Traineeship (PhD) in DG-Market Infrastructure and Payments, Frankfurt, Germany

• Organization: ECB - European Central Bank
• Country: Germany
• City: Frankfurt
• Office: ECB Frankfurt

European Central Bank (ECB)
Kaiserstra�e 29
60311 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tel: +49 69 13440

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Closing date: Thursday, 19 November 2015

Traineeship (PhD) in DG-Market Infrastructure and Payments
The selection committee may place suitable candidates on a reserve list, from which candidates may be appointed to similar positions in the same business area. It may also be decided to fill the position advertised in this vacancy notice with a suitable candidate or candidates from the reserve list resulting from a recruitment procedure for a similar position. Candidates will be informed accordingly if this happens.
The Directorate General Market Infrastructure and Payments (DG/MIP) of the European Central Bank (ECB) is seeking applications from students who have recently finished or who have completed at least two years of their PhD studies, to participate in a traineeship in its Market Integration Division. The Market Integration Division is responsible for preparing the Eurosystem's policy on payment and securities settlement systems, in particular

• analysing market and political developments in retail payments and retail payment systems, and preparing the Eurosystem's policy stance with a clear focus on fostering European integration (Single Euro Payments Area - SEPA);
• coordinating the Eurosystem's policy stance in the field of retail payments both within the Eurosystem and in relation to the other European Union (EU) and non-EU central banks, the European Commission and international organisations such as the World Bank and the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI);
• providing the Secretariat function of the Euro Retail Payments Board, a high-level multi-stakeholder body chaired by the ECB that aims to foster the development of an integrated, innovative and competitive market for retail payments in euro in the European Union.

The traineeship aims to give successful applicants the opportunity to gain experience in payment-related issues from a central banking perspective. While at the ECB, the trainee will be expected to assist staff members of the Market Integration Division in their day-to-day tasks and on longer-term projects, such as contributing to the Division's analytical work, monitoring market and policy issues in the field of payment systems, organising related events and preparing reports.
The successful applicant will be entrusted with t he following main tasks

• provide analytical support and to be actively involved in ongoing projects, for instance on innovation and regulation in retail payments or on the cost of payments;
• be involved in and contribute to the organisation of ECB meetings and events with external stakeholders whenever needed;
• conduct work on own projects in the field of payments if agreed upon;
• participate if needed in the preparation of notes and presentations on issues related to retail payments, as well as to provide assistance in drafting the Division's contribution to ECB reports.
• PhD traineeship of six months, with the possibility of an extension of up to 12 months in total in the same business area.

Applicants must have the following knowledge and competencies

• a completed PhD or a master's degree and having completed at least two years of their PhD studies in economics, business administration, finance, information technology, public administration, law or a related field;
• experience in the aggregation of qualitative and quantitative information, as well as data analysis and presentation;
• knowledge of the functioning of the European Union, of retail payment technologies and retail banking, of market infrastructures for the clearing and settlement of payments and of the functioning and regulation of network industries;
• ideally, a publication record or work experience in one of the above-mentioned areas of expertise;
• an advanced command of English;
• an intermediate command of at least one other official language of the EU;
• a working knowledge of MS Office, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

The successful candidate will have the following behavioural competencies

• analyses complex datasets from a variety of sources;
• sees connections, draws parallels and uses analogies;
• communicates ideas in an effective manner and ensures mutual comprehension;
• shares information and supports team members in the achievement of common goals;
• is comfortable working without close supervision, but knows when to involve others;
• generates agreed results within tight deadlines;
• prioritises tasks and pays attention to detail, even when under time pressure.

Applications are to be made in English and submitted using our online application form. An 'Applicants' Guide' can be downloaded from our recruitment pages.
The recruitment process may include a pre-screening exercise and a telephone interview.
Before applying, applicants should check that they meet the conditions set out in Article 4 of the rules governing the traineeship programme: http://www.ecb.europa.eu/careers/pdf/traineeship_programme.pdf.
Further information on the ECB's traineeships can be found at
http://www.ecb.europa.eu/careers/newcomers/trainee/html/index.en.html.
Applicants are accepted from nationals of the Member States of the European Union.
The requirements laid down in the vacancy notice must be met by the closing date for applications.
This vacancy notice may be used to fill the same position again, or similar positions, within 12 months of the selection decision.