OSRA and RTI Work Strands Officer - European Defence Agency (AD8, 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:

• Steer the coordination of OSRA governance and continuous development of the OSRA framework, ensuring coherence across CapTechs, EU-funded defence research and HEDI activities
• Coordinate the integration of approved OSRA priorities and outputs into EU defence capability development, research and innovation processes
• Act as the central coordination point for OSRA-related interfaces across EDA, facilitating information exchange and ensuring consistency
• Monitor the implementation of OSRA outputs across relevant initiatives and provide process-focussed assessments, recommendations and reporting
• Support the alignment and update of OSRA strategic and operational documents by incorporating contributions from competent RTI units and stakeholders
• Coordinate the process for integrating approved OSRA outputs into EDF-related activities and planning processes
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of OSRA governance, reporting, coordination mechanisms, templates, tools and internal procedures
• Contribute to RTI data, evidence and knowledge management related to OSRA

Are you eligible?

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

• 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 full rights as citizens; have fulfilled any obligations imposed by laws concerning military service; produce appropriate character references; be physically fit to perform duties; hold or be in a position to obtain a valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (national or EU PSC at SECRET UE/EU SECRET level)

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Research, Technology and Innovation Directorate (RTI).

Position details

Reference

EDA/2026/189a

Vacancy Notice

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Last Verified

18 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for OSRA and RTI Work Strands Officer at EDA based in Brussels at the AD8 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is EDA/2026/189a. The role falls under the Defence domain.

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: Industry, Synergies and Enablers (ISE); Capability, Armament & Planning (CAP); Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI).

2. THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING

The Agency is an “outward-facing” organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the participating 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 RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DIRECTORATE (RTI)

The Research, Technology & Innovation Directorate (RTI) promotes and supports defence research at EU level. Based on the Overarching Strategic Research Agenda (OSRA), developed together with the Member States, the Directorate coordinates and plans joint research activities and the study of technical solutions to meet future operational needs.

The RTI Directorate provides support to Member States and to the European Commission for the Preparatory Action for defence research, including its implementation, and the research dimension of the European Defence Fund. The RTI directorate also ensures the promotion of innovation in defence and the exploitation of synergies at EU level with civil research in dual-use technology fields.

At present, the RTI Directorate comprises two Units, the EU-funded Defence Research Unit and the Technology & Innovation Unit, as well as the Hub for European defence Innovation (HEDI) and the RTI Coordination Team, with the following key tasks:

- The EU-funded Defence Research Unit: upstream, implementation and downstream support linked to defence research activities funded by the EU budget under delegation by the European Commission.

- The Technology & Innovation Unit: facilitation of the work of the Capability Technology Groups (CapTechs) and the Energy & Environment Working Group as well as development and management of ad hoc research activities based on sectoral Strategic Research Agendas.

- HEDI: focal point for defence innovation, driving the development of military capabilities while strengthening cooperation between EU Member States and associated countries. HEDI’s mission is to turn promising ideas into usable defence capabilities faster, while supporting EU defence priorities and strengthening Europe’s technological edge.HEDI is expected to become a dedicated Defence Innovation Centre (designation subject to approval of forthcoming organisational structure).

- The RTI Coordination Team: coordination of the RTI Directorate’s contributions to EDA’s transversal activities (such as capability development priorities (CDP), Capability Annual Review on Defence (CARD), Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), and Key Strategic Activities (KSA); overview of the Agency’s research portfolio.

4. DUTIES

The Research, Technology & Innovation Directorate promotes and supports defence research and innovation at EU level. Based on the Overarching Strategic Research Agenda (OSRA), developed with Member States, the Directorate coordinates joint research activities and the study of technical solutions to meet future operational needs. OSRA is a framework of methodologies, processes and tools to define and align collaborative Research, Technology and Innovation with Member States’ long-, mid- and short-term operational needs, and to link research, technology and innovation priorities with wider EDA and EU defence processes.

Within RTI, OSRA and its future evolution towards a broader Overarching Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda framework require coordinated contributions from several RTI actors. The Technology Innovation Unit (TIU) owns technology content, technology priorities, TBBs (technology building block), SRIAs (strategic research and innovation agenda), CapTech outputs and portfolio substance, hence the technology strategy as such.

The EU-funded defence research function provides the link with EDF (European defence fund) content and implementation. HEDI owns EDA's portfolio of innovation activities and provides the link with relevant EU defence innovation activities. All RTI managers and relevant staff are expected to interact with external stakeholders in the EU defence ecosystem in their respective areas of responsibility.

The OSRA and RTI Work Strands Officer is responsible for the process, coherence, and governance of the OSRA framework, integrating the various RTI contributions, so that OSRA remains consistent, relevant at EU-level and aligned with wider EDA processes.

The role acts as process owner and coordination focal point, working closely with the Technology & Innovation Unit, who retains ownership of technology priorities, technology content and strategy, CapTech outputs, SRIAs, TBBs and portfolio planning.

Under the supervision of the RTI Coordinator, the jobholder will contribute to the following activities:

- steer the coordination of OSRA governance and continuous development of the OSRA framework, ensuring coherence across CapTechs, EU-funded defence research and HEDI activities, while maintaining visibility of key deliverables, dependencies and timelines. Support the alignment process between RTI outputs and Member States' priorities without assuming ownership of technology content; - coordinate the integration of approved OSRA priorities and outputs into EU defence capability development, research and innovation processes. Ensure coherence with CDP (capability development priorities), CARD (coordinated annual review on defence), EDF, HEDI, Action Plans, PESCO (permanent structured cooperation) and KSA activities; - act as the central coordination point for OSRA-related interfaces across EDA, facilitating information exchange, identifying interdependencies and ensuring consistency between OSRA outputs and related workstreams; - monitor the implementation of OSRA outputs across relevant initiatives and provide process-focussed assessments, recommendations and reporting regarding coherence, implementation status, overlaps, risks and opportunities; - support the alignment and update of OSRA strategic and operational documents by incorporating contributions by the competent RTI units and relevant stakeholders; - coordinate the process for integrating approved OSRA outputs into EDF-related activities and planning processes, in cooperation with the responsible RTI units; - contribute to the development and continuous improvement of OSRA governance, reporting, coordination mechanisms, templates, tools and internal procedures; - contribute to RTI data, evidence and knowledge management related to OSRA, ensuring visibility, traceability and reporting; - support RTI management in preparing consolidated OSRA inputs, reports, briefings and communication products for EDA governance bodies, Member States and external stakeholders; - take on additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

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

5. 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.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at AD8 runs from €8,911 (step 1) to €10,083 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €106,932 to €120,996 before tax and allowances. Steps increase automatically every two years; the figures here are taken from the salary grid in the EU Staff Regulations.

Eligible staff posted away from their country of nationality also receive an expatriation allowance worth 16% of basic salary (around €1,426 per month at step 1 of AD8) together with household, dependent-child, and education allowances where applicable. Take-home pay is then adjusted by the country correction coefficient for Brussels. For a worked example see our correction coefficients guide and the EU salaries overview.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 3 September 2026, 17 days ago.

The application deadline is 6 October 2026, 15 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 18 September 2026 (2 days ago).

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at AD8 see our AD8 grade page; 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; for related vacancies in the Defence field browse our Defence domain 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.