Policy Officer - European Commission (AD5, Brussels)

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:

• Shape and implement activities related to the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS)
• Shape and implement the new programme AGILE in support of rapid defence innovation
• Contribute to the development, management, monitoring and/or evaluation of defence innovation policies, legislation and support instruments
• Implement the Ukraine Support Loan
• Contribute to initiatives connecting the deep tech community and defence
• Implement the European Defence Industry Transformation Roadmap
• Assess trends affecting defence innovation
• Coordinate important aspects of defence innovation work

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: A recognised university degree (or equivalent) in law, European studies, political science, or a related field
• Experience: At least 5 years of professional job-related experience at national and/or international level. Solid knowledge of the European defence technological and industrial basis and proven experience in designing policy measures in support of the competitiveness of the defence industry. Solid experience in defence or defence-related programmes (e.g. in the areas of defence R&D, procurement, defence indu…
• Languages: French (B2)
• Key skills: Sound knowledge of the financial and budgetary rules of the Commission, Good knowledge of trends affecting the defence industry, Strong resilience and ability to deal with complex policy files, Ability to conceptualise complex legal/policy challenges and propose pragmatic solutions, Excellent written and oral communication skills, Ability to draft clear, concise legal/policy documents, briefings, and speeches, Capacity to explain technical or specialised information to diverse stakeholders, Proactive and autonomous work style with strong eye for detail and accuracy, Ability to prioritise tasks, manage deadlines, and deliver structured outputs, Team player with ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary and multicultural settings
• Eligibility: Security vetting required if candidate does not already hold security clearance at an appropriate level (EU secret)

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Submit CV and completed application form in a single PDF

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Temporary agent contract.

Working arrangements: Flexible working conditions including the possibility of teleworking.

Hiring unit: Unit A1 – Industry Policy & Innovation, Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space (DG DEFIS).

Position details

Reference

DEFIS/COM/2026/1393

Directorate-General

DEFIS - Defence Industry and Space

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

21 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Policy Officer at European Commission based in Brussels at the AD5 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is DEFIS/COM/2026/1393. It is hosted by DEFIS - Defence Industry and Space, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the Defence 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. 2DEFIS/COM/2026/1393 Version: 18/09/2026

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.

3DEFIS/COM/2026/1393 Version: 18/09/2026

POLICY OFFICER - DEFENCE INNOVATION

Directorate - General for Defence Industry and Space (DG

DEFIS ) of the European Commission

Selection reference: DEFIS /COM/ 2026 /1393

Domain: Defence

Where : Unit A1 – “Industry Policy & Innovation“, Brussels

Staff category and Function Group : Temporary agent 2b – Administrator

Grade range: AD5 -7

Publication deadline : 02 .10.202 6 - 12.00 (Brussels time)

WE ARE

The Directorate -General for Defence Industry and Space (DG -DEFIS) is the European Commission's

department tasked with strengthening the competitiveness and innovation of the European

Defence industry by ensuring the evolution of an able European defence technological and

industrial base. The mission of Directorate A “Defence Policy” (composed of 3 Units) is:

- To impulse and coordinate development and delivery of comprehensive EU defence policy

agenda across innovation, military mobility, hybrid threats and single market integration.

- To drive forward the defence policy agenda through the promotion of the sustainable

competitiveness of the EU Defence industrial and technological base, including through

achieving better coordination of capability development, strengthening crisis response, and

supporting cross -border defence cooperation overall.

- To create enabling conditions for market integration and innovation while ensuring coherence

in the policy agenda regarding defence industrial programmes.

DEFIS.A.1 - Industry Policy & Innovation - The mission of DEFIS A1 is to - Develop and coordinate

EU defence policy, regulatory and innovation initiatives, while ensuring strategic coordination with

the European Defence Agency ; - Shape industrial policy and drive defence innovation to accelerate

the emergence of an innovative defence ecosystem (EU Defence Innovation Scheme , AGILE,

Defence Transformation Roadmap ).

WE PROPOSE

Unit DEFIS.A.1 of Directorate -General Defence Industry and Space is seeking to hire a Policy

Officer with a focus on defence i nnovation .

Your task will be to contribute to the design and implementation of defence innovation policies and

actions, which includes the following tasks :

- Shape and implement activities related to the EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS)

- Shape and implement the new programme AGILE in support of rapid defence innovation,

including in view of the upcomin g European Competitiveness Fund

- Contribute to the development, management, monitoring and / or evaluation of defence

innovation policies, legislation and support instruments, including implementation of the

Ukraine Support Loan 4DEFIS/COM/2026/1393 Version: 18/09/2026

- Contribute to additional initiatives connecting the deep tech community (including AI, space,

robotics, quantum etc.) and defence, including the implementation of the European Defence

Industry Transformation Roadmap

- Assess trends affecting defence innovation

You will be part of a team composed of economists and political scientists and lawyers and will

have to coordinate important aspects of the work in this area .

WE LOOK FOR

We are seeking a dynamic, motivated and enthusiastic colleague with solid knowledge of the

European defence technological and industrial basis and proven experience in designing policy

measures in support of the competitiveness of the defence industry:

Essential requirements:

Education:

A recognised university degree (or equivalent) in law, European studies, political science, or a

related field.

Knowledge of EU law will be considered an asset .

Professional experience:

At least 5 years of professional job -related experience, at national and/or international level.

Solid knowledge of the European defence technological and industrial basis and proven experience

in designing policy measures in support of the competitiveness of the defence industry .

Technical knowledge:

A sound knowledge of the financial and budgetary rules of the Commission.

A solid experience in defence or defence -related programmes (e.g. in the areas of defence R&D,

procurement, defence industrial policy).

A solid experience in the field of innovation.

A good knowledge of trends affecting the defence industry and/or experience in defence .

A sound knowledge of the financial and budgetary rules of the Commission will be considered a

plus.

Key competences:

Strong resilience and ability to deal with complex policy files.

Ability to conceptualise complex legal/policy challenges, structure information, and propose

pragmatic solutions. 5DEFIS/COM/2026/1393 Version: 18/09/2026

Communication and drafting:

Excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to draft clear, concise legal/policy

documents, briefings, and speeches for high -level audiences.

Capacity to explain technical or specialised information to diverse stakeholders (e.g., Member

States, industry, citizens).

Delivery and results orientation:

Proactive and autonomous work style with a strong eye for detail and accuracy.

Ability to prioritise tasks, manage deadlines, and deliver structured outputs in a dynamic

environment.

Collaboration and adaptability:

Team player with proven ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary and multicultural settings.

Flexibility to adapt to evolving priorities and new demands.

Experience in people management and coordination of complex files will be considered an

advantage.

Languages:

Oral fluency and advanced legal text drafting in English are essential (level C1).

Working knowledge of French (level B2) is required.

Personal qualities:

Commitment to EU values.

Diplomacy and tact in managing politically sensitive files .

Initiative and creativity in developing forward -looking policy solutions.

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS: The successful candidate will be required to undergo security vetting if

they do not already hold security clearance at an appropriate level (EU secret), in accordance with

the relevant security provisions. 6DEFIS/COM/2026/1393 Version: 18/09/2026

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order:

1. your CV , 2. completed application form.

Please send these documents by the publication deadline to DEFIS - A1 @ec.europa.eu indicating

the selection reference DEFIS /COM/ 2026 /1393 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. 7DEFIS/COM/2026/1393 Version: 18/09/2026

ANNEX

1.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at AD5 runs from €6,153 (step 1) to €6,961 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €73,836 to €83,532 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 €984 per month at step 1 of AD5) 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 21 September 2026, today.

The application deadline is 2 October 2026, 10 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 21 September 2026.

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at AD5 see our AD5 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 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.