International Cooperation And Development

Policy Officer - European Commission (FGIV, Brussels)

Grade FGIV
Contract Type Contract Agent
Salary Range €4,449 - €5,034/month
Deadline 15 August 2026

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.

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 positions 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. (Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

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.

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.

(Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

# Policy and Investment Officer

# Water

# in DG INTPA of the European Commission

> Job title*: Policy and Investment Officer – Water > Domain**: INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS (CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT and NATURAL RESOURCES – FRESH WATER) > Where : Unit INTPA.F.2 (Environment, Sustainable Natural Resources), Brussels > Function Group : FG IV > Contract Type : 3b > Express your interest until : 15.08.2026 - 12.00 (noon, Brussels time)

WE ARE

Under the geopolitical ambition and political guidelines set by the President of the European Commission, DG INTPA leads on international cooperation, building partnerships with countries and organisations across the globe. We work hand in hand with the European External Action Service and with our Member States to mobilise a strong Team Europe approach to ensure the impact of the EU agenda on the world stage. We also cooperate with our partners, setting policy agendas, taking initiatives and ensuring effective implementation of our actions for the ultimate benefit of people across the world.

The European Union’s Global Gateway aims to accompany partner countries so that they reap the benefits of Europe’s clean transition for their sustainable development and the clean transition of their economies. The Global Gateway's 360-degree approach goes beyond infrastructure and private sector support by applying five key principles— green and clean, democratic values, good governance, equal partnerships, and security—to tailor investments to specific contexts. The next Multi-Annual Financial Framework (2028-2035) will be key to the scale up of the Global Gateway. Therefore, DG INTPA is at a crucial juncture, developing an investment portfolio and financial instruments that will benefit both people and planet.

In this context, the mandate of Unit INTPA.F.2 is to support partner countries in developing investment opportunities and addressing challenges related to the environment and natural resources such as biodiversity, forests, land, water as well as the transition to a circular economy. Unit INTPA.F.2 is therefore in charge of the external dimension of the European Green Deal, the Clean Industrial Deal, and other EU policies for sustainable development. (Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

> WE PROPOSE

Unit F2 (Environment, Sustainable Natural Resources) of DG INTPA (International

Partnership) is seeking to hire a policy and investment officer on fresh water to work in a

dynamic 20+ member team, working in a complex and fast-evolving environment.

The position will consist of the following responsibilities and main tasks:

Under the supervision of an official or a temporary agent, develop, promote and implement EU international partnerships on water with partner countries in the framework of Global Gateway. Provide thematic analysis, contribute to policy development, provide technical expertise and thematic support on investments in water infrastructures. Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes, the assessment of pipelines of investment projects, the implementation of the 360° approach and the preparation of contracts, guarantees and blended finance operations in coordination with other services, MS and partner organisations. Engage with Members States, the private sector, European Financial institutions and other partners to build knowledge, promote the EU water agenda, identify sustainable finance solutions and build an investment pipeline. Manage the global programmes under your responsibility. Ensure coherence with the broader policy agenda. Ensure that highly qualitative analysis and inputs are provided at all stages of programmes development and implementation. Be ready to provide further support to colleagues according to the needs of the unit.

> WE LOOK FOR

We are looking for a professional, with job-related professional experience of at least 3 year

in the water and/or climate, environment and natural resources sector.

Job-related experience of at least 3 year in: i) Climate, Environment and Natural Resources

with a focus on fresh water and experience on water and sanitation infrastructure is necessary

ii) Financial instruments and Institutions incl. Banking with a focus on Investment /deal

structuring, experience with startups, social ventures/impact ventures, investment funds,

experience with EFSD+ and/or Blending Platforms and Facilities is highly relevant.

Two years’ experience in International Partnerships, preferably in a partner country, in an EU

delegation or Commission service which would be an asset. At least one year in Programme,

Process and Project Management with contract management is essential, experience with or

in an EU institution would be an asset. Finally, at least one year in policy development would

be an advantage and a focus on European and/or international policy development in the

water sector a further asset. (Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

Competences:

• Strong analysis and problem-solving skills

• Good communicator

• Ability to work in a proactive and autonomous way and to deliver quality and results

• Capacity to prioritise and organise work efficiently and stress resistance.

• Strong ability to work in a team and share knowledge.

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

With a view to guaranteeing 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, to 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.

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

[email protected] and [email protected] indicating the call for

interest reference INTPA/2026/518269 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. (Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

## ANNEX

## 1. Selection

 Am I eligible to apply?

You must meet the

Position details

Reference
EC/INTPA/2026/518269
Directorate-General
INTPA - International Partnerships
Vacancy Notice
Download PDF
Last Verified
24 July 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/INTPA/2026/518269. It is hosted by INTPA - International Partnerships, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the International Cooperation And Development 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 positions 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. (Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

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.

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.

(Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

# Policy and Investment Officer

# Water

# in DG INTPA of the European Commission

> Job title*: Policy and Investment Officer – Water > Domain**: INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS (CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT and NATURAL RESOURCES – FRESH WATER) > Where : Unit INTPA.F.2 (Environment, Sustainable Natural Resources), Brussels > Function Group : FG IV > Contract Type : 3b > Express your interest until : 15.08.2026 - 12.00 (noon, Brussels time)

WE ARE

Under the geopolitical ambition and political guidelines set by the President of the European Commission, DG INTPA leads on international cooperation, building partnerships with countries and organisations across the globe. We work hand in hand with the European External Action Service and with our Member States to mobilise a strong Team Europe approach to ensure the impact of the EU agenda on the world stage. We also cooperate with our partners, setting policy agendas, taking initiatives and ensuring effective implementation of our actions for the ultimate benefit of people across the world.

The European Union’s Global Gateway aims to accompany partner countries so that they reap the benefits of Europe’s clean transition for their sustainable development and the clean transition of their economies. The Global Gateway's 360-degree approach goes beyond infrastructure and private sector support by applying five key principles— green and clean, democratic values, good governance, equal partnerships, and security—to tailor investments to specific contexts. The next Multi-Annual Financial Framework (2028-2035) will be key to the scale up of the Global Gateway. Therefore, DG INTPA is at a crucial juncture, developing an investment portfolio and financial instruments that will benefit both people and planet.

In this context, the mandate of Unit INTPA.F.2 is to support partner countries in developing investment opportunities and addressing challenges related to the environment and natural resources such as biodiversity, forests, land, water as well as the transition to a circular economy. Unit INTPA.F.2 is therefore in charge of the external dimension of the European Green Deal, the Clean Industrial Deal, and other EU policies for sustainable development. (Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

> WE PROPOSE

Unit F2 (Environment, Sustainable Natural Resources) of DG INTPA (International

Partnership) is seeking to hire a policy and investment officer on fresh water to work in a

dynamic 20+ member team, working in a complex and fast-evolving environment.

The position will consist of the following responsibilities and main tasks:

Under the supervision of an official or a temporary agent, develop, promote and implement EU international partnerships on water with partner countries in the framework of Global Gateway. Provide thematic analysis, contribute to policy development, provide technical expertise and thematic support on investments in water infrastructures. Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes, the assessment of pipelines of investment projects, the implementation of the 360° approach and the preparation of contracts, guarantees and blended finance operations in coordination with other services, MS and partner organisations. Engage with Members States, the private sector, European Financial institutions and other partners to build knowledge, promote the EU water agenda, identify sustainable finance solutions and build an investment pipeline. Manage the global programmes under your responsibility. Ensure coherence with the broader policy agenda. Ensure that highly qualitative analysis and inputs are provided at all stages of programmes development and implementation. Be ready to provide further support to colleagues according to the needs of the unit.

> WE LOOK FOR

We are looking for a professional, with job-related professional experience of at least 3 year

in the water and/or climate, environment and natural resources sector.

Job-related experience of at least 3 year in: i) Climate, Environment and Natural Resources

with a focus on fresh water and experience on water and sanitation infrastructure is necessary

ii) Financial instruments and Institutions incl. Banking with a focus on Investment /deal

structuring, experience with startups, social ventures/impact ventures, investment funds,

experience with EFSD+ and/or Blending Platforms and Facilities is highly relevant.

Two years’ experience in International Partnerships, preferably in a partner country, in an EU

delegation or Commission service which would be an asset. At least one year in Programme,

Process and Project Management with contract management is essential, experience with or

in an EU institution would be an asset. Finally, at least one year in policy development would

be an advantage and a focus on European and/or international policy development in the

water sector a further asset. (Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

Competences:

• Strong analysis and problem-solving skills

• Good communicator

• Ability to work in a proactive and autonomous way and to deliver quality and results

• Capacity to prioritise and organise work efficiently and stress resistance.

• Strong ability to work in a team and share knowledge.

HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST?

With a view to guaranteeing 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, to 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.

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

[email protected] and [email protected] indicating the call for

interest reference INTPA/2026/518269 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. (Reference: Call for interest INTPA/2026/518269)

## ANNEX

## 1. Selection

 Am I eligible to apply?

You must meet the

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 23 July 2026, 3 days ago.

The application deadline is 15 August 2026, 18 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 24 July 2026 (2 days ago).

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 International Cooperation And Development field browse our International Cooperation And Development 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.

Net pay at this grade

At step 1 of FGIV, gross monthly basic salary on the Contract Agents grid is €4,449. Eligible expatriate staff add a 16% expatriation allowance on top (roughly €712 per month) before two automatic deductions reduce the taxable base: the joint sickness insurance scheme (JSIS, ~3.6%, €186) and the EU pension contribution (~10.3%, €532). EU community tax (Council Reg. 260/68) is then applied progressively; for the AD7-equivalent band the effective rate sits in the 11 to 13% range, which works out to about €533 per month here.
Brussels carries a correction coefficient of 100.0% (Article 64 of the Staff Regulations), so the net is multiplied by 1.00 to reflect the local cost of living. On those assumptions take-home pay is approximately €3,911 per month, or about €46,926 per year, before household and dependent-child allowances, which can add several hundred euros monthly for staff with families. For the exact bracket-by-bracket computation see our net-pay methodology, and our correction coefficients guide for the full duty-station table.

Comparable recent roles

In the last twenty-four months European Commission (and the wider Commission and agencies family) has filled several adjacent roles at the same FGIV grade level. The most recent comparable vacancies, with their actual application windows:
  • Economic Analyst at European Commission (ECFIN - Economic and Financial Affairs) (published 2026-07-22, closed 2026-08-14)
  • Policy Officer at European Commission (JUST - Justice and Consumers) (published 2026-07-20, closed 2026-07-31)
  • Policy Officer - Sustainable finance and innovative financing solutions at European Commission (INTPA - International Partnerships) (published 2026-07-17, closed 2026-09-10)
  • Project Manager - Procurement at European Commission (FPI - Foreign Policy Instruments) (published 2026-07-17, closed 2026-08-18)
  • Programme and Investment Officer at European Commission (INTPA - International Partnerships) (published 2026-07-17, closed 2026-07-31)
Pattern recognition matters here: recruiters at the same Directorate-General often re-advertise nearly identical profiles every six to nine months, so candidates who miss one window can typically position for the next one. Browse the live catalog: all FGIV openings, other vacancies at European Commission, more roles in International Cooperation And Development.

Career trajectory

Career progression for FGIV staff is governed by Articles 44 to 46 of the Staff Regulations (consolidated text on EUR-Lex) and Annex IB on the promotion procedure. Step increases are automatic every two years (Art. 44); grade promotion is competitive, based on the appraisal exercise (Art. 45) and the Career Development Review. For roles at INTPA - International Partnerships, within Function Group IV the move from grade 13 to grade 16 takes roughly nine to twelve years; reclassification to a Temporary Agent or AD post is the longer-term ladder. Article 46 governs the classification at recruitment, which sets the starting step within the grade (usually step 1 for external recruits without prior EU service, step 2 or 3 where relevant professional experience is recognised).
Mobility within the institutions is encouraged via the inter-institutional and intra-institutional vacancy publication system: temporary agents who pass the probation period and reservists from EPSO laureate lists can typically apply to internal vacancies after one year of service. Lateral moves between Directorates-General reset the seniority clock for promotion only if the new post carries a different grade.

Language profile

Beyond the formal language requirements stated in the vacancy notice, the day-to-day working languages at this employer are English and French in roughly equal measure, with German appearing in some technical files. Internal meetings and most policy drafting in Brussels run in English; French remains the preferred internal language in Luxembourg-based services and parts of DG TRADE.

Application cadence

Across the past twenty-four months 23 comparable openings with the same grade and International Cooperation And Development signature have been advertised by European Commission or related EU bodies, 23 of them in the last twelve months alone. That cadence (roughly 11.5 per year) suggests a candidate who narrowly misses this competition can reasonably expect a similar profile to reopen within six to nine months.

Source: This job listing was sourced from the official EU Careers portal (EPSO). First published: . Salary estimate based on EU Staff Regulations.

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