Legal Officer

The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) is an international organisation which monitors compliance with the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, enabling those States to participate in the Internal Market of the European Union. ESA's work helps remove barriers to trade and open up new opportunities to over 450 million Europeans, creating jobs and growth and adding to the international competitiveness of the States. ESA currently employs staff members of 22 different nationalities from across the EEA. Based in Brussels, ESA is collocated within the EFTA House with its sister organisations the EFTA Secretariat and the EEA and Norway Grants (FMO). ESA is led by a College of three members, appointed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. It is divided into the following departments: Administration, Internal Market Affairs Directorate, Competition and State Aid Directorate and Legal and Executive Affairs Department. Legal Officer
- Internal Market Affairs
- Transport
- 09/2026 Deadline for Applications 26/04/2026 Role Description ESA is recruiting a Legal Officer to join its Internal Market Affairs Directorate (IMA), in the Transport and Connectivity Unit (TCU). IMA is responsible for monitoring the EEA EFTA States to ensure that they comply with their obligations in the field of internal market law. TCU is more specifically responsible for monitoring the compliance of the EEA EFTA States to the legislation in the areas of Aviation, Maritime, Rail, Road and Inland transport as well as in the areas of Telecommunications, Postal Services, Information Society Services, Audiovisual Services and Cyber Security. ESA is seeking a candidate with a minimum of 5 years of work experience from the public or private sector and solid knowledge of EEA legislation in the field of aviation, rail and/or road transport. Responsibilities Be assigned responsibility for general surveillance work and case handling concerning the implementation and application of EEA law relating to Transport (safety, security, freedom to provide services and establishment) in the EEA EFTA States (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway). Examine complaints and carry out legal conformity assessments. Draft ESA decisions, opinions and reports. Participate in aviation and maritime security inspections. Proactively monitor and analyse developments in the relevant policy and legal fields. Cooperate closely with external counterparts, including the European Commission, the EU Agencies for transport, the EFTA Secretariat and national competent authorities in the EEA EFTA States. Contribute to the wider work of IMA and ESA, coordinating with colleagues and supporting delivery of shared objectives in an international setting Depending on workload and other developments, the responsibilities may be changed to cover other general or specific issues relating to EEA law. The role of Legal Officer is a unique opportunity to handle a wide range of challenging cases. It should appeal in particular to eloquent, dynamic and self‑motivated lawyers who enjoy analysing legal problems while at the same time being interested in policy formulation and implementation at both national and European level. Qualifications University degree in law, or recognised equivalent qualification in law Very good knowledge of the EU/EEA legal framework and relevant policies, with a strong focus on regulatory aspects of EEA law concerning aviation, rail and/or road transport Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in the private or the public sector Experience with case handling in relevant areas Excellent command of written and spoken English (ESA’s working language) as well as proven legal drafting ability Excellent organisational, analytical, interpersonal and communication skills Initiative and the ability to work both independently and in a team in an international environment Ability to obtain a security clearance at EU level ‘Secret’, which will be commissioned by ESA for the selected candidate Ability to travel, primarily to the EEA EFTA States, depending on the tasks assigned Willingness and ability to take on work across different areas within the responsibility of TCU Ideal Skills A postgraduate degree in EU/EEA law and/or in the field of transport law Knowledge of and familiarity with the functioning of the Agreement on the European Economic Area, and of the EEA EFTA States Familiarity with the legal orders of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein Knowledge of other areas falling under the responsibility of TCU Relevant professional experience involving the EU institutions, relevant national authorities or administrations Good understanding of Norwegian, Icelandic or German (the EEA EFTA languages). Conditions ESA offers a dynamic and diverse work environment, providing the chance to collaborate with a team of highly skilled professionals. You will be part of an organisation that values professionalism, cooperation, trust, re