Policy Officer - European Commission (FGIV, 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:

• Perform analysis and provide assistance in research and innovation policy making
• Provide policy developments in societal transitions, social sciences and humanities, socio-economic transformation and societal challenges
• Provide strategic advice on complex issues
• Prepare policy papers, technical documents, briefings, presentations and reports
• Design and implement actions supporting translation between EU R&I project portfolio, policymaking and European R&I programming
• Analyse results and impacts of R&I programmes and projects
• Organise meetings and workshops with Member States, stakeholders and external experts
• Contribute to unit's general coordination tasks (procurement, planning, reporting)

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years working in research and innovation in SSH and social transitions, or alternatively/complemented by policy development in these areas; at least 9 months' experience in EU-funded research and innovation in societal transitions, SSH and societal challenges
• Languages: EU official language (C1), EU official language (B2)
• Key skills: State-of-the-art knowledge in SSH and social transitions, Ability to analyse and assess data and information using AI and other tools, Monitor and assess political, technological, socio-economic and scientific trends, Excellent drafting skills in English, Structured, systematic and thorough approach to work, Curiosity and flexibility, Ability to prioritise and adapt to evolving deadlines, Strong sense of initiative, Very good inter-personal and networking skills, Motivation to work in a team and share knowledge
• Eligibility: Citizen of an EU Member State enjoying full rights as a citizen; fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service; physically fit to perform the duties; appropriate character references; passed an EPSO CAST in Function Group IV or registered in EPSO CAST database

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Selection unit chooses candidates from EPSO database with appropriate profile
• Candidates invited to interview
• Selection panel assesses candidates
• Selected candidate provides documentary evidence
• Mandatory pre-recruitment medical check-up

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: 1 year, renewable one or more times up to a maximum duration of 6 years.

Working arrangements: Brussels.

Hiring unit: RTD D3 - Health & Societal Transitions.

Position details

Reference

EC/2026/RTD/168501

Directorate-General

RTD - Research and Innovation

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

27 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Policy Officer at European Commission based in Brussels at the FGIV grade level (Contract Agent). The vacancy reference is EC/2026/RTD/168501. It is hosted by RTD - Research and Innovation, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the Science And Research domain.

Policy Officer

in DG RTD - European Commission

Job title: Policy Officer

Domain : Science and Research

Where: Unit RTD .D.3 - Health & Societal Transitions , Brussels

Function Gr oup : FG IV

Contract Type: 3b

Express your interest until : 04 .09. 20 26 - 12.00 (noon, Brussels time )

WE ARE

The RTD D3 Unit “Health and Societal Transitions” contributes to the performance and effectiveness

of healthy and fair societies, by shaping and coordinating evidence -based R&I policies. The Unit

ensures that R&I policies and programmes, especially Horizon Europe, support the EU policy

objectives in health and social transitions, notably in demographic change, inter -generational

fairness, mental health, migration, socio -economic and inclusion issues. To accomplish this, the Unit

taps into the full potential of the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), especially in the frame of

R&I interdisciplinarity and SSH integration under Horizon Europe ( e.g. the Horizon Europe SSH

integration report).

The Unit delivers the programming of the current EU R&I program (Horizon Europe Clusters 1 and

2) and future EU -level R&I initiatives ; stakeholders’ engagement activities, policy coordination and

administrative services for the DG RTD’s People: Health and Society’ Directorate.

In all its activities, the unit takes into account and influence developments in the Member states

(public and private sectors) and on the international scene and ensures synergies with other

funding programmes and policy initiatives.

WE PROPOSE

An impactful and varied role as policy officer, who is committed to deliver to a wide range

responsibilities of the unit .

Firstly, the policy officer is tasked to perform analysis and to provide assistance in research and

innovation policy making , as well as policy developments in the fields of societal transitions , social

sciences and humanities ( SSH), socio -economic transformation and societal challenges . You will be

asked – often at short notice – to pr ovide strategic advice , where you present complex issues in a

non -technical and comprehensible way. This could mean prepar ing policy papers, technical

documents, briefings, presentations and reports .(Reference: Call for interest EC/ 2026/RTD/ 16850 1)

The policy officer will design and implement actions that support the translation between the EU

R&I project portfolio, policymaking and (future) European R&I programming activities . In close

cooperation with other EC services and with the EC’s implementation agencies for the European R&I

programs, you will analyse results and impact s of R&I programmes and projects (within the scope

described above) in relation to their contribution to policymaking . This includes organising meetings

and workshops with Member States, stakeholders and external experts.

The policy officer contribute s to the unit’s general coordination tasks (procurement, planning,

reporting, etc) . You will be expected to be resourceful and self -starting, and you will be surrounded

by 24 experienced colleagues who greatly value team spirit and supporting each other.

WE LOOK FOR

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

- A state -of -the art knowledge in SSH and social transitions , obtained by a minimum of 3

years working in research and innovation in these areas , or alternatively / complemented by

policy development in these areas. A broader interest and / or experience in technology

governance and in transitions associated with health care and resilience are an asset.

- At least 9 months’ experience in EU -funded research and innovation in societal transitions,

SSH and societal challenges .

- A proven ability to analyse and / or assess data and information (using AI and other tools)

to monitor and assess political, technological, socio -economic and scientific trends for

informing R&I policymaking in the areas listed above.

- Excellent drafting skills in English to prepare and / or coordinate working papers , briefings,

presentations and other material s for distinct internal and external users .

- A structured, systematic and thorough approach to work ; curiosity , flexibility, ability to

prioritise and adapt to (evolving) deadlines.

- A strong sense of initiative and very good inter -personal and networking skills .

- A great motivation to work in a team and to share knowledge and know -how .

Please note that the vacancy needs to be filled as soon as possible. Candidates who demonstrate

that they have the possibility to fill the role at short notice, will have an advantage.

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

With a view to guarantee ing equal access to all, the Commission recruits from an open database of

spontaneous applications. The present call for interests aims at helping the recruiters to identify

potentially interested candidates within this database.

In practice, t o express your interest , please follow the subsequent two steps:

1. If you are not registered yet in the open EPSO database, please do so at the following

address: CAST Permanent . Please select under selection procedures for contract agent the

CAST permanent profile that best suits your education and experience. (Reference: Call for interest EC/ 2026/RTD/ 16850 1)

2. 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 RTD -D3 -CA -

[email protected] indicating the call for interest reference EC/202 6/RTD/ 168501

in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. (Reference: Call for interest EC/ 2026/RTD/ 16850 1)

ANNEX

1. Selection

➢ Am I eligible to apply?

You must meet the following eligibility criteria when you validate your application :

Our rules provide that you can only be recruited as a contract agent at the European Commission if

you :

General criteria:

- Are a citizen of a Member State of the EU and enjoy full rights as a citizen ;

- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service;

- Are physically fit to perform the duties linked to the pos ition ;

- Produce the appropriate character references as to suitability for the performance of the

duties .

- Have passed an EPSO CAST in the relevant Function Group for this position. At the stage of

the application, it is sufficient to be registered in the EPSO CAST data base.

Qualifications:

(a) Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least

three years attested by a diploma .

Only qualifications issued or recognised as equivalent by EU Member State authorities (e.g. by the

Ministry of Education) will be accepted.

Languages:

- have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1) of one of the 24 official languages of the

EU 2

- AND have a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2) 3 of a second official language of

the EU , to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties.

2The official languages of the European Union are: BG (Bulgarian), CS (Czech), DA (Danish), DE (German), EL (Greek), EN (English), ES (Spanish), ET (Estonian), FI (Finnish), FR (French), GA (Irish), HR (Croatian), HU (Hungarian), IT (Italian), LT (Lithuanian), LV (Latvian), MT (Maltese), NL (Dutch), PL (Polish), PT (Portuguese), RO (Romanian), SK (Slovak), SL (Slovenian), SV (Swedish). 3For details on language levels, please see the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (https://europass.cedefop.europa.eu/en/resources/european -language -levels -cefr).

(Reference: Call for interest EC/ 2026/RTD/ 16850 1)

➢ What about the selection steps?

The selecting unit chooses from the EPSO database 4 candidates with the appropriate profile and

invites them to an interview . For the interview a selection panel is set -up to assess the best

candidates. Due to the large volume of applications that we may receive only candidates selected

for the interview will be notified.

For operational reasons and in order to complete the selection procedure as quickly as possible in

the interest of the candidates and of the institution, the selection procedure will be carried out in

English and possibly in a second official language.

2. Recruitment

The candidate selected for recruitment will be requested to provide documentary evidence in

support of the statements made in the database and, where relevant, the call for interest .

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a mandatory pre -recruitment medical check -

up carried out by the Commission.

➢ Type of contract and working conditions

The place of employment will be in Brussels .

The successful candidate will be engaged as a contract agent under Article 3(b) of the

Conditions of Employment of Other Servants , in function group FG IV . General information on

Contract Agents can be found at this link .

The grade or proposed grade range , as well as the step in that grade , will be defined on the basis

of the candidates’ previous professional experience, in accordance with Commission Decision

C(201 7)6760 laying down the criteria applicable to classification in step on engagement .

The duration of the first contract will be 1 year . Subject to the interest of the service, the

contract may be renewed one or more times up to a maximum duration of 6 years.

The duration of the rene wal(s) will be defined according to the General Implement ing Rules in force

at that moment (currently , Commission Decision C(2017)6760 on policies for the engagement and

use of contract agents ).

4Therefore, candidates who did not pass already a CAST on the level Function Group IV, should register their profile at this address :https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/Cast-Permanent

Contract agents recruited in Function Group I V have to successfully complete a 9-month

probationary period.

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at FGIV runs from €4,449 (step 1) to €5,034 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €53,388 to €60,408 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 €712 per month at step 1 of FGIV) 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 19 August 2026, 9 days ago.

The application deadline is 4 September 2026, 6 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 FGIV see our FGIV 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 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.