Health and Safety Assistant - Radiation Protection - European Commission (AST1, Karlsruhe)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Commission 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:

• Carry out and supervise routine and ad hoc measurements of dose rates, surface and airborne contamination, and contamination in liquids and solids
• Draft and update work instructions, technical documents, and required notifications and reports for competent authorities
• Ensure workplaces and working methods remain compliant with applicable rules and implement changes required by regulatory updates
• Assess risks and define suitable protective measures for non-routine tasks
• Oversee application of protective measures and advise staff, small teams, and external contractors on radiation protection
• Provide guidance and training on radiation protection rules, safe working practices, and correct use of protective equipment
• Manage custody and accountancy of sealed and unsealed radioactive sources
• Carry out annual leak tests on sealed sources and prepare related documentation

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Secondary school diploma or equivalent qualification, ideally with specialisation in radiation protection, health physics, nuclear engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience
• Experience: At least three years of relevant professional experience in radiation protection, nuclear safety, or similar field
• Languages: German (essenti…), English (advanta…)
• Key skills: Strong technical expertise in radiological measurements, risk assessment, and protective measures, Good command of standard office software, Experience supervising small teams and external contractors, Ability to manage radioactive source inventories, prepare waste and transport documentation, and perform leak tests

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Temporary agent position.

Working arrangements: On-site in Karlsruhe, Germany.

Hiring unit: Unit JRC.G.1 – Site Safety and Compliance, Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Security, Joint Research Centre.

Position details

Reference

JRC/COM/2026/1089

Directorate-General

JRC - Joint Research Centre

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

15 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Health and Safety Assistant - Radiation Protection at European Commission based in Karlsruhe at the AST1 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is JRC/COM/2026/1089. It is hosted by JRC - Joint Research Centre, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the Science And Research domain.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE - JOIN THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Do you want to help shape the future of the European Union? Make the planet greener, promote a fairer society, or support businesses and innovation across the EU? Then come and work for the European Commission where you can really make a difference!

Commission staff are a diverse group of people, who are motivated to help make Europe – and the world – a better place. They come from the 27 Member States of the European Union. Different nationalities, backgrounds, languages and cultures make the Commission a vibrant and inclusive place to work.

WE OFFER GREAT JOBS AND GREAT WORKING CONDITIONS:

- Interesting and challenging jobs with plenty of opportunities for training and acquiring new skills and competencies throughout your whole career

- Opportunities to move between different policy areas throughout your career

- A package of flexible working conditions including the possibility of teleworking – we care about your work-life balance

- A competitive financial package, including comprehensive healthcare, accident and pension schemes

- A multilingual, multicultural workplace where personal and career development are strongly promoted

- Multilingual schools for your children

We recruit from a wide range of backgrounds and actively promote diversity and inclusion:

We do not only recruit political scientists and lawyers but are also looking for all kinds of profiles, including scientists, linguists, IT experts, data analysts and economists, as well as drivers and engineers.

We are committed to equal opportunities and to fostering a rich, diverse and inclusive working environment. We aim for our workforce to be representative of European society and strongly welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We actively seek to create a workplace where each staff member feels valued and respected, can give their best and can develop to their full potential. 2JRC/COM/2026/1089 Version: 16/04/2026

To promote diversity and establish a geographically balanced pool of candidates, we strongly encourage applicants from Member States which are currently underrepresented in the European Commission workforce to apply. These Member States are currently Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Sweden 1. Recruitment will however remain strictly based on the merits of all applicants and no positions will be reserved for nationals of any specific Member State.

For more information ec.europa.eu/work-with-us

STAFF RECRUITED ON CONTRACTS

In addition to permanent officials, the European Commission offers non-permanent positions. There are two categories of non-permanent staff:

temporary agents are recruited to fill vacant positions for a set amount of time or

to perform highly specialised tasks.

contract agents may provide additional capacity in specialised fields where an

insufficient number of officials is available or carry out a number of administrative or manual tasks. They are generally recruited for fixed-term contracts (maximum 6 years in any EU Institution), but in some cases they can be offered contracts for an indefinite duration (in offices, agencies, delegations or representations).

For more information on different staff categories

1Please note that the list of underrepresented Member States may be subject to future amendment based on potential data changes over time.

3JRC/COM/2026/1089 Version: 16/04/2026

Health and Safety Assistant –

Radiation Protection

Directorate - General JRC (DG JRC ) of the European

Commission

Selection reference: JRC /COM/202 6/ 1089

Domain: Science and Research

Where : Unit JRC.G.1 – Site Safety and Compliance, Karlsruhe (Germany)

Staff category and Function Group : Temporary agent 2d – Assistant

Grade range: AST1 -3

Publication deadline : 30 .09 .202 6 - 12.00 (Brussels time)

WE ARE

As the science and knowledge service of the European Commission, the Joint Research Centre

provides independent, evidence -based knowledge and science, supporting EU policies to positively

impact society. We provide anticipatory capacity, solid expertise and ability to propose and

implement interdisciplinary research. The activities are carried out in collaboration with relevant

Commission Services, national and international organisations and stakeholders. At the JRC we

organise our work in portfolios which are the main building blocks of our multi -annual work

programmes. The JRC is located in five Member States (Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands

and Spain). More information about the JRC and its portfolios can be found at: https://joint -

research -centre.ec.europa.eu/index_en

The current vacancy is in the Directorate for Nuclear Safety and Security. Its mission is the

implementation of the JRC Euratom Research and Training Programme, the JRC Nuclear Strategy

and the maintenance and dissemination of nuclear competences in Europe to serve both ''nuclear''

and ''non -nuclear'' EU Member States. A strong cooperation and complementarity with their

national organisations is of key relevance. JRC Directorate G supports the relevant policy DGs with

independent, technical and scientific evidence in the areas of nuclear safety, security, safeguards

and nuclear science applications. Directorate G also ensures the role of the JRC as an active key

partner in nuclear international networks and collaborates with international organisations and

prominent Academia and Research Institutes.

Specifically, the vacancy is within the Unit JRC.G.1 - Site Safety and Compliance, which is dedicated

to ensuring business continuity at the JRC Karlsruhe site by comprehensive compliance with all

legal and licensing requirements related to nuclear safety and security. The unit is responsible for

radiation protection, physical protection, overseeing and managing the safe transport, storage, and

accountancy of radioactive materials, as well as implementing nuclear decommissioning tasks and

radioactive waste management. It also maintains conventional safety across the site, and ensures

compliance with the requirements for occupational health, safety at work and environmental

protection. By integrating these key areas, the Unit upholds a safe, secure, and legally compliant

operational environment, thereby supporting the JRC's and the Directorate's missions. 4JRC/COM/2026/1089 Version: 16/04/2026

The post is located in Karlsruhe, Germany. More details can be found at: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en

WE PROPOSE

We are offering a position as a Temporary Agent (TA) in Radiation Protection for immediate

assignment on site. The successful candidate will help ensure compliance with radiation protection

and occupational health and safety rules, with a strong focus on operational monitoring. The role is

key to protecting staff and facilities, maintaining high standards of nuclear and radiological safety,

and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Monitoring and surveillance: Carry out and supervise routine and ad hoc measurements of dose

rates, surface and airborne contamination, and contamination in liquids and solids. The aim is to

keep exposure to staff, external workers and the public as low as reasonably achievable (ALARA),

prevent the spread of contamination, and ensure that contaminated items do not leave controlled

areas.

Regulatory compliance and documentation: Draft and update work instructions, technical

documents, and required notifications and reports for the competent authorities. Ensure workplaces

and working methods remain compliant with applicable rules and implement any changes required

by regulatory updates.

Operational coordination and risk assessment: Assess risks and define suitable protective

measures, especially for non -routine tasks. Oversee the application of these measures and advise

staff, small teams, and external contractors on radiation protection.

Training and awareness: Provide guidance and training on radiation protection rules, safe

working practices, and the correct use of protective equipment.

Radioactive source management: Manage the custody and accountancy of sealed and unsealed

radioactive sources. Carry out annual leak tests on sealed sources, prepare the related

documentation, notify the authorities where required, and act as the designated person responsible

for leak tests on site.

In this role , the selected TA will support a strong radiation protection framework and contribute to a

safe, compliant working environment for all personnel.

To perform the work, it may occasionally be necessary to wear personal protective equipment such

as a respirator, paper suit, overshoes and gloves.

WE LOOK FOR

We are looking for candidates with the following skills and experience: 5JRC/COM/2026/1089 Version: 16/04/2026

Experience

- At least three years of relevant professional experience in radiation protection, nuclear safety,

or a similar field.

- Knowledge of the applicable German legislation and regulations, including the

Strahlenschutzgesetz and Strahlenschutzverordnung, is strongly preferred.

Education and skills

Secondary school diploma or equivalent qualification, ideally with a specialisation in radiation

protection, health physics, nuclear engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical

experience.

Good command of standard office software.

Competencies

Strong technical expertise in radiological measurements, risk assessment, and protective

measures.

Excellent written and spoken German is essential. Good knowledge of English is an advantage.

Experience supervising small teams and external contractors.

Ability to manage radioactive source inventories, prepare waste and transport documentation,

and perform leak tests.

Personal qualities

Reliable, trustworthy and safety -conscious.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at AST1 runs from €3,754 (step 1) to €4,248 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €45,048 to €50,976 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 €601 per month at step 1 of AST1) together with household, dependent-child, and education allowances where applicable. Take-home pay is then adjusted by the country correction coefficient for Karlsruhe. 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, 12 days ago.

The application deadline is 30 September 2026, 13 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 AST1 see our AST1 grade page; for headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at European Commission see the European Commission institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Karlsruhe see our Karlsruhe location page; for related vacancies in the Science And Research field browse our Science And Research 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.