198a - Senior Legal Officer - European Defence Agency (Brussels)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Defence Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

• Provide authoritative, strategic and risk-based legal advice on collaborative procurement, including the design and implementation of complex and high-value procurement files
• Provide legal and procedural support to the ex-ante controller within the Legal Unit, including on the assessment of procurement and financial files, the identification of legal and compliance risks, and the consistent…
• Support all activity of the Legal Unit related to the preparation and negotiation of third-party agreements, including administrative arrangements, MoU, SLA, etc, by providing comprehensive legal assessments, risk analy…
• Advise on innovation-related projects, security arrangements and wider European Union defence initiatives, ensuring that their legal, governance, industrial and intergovernmental dimensions are addressed coherently and…
• Identify and mitigate legal and governance risks, clarify the allocation of responsibilities, and develop robust contractual arrangements in close cooperation with operational teams, Member States and partners
• Support the Head of Unit in the management and coordination of the Unit, act on the Head of Unit's behalf when required, and contribute to the planning, prioritisation and quality assurance of its work
• Perform the functions of Data Protection Officer, independently advising the Agency on its data protection obligations, monitoring compliance, promoting awareness and cooperation, and acting as the contact point for the…

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

• Education: Level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more, or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is at least three years or be a gr…
• Experience: Appropriate professional experience of at least one year (when the normal period of university education is at least three years)
• Languages: one of the languages of the participati… (C1), another of the languages of the partici… (B2)
• Eligibility: Be a national of a Member State participating in the Agency; be entitled to their full rights as citizens; have fulfilled any obligations imposed on them by the laws concerning military service; produce the appropriate character references as to their suitability for the performance of their duties; be physically fit to perform their duties; have no personal interest (financial, family relationsh…

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Legal Unit, Corporate Services Directorate (CSD).

Position details

Reference

1150

Last Verified

23 October 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for 198a - Senior Legal Officer at EDA based in Brussels (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is 1150.

1. BACKGROUND

The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established on 12 July 2004, and is governed by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835 defining the statute, seat and operational rules of the European Defence Agency. The Agency has its headquarters in Brussels.

The main task of EDA is to support the Council and the Member States in their effort to improve the Union's defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) as it currently stands and as it develops in the future.

The Agency is structured into four directorates. The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) and three operational directorates:Capability, Armament & Planning (CAP);Procurement, Support, Industry & Interoperability (PSII);Research, Technology & Innovation (RTI).

2. THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING

The Agency is an “outward-facing” organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the Member States, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders. It works in an integrated way, with multi-disciplinary teams representing all of the Agency’s functional areas, to realise its objectives. Its business processes are flexible and oriented towards achieving results. Staff at all levels need to demonstrate the corresponding qualities of commitment, flexibility, innovation, and team-working; to work effectively with shareholders and stakeholder groups, formal and informal; and to operate without the need for detailed direction.

3. THE CORPORATE SERVICES DIRECTORATE (CSD)

The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) provides critical business support to EDA operations by delivering high-quality corporate services under seven dedicated units, namely: Human Resources, Procurement and Grants Management, Finance, Information Technology, Security, Legal and General Services (encompassing Infrastructure, Records and Data Management).

CSD processes are geared towards efficient and optimal use of resources, leveraging good practice and technological solutions while ensuring sound financial management, transparency and accountability; outward focus and commitment to continuous improvement are the hallmarks of CSD.

4. THE UNIT

The Legal Unit is part of the Corporate Services Directorate and provides legal advice and support to the entire Agency, including senior management, operational directorates and corporate services. It safeguards the legality, coherence, transparency and compliance of the Agency’s activities while enabling timely and effective delivery.

Its remit covers institutional and governance matters; procurement, contracts and collaborative arrangements; legal aspects of innovation, research and technology projects and European Union-funded activities; administrative and staff matters; ethics and conduct; data protection; public access to documents; litigation, complaints and investigations; cooperation with Member States, European Union institutions and third parties; and legal support to ex ante control. The Unit also monitors legal and regulatory developments relevant to the Agency and promotes early identification and mitigation of legal risk.

The Unit is headed by the Head of the Legal Unit and comprises a Senior Legal Officer who acts as Data Protection Officer and deputises for the Head of Unit when required, together with legal officers covering the Unit’s principal areas of responsibility. It is supported by an ex-ante controller and, where appropriate, trainees and external legal expertise. The Unit is structured to ensure specialised legal coverage, continuity of service and effective support across the Agency.

5. DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Head of the Legal Unit, the Senior Legal Officer may also act as Data Protection Officer, deputise for the Head of Unit when needed, and will be responsible for / contribute to the following activities:

- provide authoritative, strategic and risk-based legal advice on collaborative procurement, including the design and implementation of complex and high-value procurement files; - provide legal and procedural support to the ex-ante controller within the Legal Unit, including on the assessment of procurement and financial files, the identification of legal and compliance risks, and the consistent application of the relevant regulatory and internal control framework; - support all activity of the Legal Unit related to the preparation and negotiation of third-party agreements, including administrative arrangements, MoU, SLA, etc, by providing comprehensive legal assessments, risk analysis, procedural guidelines and legal review of any relevant working document; - advise on innovation-related projects, security arrangements and wider European Union defence initiatives, ensuring that their legal, governance, industrial and intergovernmental dimensions are addressed coherently and at an early stage; - identify and mitigate legal and governance risks, clarify the allocation of responsibilities, and develop robust contractual arrangements in close cooperation with operational teams, Member States and partners; - support the Head of Unit in the management and coordination of the Unit, act on the Head of Unit’s behalf when required, and contribute to the planning, prioritisation and quality assurance of its work; - perform the functions of Data Protection Officer, independently advising the Agency on its data protection obligations, monitoring compliance, promoting awareness and cooperation, and acting as the contact point for the European Data Protection Supervisor and data subjects.

Duties may evolve according to the development of EDA’s structure and activities, and the decisions of EDA management.

6. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be considered eligible to take part in this selection procedure, on the closing date for the submission of applications candidates must satisfy all the eligibility criteria as specified below:

- be a national of a Member State participating in the Agency; - be entitled to their full rights as citizens; - have fulfilled any obligations imposed on them by the laws concerning military service; - produce the appropriate character references as to their suitability for the performance of their duties (extract from the “judicial record” or certificate of good conduct will be requested prior to recruitment); - be physically fit to perform their duties; - have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1 oral and written) of one of the languages of the participating Member States and a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2 oral and written) of another of these languages to the extent necessary to discharge their duties; - have no personal interest (financial, family relationship, or other) which could be in conflict with disinterested discharge of their duties within the Agency; - hold, or be in a position to obtain, a valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (national or EU PSC at SECRET UE/EU SECRET level). Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (PSCC) means a certificate issued by a competent authority establishing that an individual is security cleared and holds a valid national or EU PSC, and which shows the level of EUCI to which that individual may be granted access (SECRET UE/EU SECRET), the date of validity of the relevant PSC and the date of expiry of the certificate itself. Note that the necessary procedure for obtaining a PSCC can be initiated on request of the employer only, and not by the individual candidate; - have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more, or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is at least three years or be a graduate of a national or international Defence College; or where justified in the interests of the service, professional training of an equivalent level.

Only diplomas that have been awarded in EU Member States or that are the subject of equivalence certificates issued by the authorities in the said Member States shall be taken into consideration. In the latter case, the authority authorised to conclude contracts of employment reserves the right to request proof of such equivalence.

For diplomas awarded in non-EU countries, a NARIC recognition is required:https://www.enic-naric.net/

Qualifications/diplomas awarded until 31/12/2020 in the United Kingdom are accepted without further recognition. For diplomas awarded after this date (from 01/01/2021), a NARIC recognition is required.

For native English speakers, your ability to communicate in another EU language will be tested during the selection process. To assess your foreign language levels, see: https://europa.eu/europass/en/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills

7. SELECTION CRITERIA

A. Essential

Only applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 23 October 2026, today.

The application deadline is 26 November 2026, 33 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 23 October 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at EDA see the EDA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Brussels see our Brussels location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.