Drug policy research officer - Publications Office of the European Union (AST3, Lisbon)

About this position

The summary below is published by Publications Office of the European Union 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:

• Contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the work programme of the sector and the unit
• Contribute to the methodological, administrative and practical tasks necessary for the development, implementation and quality control of data collection on drug policy
• Assist in the collection, organisation and analysis of data related to drug policy trends
• Conduct literature analysis
• Collaborate with scientific analysts to prepare reports, presentations and publications based on research findings
• Contribute to the development and execution of research studies on drug policy, including designing protocols and methodologies
• Assist in the development of tools to support drug policy formulation and evaluation
• Support the integration of a gender perspective and other social equity themes in data collection and analysis

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: A higher degree relevant to the duties of this post (e.g. criminology, epidemiology, law, political science, psychology, public health, social policy, social sciences), with a good understanding of methodological and research issues
• Experience: At least six years of relevant professional experience starting with the first position occupied after the completion of the diploma or certificate required for admission to this selection procedure. At least three years of experience in the area of drug or substance use research, policy analysis, or policy evaluation, social policy or a closely related area. Proven experience in data collection,…
• Languages: one of the official languages of the Eu… (C1), another of the official languages of th… (B2)
• Key skills: Ability to use standard software packages to transform data into graphics, tables and reports, Proven ability to draft high-quality technical reports, policy and scientific publications
• Eligibility: Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union, Norway or Türkiye; Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the laws concerning military service, if applicable; Produce the appropriate character references as to the suitability for the performance of the required duties; Be physically fit to perform the duties of the post

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 5 years.

Hiring unit: Policy, Crime and Markets (PCM) unit, within the Policy and Society sector.

Position details

Reference

AST.2026.02

Vacancy Notice

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Last Verified

27 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Drug policy research officer at Publications Office based in Lisbon at the AST3 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is AST.2026.02. The role falls under the Health domain.

Job vacancy

Status:

Open

Published date: 17.08.2026

The position we are recruiting for is situated within the Policy and Society sector, within the Policy, Crime and Markets (PCM) unit.

Under the overall guidance of the Head of unit and direct supervision of the Head of sector, the jobholder will develop, enhance and promote the scientific competencies of the EUDA, particularly in relation to the work of the Policy and Society sector.

The objective is to contribute to the agency’s work on drug policy analysis, policy design and evaluation, as well as related areas such as social policy and criminal justice systems. This is achieved by assisting in the analysis of drug policy data, with a focus on emerging trends in drug policy, and by helping to develop tools for the formulation and evaluation of drug policies, while also contributing to the analysis of related policy areas.

Main duties

The successful applicant will be requested to perform the following main tasks and responsibilities:

Main tasks

- Contribute to the achievement of the objectives of the work programme of the sector and the unit. - Contribute to the methodological, administrative and practical tasks necessary for the development, implementation and quality control of data collection on drug policy. - Assist in the collection, organisation and analysis of data related to drug policy trends. - Conduct literature analysis. - Collaborate with scientific analysts to prepare reports, presentations and publications based on research findings. - Contribute to the development and execution of research studies on drug policy, including designing protocols and methodologies. - Assist in the development of tools to support drug policy formulation and evaluation. - Support the integration of a gender perspective and other social equity themes in data collection and analysis. - Explore and integrate innovative approaches and technology solutions to support policy analysis, design and evaluation. - Support contract management processes, including drafting specifications, negotiating and ensuring compliance with contractual obligations. - Assist with the organisation of online and in-person meetings and events on the topics within the sector’s remit. - Represent the EUDA at appropriate technical, administrative and scientific meetings, in agreement with Head of Sector/Head of Unit.

The jobholder may be required to contribute to other areas of work, according to the needs and priorities of the EUDA.

In order to perform the duties of the post and ensure effective communication with the actors and stakeholders involved, the main working language required for the job is English.

Call details

- Open date:17.08.2026 - Closing date: 18.09.2026, 23:59 (Lisbon time) - Type of call:Job vacancy - Contract type:Temporary agent - Reference:AST.2026.02 - Grade:AST3 - Duration of contract:5 years

Eligibility requirements

- Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union, Norway or Türkiye; - Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the laws concerning military service, if applicable; - Produce the appropriate character references as to the suitability for the performance of the required duties; - Be physically fit to perform the duties of the post. - Have a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma, or a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, and appropriate professional experience of at least three years. - Have at least six years of relevant professional experience starting with the first position occupied after the completion of the diploma or certificate required for admission to this selection procedure, as mentioned above. - Possess a thorough knowledge (mother tongue or minimum level C1) of one of the official languages of the European Union and, a proven satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2) of another of these languages to the extent necessary for the performance of the required duties.

Essential requirements

1. A higher degree relevant to the duties of this post (e.g.criminology,epidemiology,law, political science,psychology, public health, social policy, social sciences),with a good understanding of methodological and research issues. 2. At least three years of experience in the area of drug or substance use research, policy analysis, or policy evaluation, social policy or a closely related area. 3. Proven experience in data collection, validation, analysis, and interpretation. 4. Ability to use standard software packages to transform data into graphics, tables and reports. 5. Proven ability to draft high-quality technical reports, policy and scientific publications.

Ready to apply?

If you think this sounds like you and you are ready to apply, click on the button below and fill in your application on our e-Recruitement site.

You can learn more about the selection process on our main Job vacancies page.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at AST3 runs from €4,806 (step 1) to €5,438 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €57,672 to €65,256 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 €769 per month at step 1 of AST3) together with household, dependent-child, and education allowances where applicable. Take-home pay is then adjusted by the country correction coefficient for Lisbon. For a worked example see our correction coefficients guide and the EU salaries overview.

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 18 August 2026, 10 days ago.

The application deadline is 18 September 2026, 20 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 27 August 2026.

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at AST3 see our AST3 grade page; for headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at Publications Office see the Publications Office institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Lisbon see our Lisbon location page; for related vacancies in the Health field browse our Health 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.