Secretary - European Commission (AST-SC1, 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.

Position details

Reference

TRADE/COM/2026/1473

Directorate-General

TRADE – Trade

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

24 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Secretary at European Commission based in Brussels at the AST-SC1 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is TRADE/COM/2026/1473. It is hosted by TRADE – Trade, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the Trade domain.

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> TRADE/COM/2026/1473 Version: 16/04/2026

# 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 foster ing 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. 2

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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 ti me 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.

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# Secretary

# Directorate - General Trade and Economic Security (DG

# TRADE ) of the European Commission

Selection reference: TRADE /COM/202 6/1473

Domain: Trade

Where : Unit Trade.A.1 – “Multilateral affairs and WTO reform, competition, export finance “, Brussels

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

Grade range: AST/SC1 -2

Publication deadline : 26.08 .202 6 - 12.00 (Brussels time)

WE ARE

DG Trade and Economic Security has the task of conducting the EU trade policy, one of the

exclusive competences of the EU. Trade policy plays a critical role in building global partnerships,

enhancing the EU’s economic competitiveness, and defending the EU from unfair trade practices

and threats to its economic security.

Unit TRADE A1 is in charge of multilateral affairs and WTO reform, competition and export credits.

The unit coordinates the EU’s participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO), including for the

reform of the organization in order to secure an effective multilateral trading system for the long

term. The unit is also responsible for international trade policy on industrial subsidies, which is

driven by the objectives of securing a level playing field and also deals with the EU policy on export

credits, in the OECD and globally. Finally, the unit coordinates the EU’s participation in the OECD’s

Working Party of the Trade Committee .

WE PROPOSE

We are offering a challenging position for a dynamic, experienced and well -organised secretary,

able to work in close cooperation with the Head of Unit and a team of policy officers, to act

proactively and independently in his/her area of responsibility and is willing to manage the Unit’s

administrative tasks efficiently.

The successful candidate will organise missions, negotiations and expert meetings, provide support

in the preparation of briefing books, handle incoming mail, and carry out other administrative

duties. He/she should also help coordinate the unit’s participation in ARES and Decide workflows.

The position will also involve regular contacts with other Commission services and external

stakeholders, such as EU Delegations in Geneva and Paris and third countries. The successful

candidate should be able to manage priorities and work both independently and as part of a team,

depending on the situation The position does not require excessive working hours on a regular

basis, however a certain level of flexibility is necessary .4

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WE LOOK FOR

The ideal candidate will have good interpersonal and organisational skills, as well as the ability to

communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, mainly in English but also occasionally in other

languages including French. A good level of English, being the working language of the Unit and of

the Directorate -General is required. A good knowledge of French and/or other official languages

would be an asset. A sound knowledge of standard IT tools, including MS Office, is essential. 5

TRADE/COM/2026/1473 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 TRADE -A1 -

[email protected] indicating the selection reference TRADE/COM/2026/1473 in the

subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. 6

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# 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 temporary 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 post

• Produce the appropriate character references as to suitability for the performance of the duties.

Qualifications:

In order to be recruited for this position, you must have at least

• a level of post -secondary education attested by a diploma, or

• a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post -secondary

education , and appropriate professional experience of at least three years .

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

Ministry of Education) will be accepted. Furthermore, before recruitment, you will be required to

provide the documents that corroborate the eligibility criteria (diplomas, certificates and other

supporting documents).

Languages:

> •

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

EU 2

• AND a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2) 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).

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➢ What about the selection steps?

The post was published internally within the Commission, inter -institutionally, and brought to the

attention of competition laureates.

In accordance with Article 29 of the Staff Regulations, applications from Commission officials,

officials from other Institutions , and laureates of competitions have priority 3. If these candidates do

not best fit the requirements for the position, the Commission can recruit a temporary agent.

For temporary agents under Article 2(a) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants , the

post is published directly on the EPSO website, without mandatory prior internal publication .

A selection panel will choose a limited number of

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at AST-SC1 runs from €3,292 (step 1) to €3,725 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €39,504 to €44,700 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 €527 per month at step 1 of AST-SC1) 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 22 July 2026, 4 days ago.

The application deadline is 26 August 2026, 29 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 AST-SC1 see our AST-SC1 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 Trade field browse our Trade 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.