State Chancellery lowers criteria in renewed director search

Latvia’s State Chancellery has reopened its search for a director after significantly lowering several candidate requirements, LSM reported, citing a notice published in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

The previous competition required candidates to hold a master’s degree, preferably in law or management. The renewed competition requires higher academic or second-level professional higher education, while a master’s degree is now listed only as desirable.

The requirements for management experience have also been reduced. Both competitions require at least five years in a management position during the past 10 years, but the previous competition required candidates to have managed at least 50 employees. The new requirement is at least 20 employees.

Experience representing state interests in European Union institutions and international organisations was previously mandatory but is now listed as desirable. Experience working on financial and investment projects is also no longer mandatory.

The renewed competition adds knowledge of the management of companies in which public persons hold capital. The monthly salary remains unchanged at 7,255 euros before tax.

The previous competition was announced on May 29 and attracted six applicants. After reviewing their documents and compliance with the requirements, the commission advanced none of the candidates to the second stage, and the competition ended without a result.

Applications must be submitted by August 19 by sending a motivation letter and curriculum vitae to [email protected].

Context

At the end of June, Latvia’s Parliament amended the State Civil Service Law. The changes allow heads of institutions to be appointed without an open competition in certain cases and give the prime minister the option of appointing the head of the State Chancellery without a competition.

Prime Minister Kulbergs has previously said that lengthy competitions can hinder the effective management of institutions, while stressing that he generally supports organising open competitions.