Secretary - European Commission (FGII, 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:

• Agenda-keeping and document management
• Written and oral communications with stakeholders
• Follow-up of files in circulation and attribution and registration of documents
• Assistance in the organisation of meetings and missions
• Fostering smooth collaboration within the Directorate
• HR management support
• Briefing coordination for the directorate

Are you eligible?

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

• Education: Post-secondary education attested by a diploma OR secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education
• Experience: Appropriate professional experience of at least three years (if secondary education only)
• Languages: EU official language (C1), EU official language (B2)
• Key skills: Strong organisational, secretarial and administrative skills, Excellent planning skills, Attention to detail, Ability to manage several tasks simultaneously, Strong communication and interpersonal skills, Collaborative mindset, Service-oriented approach, Ability to work effectively under pressure, Sound judgement, Command of Commission administrative systems (Ares, MIPS, SysPer, Decide, BASIS)
• Eligibility: Citizen of an EU Member State enjoying full rights as a citizen; fulfilled obligations concerning military service; physically fit to perform duties; appropriate character references; passed EPSO CAST in Function Group II

Selection process

The notice describes the following selection steps:

• Registration in EPSO CAST database
• Selection of candidates from EPSO database
• Interview with selection panel

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: Directorate H – Cybersecurity and Trust, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CO….

Position details

Reference

EC-2026-CNECT-470266

Directorate-General

Connect - Communications Networks, Content and Technology

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

11 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Secretary at European Commission based in Brussels at the FGII grade level (Contract Agent). The vacancy reference is EC-2026-CNECT-470266. It is hosted by Connect - Communications Networks, Content and Technology, the Directorate-General responsible for this policy area. The role falls under the Cybersecurity domain.

Policy officer

in the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT)

Job title*: Secretary

Domain: ICT Safety and Security

Where : Directorate H – Cybersecurity and Trust, Brussels

Function Group : FG II

Contract Type : 3b

Express your interest until : 08.09.2026 - 12.00 (noon, Brussels time)

WE ARE

DG CONNECT supports the digital transformation of our economy and society, conceives and implements the policies required to foster the internal market, make Europe fit for the Digital age and technological sovereignty. The DG actively promotes crosscutting collaboration within the DG and across the Commission. The implementation of the DG's activities is based on a two - way cooperation with all interested parties (business, academia, public organisations, stakeholders, citizens). The DG's policy on middle managers respects diversity, supports career development and encourages mobility. Middle managers are called upon to be multi-skilled, open-minded and collaborative.

Directorate H – “Cybersecurity and Trust” – operates at the intersection of security and technology with a mission to strengthen the security, resilience and trustworthiness of Europe’s digital society and economy. The Directorate designs, proposes and implements policies and laws that protect citizens, companies and critical services and create opportunities for European businesses. Our work covers the EU cybersecurity regulatory and policy framework, preparedness and crisis coordination, cybersecurity technology and capacity-building and digital identity and trust services. We work on emerging security challenges including drone and counter-drone security, the protection and resilience of submarine cables as well as the security implications and opportunities of artificial intelligence. To achieve its objectives, the Directorate draws on the full range of EU policy instruments, including legislation, investment in research and innovation, the deployment of digital and cybersecurity capabilities, international cooperation, and the coordination and mobilisation of public and private stakeholders. The Directorate is composed of four Units: with three cybersecurity Units based in Brussels and the digital identity and trust Unit based in Luxembourg.

WE PROPOSE

You will work in a friendly team in Brussels of two policy assistants and two administrative assistants who support the Director in the daily management of a dynamic directorate. (Reference: Call for interest EC/CNECT/2026/470266)

You would be in charge of agenda-keeping, document management, written and oral communications with stakeholders, follow-up of files in circulation and attribution and registration of documents. The job also includes assistance in the organisation of meetings and missions. You will also play a key role in fostering smooth collaboration within the Directorate, with the offices of the DG, DDG and with other Directorates.

The Directorate secretariat also carries out HR management support as well as briefing coordination for the directorate.

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.

WE LOOK FOR

We are looking for an autonomous, motivated and proactive colleague with strong organisational, secretarial and administrative skills, as well as a high degree of initiative and responsibility. Excellent planning skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage several tasks simultaneously while adapting to changing priorities are essential.

The successful candidate should have strong communication and interpersonal skills, a collaborative mindset and a friendly, service-oriented approach. The ability to work effectively under pressure, exercise sound judgement and contribute reliably to the timely delivery of the Directorate’s work will be particularly important.

A good command of the main Commission administrative systems, including Ares, MIPS, SysPer, Decide and BASIS, would be a strong asset, as would proficient use of Microsoft Office applications. The candidate should be able to work confidently in an English-speaking environment. Knowledge of additional EU languages would be an advantage.

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. (Reference: Call for interest EC/CNECT/2026/470266)

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] indicating the call for interest reference

> EC/CNECT/2026/470266 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. (Reference: Call for interest EC/CNECT/2026/470266)

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 position;

• 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 post-secondary education attested by a diploma OR

(b) 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.

Languages:

• have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1) of one of the 24 official languages of the EU 1

• AND have a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2) 2 of a second official language of the EU, to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties.

 What about the selection steps?

The selecting unit chooses from the EPSO database 3 candidates with the appropriate profile and

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

> 1 The 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). > 2For 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/CNECT/2026/470266)

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.

> 3Therefore, candidates who did not pass already a CAST on the level Function Group II, should register their profile at this address: https://eu-careers.europa.eu/en/Cast-Permanent

(Reference: Call for interest EC/CNECT/2026/470266)

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 II. 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(2017)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 renewal(s) will be defined according to the General Implementing Rules in force at that moment (currently, Commission Decision C(2017)6760 on policies for the engagement and

use of contract agents).

Contract agents recruited in Function Group II must successfully complete a 9-month probationary period.

The pay of staff members consists of a basic salary supplemented with specific allowances,

including, where applicable, expatriation and family allowances. The provisions guiding the

calculation of these allowance

Salary at this grade

Basic monthly salary at FGII runs from €2,715 (step 1) to €3,072 (top step), giving an annual range of roughly €32,580 to €36,864 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 €434 per month at step 1 of FGII) 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 11 August 2026, today.

The application deadline is 8 September 2026, 27 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 11 August 2026.

Where to learn more

For full responsibilities, requirements, and career progression at FGII see our FGII 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 Cybersecurity field browse our Cybersecurity 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.