PROJECT MANAGER - STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION - 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:

• Manage strategic communication projects and programmes promoting Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood policies
• Design, tender, and manage communication contracts and campaigns to support EU objectives in the region
• Coordinate with geographic units on strategic communication
• Advise on the visibility of EU funds and cooperation projects
• Support and ensure coordination with EU Delegations on communication aspects of programme/project implementation
• Establish and maintain regular contacts with partner governments, institutions, and nongovernmental actors on strategic communication
• Coordinate with senior management, geographic directorates, DG COMM and other Commission services
• Represent the Commission in meetings with partner governments and non-governmental stakeholders

Are you eligible?

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

• Experience: Minimum 5 years of professional experience in strategic communication related to EU external action, including significant field-based experience in Enlargement and Neighbourhood partner countries. Minimum 10 years of experience developing and managing EU-funded cooperation programmes and projects, which must include large, multi-country communication contracts. At least 3 years of hands-on exper…
• Key skills: Strategic communication design and implementation based on audience analysis, perception research, behavioural insights, or information environment assessments, Contract management procedures and related IT tools, Audience segmentation and targeted message delivery, Results monitoring, High degree of autonomy and responsibility

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Submit CV and completed application form

Contract and working arrangements

Contract duration: Temporary agent position.

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

Hiring unit: Unit ENEST.01 - Strategic Cooperation and Communication, Directorate-General Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG….

Position details

Reference

ENEST/COM/2026/1673

Directorate-General

ENEST - Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

16 September 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for PROJECT MANAGER - STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION at European Commission based in Brussels at the AD5 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is ENEST/COM/2026/1673. It is hosted by ENEST - Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the External Relations 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.

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 2ENEST/COM/2026/1673 Version: 16/04/2026

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.

3ENEST/COM/2026/1673 Version: 16/04/2026

PROJECT MANAGER - STRATEGIC

COMMUNICATION

Directorate - General Enlargement and Eastern

Neighbourhood (DG ENEST ) of the European Commission

Selection reference: ENEST/ COM/2026/1673

Domain*: External Relations

Where : Unit ENEST.01 - Strategic Cooperation and Communication , Brussels

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

Grade range: AD5 -AD 7

Publication deadline : 29.09.2026 - 12.00 (Brussels time)

*: please use one of the standardised domains that can be found here

WE ARE

The Strategic Coordination and Communication Unit of the Directorate -General for Enlargement

and Eastern Neighbourhood (DG ENEST) is responsible for managing the DG’s external, internal

and corporate communication activities, including social media, communication campaigns,

press releases, lines to take and other communication assets, and relations with the

Spokesperson’s Service. It supports geographic units in developing and implementing strategic

communication strategies and is the focal point for matters relating to Foreign Information

Manipulation and Interference (FIMI), including disinformation targeting ENEST policies. On the

interinstitutional side, it manages relations with the European Parliament and the committees. It

coordinates legislative processes and serves as the central point for briefings and speeches.

Finally, it ensures general policy coordination on global issues, including relations with the UN,

with third countries, G7/G20, and Strategic Foresight.

WE PROPOSE

The proposed position is to manage strategic communication projects and programmes

promoting Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood policies in partner countries falling under

DG ENEST’s remit. The position will consist of designing, tendering, and managing

communication contracts and campaigns to support EU objectives in the region; coordinating

with geographic units on strategic communication, and advising on the visibility of EU funds and

cooperation projects; supporting and ensuring coordination with EU Delegations on

communication aspects of programme/project implementation and work plans, in line with DG

ENEST priorities; and establishing and maintaining regular contacts with partner governments,

institutions, and nongovernmental actors on strategic communication and engagement. The role

involves close coordination with senior management, geographic directorates, DG COMM and

other Commission services, the European External Action Service, EU Delegations, and external

stakeholders. 4ENEST/COM/2026/1673 Version: 16/04/2026

WE LOOK FOR

It is essential to have the following professional experience and competences:

- Minimum 5 years of professional experience in strategic communication related to EU

external action, including significant field -based experience in Enlargement and

Neighbourhood partner countries. (Ideally, the candidate should have worked in/for at least

3 out of 6 priority countries.) In addition, the ideal candidate will have experience working

on strategic communication in a Brussels headquarters environment, coordinating with

multiple institutional stakeholders and contributing to communication policy development.

Proven ability to design and implement strategic communication approaches based on

audience analysis, perception research, behavioural insights, or information environment

assessments.

- Minimum 10 years of experience developing and managing EU -funded cooperation

programmes and projects, which must include large, multi -country communication

contracts.

- At least 3 years of hands -on experience in designing, tendering, and managing large -scale

campaigns with significant financial responsibility, encompassing audience segmentation,

targeted message delivery, and results monitoring. Proficiency in contract management

procedures and related IT tools is essential.

- Minimum 5 years of experience in communication on Enlargement and Eastern Partnership

topics, with thorough knowledge of Enlargement and Eastern Partnership policies.

The following would be considered an advantage:

- Demonstrated experience advising senior management and engaging with high -level

institutional, governmental, or diplomatic stakeholders;

- Proven track record in managing large -scale public communication campaigns and events

involving multiple stakeholders and significant public outreach;

- Experience with contracts under crisis declarations is a strong advantage;

- Experience with confidential contracts is an asset.

The position requires a high degree of autonomy and responsibility, which includes representing the

Commission in meetings with partner governments and non -governmental stakeholders. It also

involves close coordination and regular interaction with the Cabinet of the Commissioner for

Enlargement, with geographic teams in the Directorate -General for Enlargement and Eastern

Neighbourhood, with the Commission’s Spokesperson’s Service and other Commission services in

the preparation communication products. The DG values and promotes cross -sectoral work. The

jobholder may therefore be called to contribute to various tasks and projects in line with the needs

of the unit, the directorate or the DG, as guided by the DG’s political priorities. 5ENEST/COM/2026/1673 Version: 16/04/2026

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 ENEST -01 -

[email protected] indicating the selection reference ENEST/ COM/2026/1673 in the

subject. NB: Due to the large volume of applications we may receive,

only candidates selected for the next step of the selection phase will be notified .

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. 6ENEST/COM/2026/1673 Version: 16/04/2026

ANNEX

1. Selection

➢ Am I eligible to apply?

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 16 September 2026, today.

The application deadline is 29 September 2026, 12 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 16 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 External Relations field browse our External Relations 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.