1. The Director for Corporate Services , Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs invites applications for the post of Second Secretary in the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs.

2.1 This appointment is subject to a probationary period of one (1) year.

2.2 The salary for the post of  Second Secretary is Salary Scale 10, which in the year 2020, €20,603 per annum, rising by annual increments of €407.67  up to a maximum of €23,049.

2.3 A Second Secretary will progress to Salary Scale 9 (€21,933 x €447.33 - €24,617 ) on completion of two (2)  years service in the grade, subject to satisfactory performance.

2.4 A Second Secretary will be promoted to the grade of First Secreatry  in Scale 8 (€23,358 x €486.83 - €26,279)on completion of five (5)  years service in the grade of Second Secretary, or minimum of two (2) years if in possession of a recognised and appropriate and recognized qualification at MQF Level 7  subject to satisfactory performance. A First Secretary in Scale 8 will progress to scale 7 (€ 24,894 x €531.17 - € 28,081) on completion of two (2) years of service with satisfactory performance.

2.5 Lateral applications by Public officers who already hold an appointment in the same grade bieng advertised are allowed only if the area of specialisation of the vacancy is different to the one held by the applicant and requires a specific related qualification as an eligibility requirement, which the applicant must satisfy.

2.6 Accepting appointment in this grade signifies that any pending applications within the Public Service are automatically considered renounced, unless the latter are applications for SAAC positions or applications for a definite position when the officer concerned holds an indefinite appointment.

2.7 The Diplomatic Service offers an interesting and varied career, requiring specific aptitutdes. It provides opportunities for meeting people from other countries, both in Malta and abroad, and learning and sharing unique experiences, not otherwise associated with other openings in the Malta Public Sercie. Appointees will be representing the interests of Malta in its relations with other countries.

2.8 The Diplomatic Service constitutes a separate and distinct career structure within the Malta Public Service. A primary condition for joining the Diplomatic Servce is a binding commitment by the applicant to serve overseas as, where and when considered necessary by the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs, and in accordance with its relevant rules and regulations. 

2.9 During their probationary period, selected condidates, if so required by the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs, must attend courses in Malta or abroad, and undertake any training in institutes of learning and in the Maltese Missions abroad. When proceeding to follow courses abroad, the selected applicants will be bound by the relevant conditions laid down in the Manual on Staff Development in the Public Administration.

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3. The job duties for the post of Second Secretary  may be viewed in Annex A attached to this Circular.

4.1 By the closing time and date of this call for applications, applicants must be:

The advice of the Department of Citizenship and Expatriate Affairs within the Identity Malta Agency should be sought as necessary in the interpretation of the above provisions.

The appointment of candidates referred to at (b), (c), (d) and (e) above would necessitate the issue of an employment licence in so far as this is required by the Immigration Act and subsidiary legislation.  Jobsplus should be consulted as necessary on this issue.

           

          * In the absence of documentary evidence as to the ECTS/ECVET credits or other system of measuring the course content, the selection board is to            evaluate  the submitted  programme of study and determine that it is comparable to 180 ECTS/ECVET credits. The advice of the MQRIC may be sought.

      iii.  in possession of  `O` level / SEC passes at Grade C or  above, or their equivalence, in at least one other language besides Maltese and English Language.

4.2 Qualifications at a level higher than that specified above will be accepted for eligibility purposes, provided they meet any specified subject requirements.  A Masters qualification at MQF Level 7, orequivalent, must comprise a minimum of 60 ECTS/ECVET credits or equivalent*

*In the absence of documentary evidence as to the ECTS/ECVET credits or other system of measuring the course content, the selection board is to evaluate the submitted programme of study and determine that it is comparable to 60 ECTS/ECVET credits. The advice of the MQRIC may be sought.

4.3 Moreover, candidates who have not yet formally obtained any of the above-mentioned qualifications will still be considered, provided that they submit evidence that they have been approved for the award of the qualifications in question, or successfully completed the necessary ECTS/ECVETS credits, or equivalent, taken as part of a recognized higher MQF level program of study, as required in the afore-mentioned eligibility criteria, by the closing time and date of the call for applications.

4.4 Public Officers holding a grade in a particular stream, and who were granted Officer in Scale status by virtue of a Grievances Unit decision in the same scale as that of a higher grade in that stream, are eligible to apply for grades open to officers holding such higher grade within the stream that carries the same scale as that of the Officer in Scale status.

The years of service since the effective date of appointment as Officer in Scale are reckonable for the purpose of satisfying any requisite years of service stipulated in calls for applications.

Any other eligibility requisites for the post must be met in terms of this call for applications.

4.5 Applicants must be of conduct which is appropriate to the post applied for (applicants who are already in the Malta Public Service must produce an updated Service and Leave Record Form (GP 47) issued not earlier than one (1) month from date of application; those applying from outside the Service must produce a Certificate of Conduct issued by the Police or other competent authority not earlier than one (1) month from the date of application and state whether they have ever been in Government Service, giving details).

4.6 Applicants must be eligible to take up their due appointment, in terms of 4.1 to 4.5 above, not only by the closing time and date of this call for applications but also on the date of appointment.

4.7 Prospective applicants should note the requirement to produce MQRIC recognition statements in respect of their qualifications from MQRIC, or other designated authorities, as applicable, as per provisions applicable to this call for applications (see link below).