Policy 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:

• Monitor and report on all EU initiatives linked to EU funding instruments and cross-sectoral policies
• Engage in different working formations that deal with EU legislations and initiatives
• Liaise with the European Commission, other EU institutions, bodies, and stakeholders
• Contribute to position papers for internal use and wider circulation to Member States and EU institutions
• Engage with Member States at defence policy and expert level
• Prepare, review and support the definition of EDA priorities, objectives, and timelines
• Provide support to top management, including briefings, speaking notes, speeches and reports
• Take on additional tasks as required in the interest of the service

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: University degree or equivalent academic qualification in a field relevant for the position (e.g. political science and international relations, with a strong focus on security and defence policy, strategic affairs); or completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more; or completed university studies attested by a diploma and…
• Experience: At least five (5) years of professional experience in the fields of security policy, defence, and strategic issues, acquired after the award of the minimum qualification required for eligibility; at least two (2) years of direct and substantial experience of dealing with policy shaping and implementation either in national defence/security administrations or in international institutions in the d…
• Languages: One of the languages of the participati… (C1), Another of the languages of the partici… (B2)
• Key skills: Excellent oral communication skills in English, Very good command of written and spoken English, Excellent conceptual and analytical skills, Ability to work in a team and independently, Ability to work effectively in a multinational and multicultural environment, Political awareness, Ability to prioritise and organise tasks, Ability to coordinate a wide range of activities, Ability to take initiatives and work under high political and time pressure, Ability to work with minimal supervision
• 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 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); ha…

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Assessment of applications meeting all essential selection criteria
• Language testing for native English speakers to assess ability to communicate in another EU language

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 4 years, renewable once for an additional period of 4 years.

Hiring unit: Chief Executive's Policy Office.

Position details

Reference

187a

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

15 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Policy Officer at EDA based in Brussels at the AD8 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is 187a. 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 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S POLICY OFFICE

The Chief Executive’s Policy Office works in direct support of the Agency’s top management (Chief Executive & Deputy Chief Executive). It is responsible for strategic policy development, planning and coordination of EDA’s activities. The Office is the Agency’s prime interface at policy level towards Member States and is responsible for relations with EU institutions and bodies, as well as third parties. It acts as the Secretariat of the Steering Board and of the Agency Management Board.

4. DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Head of the Chief Executive’s Policy Office, the jobholder will be responsible for the following

activities:

- ensure the monitoring and reporting on all EU initiatives linked to EU funding instruments and cross-sectoral policies; - engage in different working formations that deal with EU legislations and initiatives; - liaise with the European Commission, other EU institutions, bodies, and stakeholders; - contribute to position papers, both for internal use and for wider circulation to Member States and EU institutions, in close coordination with EDA operational directorates; - engage with Member States at defence policy and expert level, as required; - prepare, review and support the definition of EDA priorities, objectives, and timelines, in close cooperation with operational directorates; - provide support to top management, including briefings, speaking notes, speeches and reports of visits and/or meetings; - 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. 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

6. SELECTION CRITERIA

A. Essential

Only applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.

(1) Professional

The candidate will be required to demonstrate that he/she has:

- a university degree (or equivalent academic qualification) in a field relevant for the position (e.g. political science and international relations, with a strong focus on security and defence policy, strategic affairs); - at least five (5) years of professional experience in the fields of security policy, defence, and strategic issues, acquired after the award of the minimum qualification required for eligibility (see eligibility criteria section above); - at least two (2) years of direct and substantial experience of dealing with policy shaping and implementation either in national defence/security administrations or in international institutions in the defence/security field; - professional drafting experience in English, including the preparation of strategic or conceptual documents, speaking notes, briefing materials, or comparable senior-level outputs; - excellent oral communication skills in English, demonstrated through professional experience delivering presentations and oral briefings; - understanding of EDA's main tasks and functions among EU institutions, and of the CSDP environment; - demonstrated experience in stakeholder management and coordination; - a very good command of written and spoken English.

(2) Personal

All staff must be able to fit into the Agency's way of working (see para. 2). Other attributes important for this post include:

- excellent conceptual and analytical skills; - ability to work in a team and independently in his/her area of responsibility; - ability to work effectively in a multinational and multicultural environment, displaying political awareness; - ability to prioritise and organise tasks, and to coordinate a wide range of activities; - ability to take initiatives and work under high political and time pressure, and with minimal supervision; - strong motivation, flexibility and results-driven approach; - a strong sense of initiative and ability to propose and promote innovative ideas and concepts; - genuine commitment to the Agency's objectives.

B. Desirable

The following will be considered an advantage:

- professional experience with EU institutions and in dealing with EU legislative files; - understanding of military capabilities, capability development, defence technologies or R&T; - qualifications or recognised expertise in security, defence, and capability development or related-fields, demonstrated through specialised, expert-level courses or training and/or publications and/or public interventions in these fields.

7. APPOINTMENT AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR TEMPORARY AGENTS AT EDA

EDA, whose staff are governed by its own Staff Regulations, offers specific conditions of employment with regards to contract duration and pension arrangements.

CONTRACT DURATION

The Policy Officer will be appointed by the Chief Executive. Recruitment will be as a member of the temporary staff of the Agency for a 4-year period. Renewal is possible only once for an additional period of 4 years, within the limits set out in the EDA Staff Regulations. The successful candidate will be recruited as Temporary Agent, grade AD8. In line with EDA's Staff Regulations, the Agency does not offer inter-Agency mobility.

FINANCIAL ENTITLEMENTS

The pay for this position consists of a basic salary of 8.911,48€supplemented with various allowances including, as applicable, expatriation or family allowances.

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 11 September 2026, 4 days ago.

The application deadline is 13 October 2026, 26 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 15 September 2026.

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.