Secretary - to the Head of Unit - 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

INTPA/COM/2026/376

Directorate-General

INTPA - International Partnerships

Vacancy Notice

Download PDF

Last Verified

24 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Secretary - to the Head of Unit at European Commission based in Brussels at the AST-SC1 grade level (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is INTPA/COM/2026/376. 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.

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> INTPA /COM/ 2026/376 Version :20/07 /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

INTPA /COM/ 2026/376 Version : 20/07 /2026

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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INTPA /COM/ 2026/376 Version : 20/07 /2026

# Secretary to the Head of Unit

# Directorate - General for International Partnership ( DG INTPA)

# of the European Commission

Selection reference : INTPA /COM/ 2026/376

Domain: International cooperation and develop ment

Where : Unit A4 - Eastern and Central Africa , Brussels

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

Grade range: AST/SC1 -2

Publication deadline : 21 /08/2026 – 12 :00 (Brussels time)

WE ARE

The Directorate -General for International Partnership is responsible for designing EU development

policies and for the implementation of the Commission’s external aid instruments.

International Partnership’s Directorate A has overall responsibility for the implementation of the

Commission’s development programmes in EU -AU relation and Africa. There are 40 staff members in

INTPA A4. The unit is divided into 4 sectors where groups of coordinators work in teams.

WE PROPOSE

We are offering an interesting position as a secretary within a three -person team. The successful

candidate will ensure the smooth operation of the Unit’s secretariat by providing general

administrative support to the Head of Unit, her Deputy, and the Unit members. The role involves a

variety of secretarial and administrative tasks, including handling ARES, BASIS, MIPS, DECIDE,

SYSPER, and related procedures, as well as organizing meetings and coordinating logistics. The

secretariat plays a key role in ensuring that the Unit operates efficiently and maintains a client -

oriented approach.

WE LOOK FOR

We are looking for a motivated, proactive, and well -organised person with strong secretarial and

administrative skills. The candidate should be able to work autonomously, manage their workload

effectively, and demonstrate a strong sense of initiative and responsibility. A friendly and positive

attitude, good communication skills, and a good command of English and French are essential, along

with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a team. Attention to detail,

flexibility, and the ability to handle multiple tasks and adapt to changing priorities are also required. 4

INTPA /COM/ 2026/376 Version : 20/07 /2026

Good knowledge of Commission administrative procedures and related IT tools (ARES, BASIS,

DECIDE, MIPS) is an asset.

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 INTPA -A4 [email protected]

indicating the selection reference INPTA/COM/2026/376 in the subject.

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline. 5

INTPA /COM/ 2026/376 Version : 20/07 /2026

## 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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INTPA /COM/ 2026/376 Version : 20/07 /2026

➢ 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 candidates for interview, based on the CV and

application form that they submitted. Due to the large volume of applications , we may receive,

only candidates selected for the next step of the selection phase 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 French and possibly in a nother language.

## 2. Recruitment

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

support of the statements made in their application.

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

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 23 July 2026, 3 days ago.

The application deadline is 21 August 2026, 24 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 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.