOs and external support, as needed for specific projects. Reporting to the General Counsel, he/she will interact with the other Secretariat’s teams and with the Members, mainly via the Legal and Regulatory Group (composed of lawyers from each TSO) and will coordinate the work of a junior lawyer (50%). Travelling across Europe may be required.

Specific responsibilities and tasks

The following functions are foreseen initially:

  • Coordination of the legal aspects of the Market Codes and Connection Codes, covering network code drafting, implementation, amendments and monitoring; this requires a close work with the Market and System Development teams to anticipate the legal needs, ensure legal consistency of the concepts and efficient delivery;

  • Facilitation of development and adoption of the relevant network code terms, conditions and methodologies;

  • In charge of network code transversal processes, such as the consultation process;

  • Provide advice on corporate law matters (Association decision-making, governance, as foreseen in the Articles of Association and Internal Rules of ENTSO-E) to ensure legal compliance of ENTSO-E deliverables, this includes advising the ENTSO-E Board and Assembly,monitoring the application of the Articles of Association and other internal rules and processes of the Association;

  • Providing coordinated support to the Legal and Regulatory Group and its subgroups; this includes collecting the legal input from the Legal and Regulatory Group and its subgroups, establishing a trustful and solid cooperation with them and ensuring tracking of actions and follow-up to close out and coordinating the preparation of the LRG meetings (4 meetings a year);

  • Providing the required legal input to the Board and the Assembly of ENTSO-E;

  • Providing support and leadership internally and externally including representation in meetings, developing position papers and legal opinions;

  • Providing guidance and delegation to the Legal Team members on a daily basis for operational activities;

  • Supervising the team members applying internal management and HR processes, evaluation and reviews.

The particular responsibilities change over time.

Profile

  • University degree in Law with specialization on European Law, including preferably specialization in Energy Law;

  • At least 5 to 7 years of relevant work experience, preferably in the TSO business or electric utilities or in a law firm – but each time in a European context;

  • Ability to demonstrate leadership;

  • Excellent communication, negotiation, influencing skills and experience in facilitating consensus and building relationship with policy makers, regulators and industry stakeholders;

  • Excellent writing and presentation skills in English;

  • Proven expertise in project and program management, managing resources and assessing priorities, preferably experience in a matrix management environment with multiple competing priorities;

  • Strong organisation and coordination skills working across multiple group and discipline and ability to work autonomously and in a proactive manner.

Please address your complete electronic application consisting of a cover letter and curriculum vitae to sandy.vermeulen@jobs.hudson.com with reference BE771917 before 31 October.