Seconded National Expert - Data, Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation - European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (Vienna)

About this position

The summary below is published by European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

Position details

Reference

FRA-SNE-JDM-DD-2026

Last Verified

6 August 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Seconded National Expert - Data, Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation at FRA based in Vienna (Seconded National Expert). The vacancy reference is FRA-SNE-JDM-DD-2026.

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) is organising a call for expression of interest to constitute a reserve list for Seconded National Experts (SNE) in the Justice, Digital and Migration Unit.

The position is based in Vienna and is offered in accordance with [FRA rules governing secondment](https://fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra_uploads/mb_decision_2017_01_sne_rules_fr.pdf).

### Background

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) provides independent, evidence-based advice to policymakers, to help ensure full respect for fundamental rights across the EU, for everyone. To this end, the Agency collects and analyses information and data on a range of fundamental rights issues, provides assistance and expertise to EU Institutions and to EU Member States’ governments, raises rights awareness, communicates its findings, and strengthens cooperation and ties between fundamental rights actors.

Justice, Digital and Migration Unit

The Justice, Digital and Migration Unit’s work is divided thematically across three Sectors: (1) Justice and Security, (2) Data and Digital, and (3) Migration and Asylum. The Unit’s work consists of socio-legal research and activities across these three Sectors, which includes desk research, in-depth qualitative fieldwork, quantitative survey research, and regular and timely engagement with stakeholders at both EU and national level with respect to law and policy.

The Unit’s work in the area of data, AI and digitalisation is primarily embedded in the Data and Digital Sector but extends to work undertaken by the Unit’s two other Sectors, and increasingly will support the work of other Units with respect to research and related work on AI, digitalisation and fundamental rights.

Examples of current activities in the Data and Digital Sector include: research, analysis and advice to EU institutions on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in relation to the AI Act; online content moderation and child safety online in relation to the DSA; cybercrime and relevant legislation. With respect to the SNE position for ‘Data, AI and Digitalisation’, a key component relates to addressing uses of AI with respect to fundamental rights compliance.

The Unit currently consists of experts with a background in law, social sciences and statistics. To support the Unit’s increasing engagement in the field of AI and digitalisation, persons with a profile that can underpin this work are encouraged to apply.

### Duties

The successful candidate will be expected to carry out the following tasks:

* Support the conceptualisation and development of research work undertaken in the ‘Data and Digital’ and other Sectors in the Unit, and assist other Units as needed - focusing on AI and digitalisation with respect to its impact on fundamental rights; * Support the Unit’s on-going activities, including the following: support to oversight of research activities outsourced to contractors or undertaken internally; analysis and development of research findings; * Support in drafting/re-drafting content for reports and other Unit publications aimed primarily at non-technical audiences, in English to a high standard; * Provide in-depth input to research project work reflecting the SNE’s particular area/s of expertise; * Present the work of the Unit with respect to its research findings and related advice at various meetings and events, in line with the Agency’s position.

Duties applicable to all SNEs

* Actively work towards the achievement of the goals of the FRA in accordance with the[Strategic Plan](https://fra.europa.eu/en/about-fra/what-we-do); * Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Head of Unit in the interest of the service; * Work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.

### Eligibility requirements

To be admissible for this selection, candidates must fulfil all the following conditions by the deadline for submission of applications:

General conditions

* Be employed by a national, regional or local public administration or an intergovernmental organisation (IGO), or an independent university or research organisation, which is part of the public sector (that does not seek to make profit; in other words – is not a private institution); * Have worked for their employer on a permanent or contract basis for at least 12 months before the secondment and shall remain in the service of that employer throughout the period of secondment; * Be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union and EFTA or a country with which the Council has decided to open accession negotiations[[1]](https://fra.gestmax.eu/_fra/public/css/#_ftn1).

Education

* A university degree attested by a diploma in one of the following areas:

o information technology, computer science, artificial intelligence, data science or a closely related field; or

o law or social science with a major component in information technology, computer science, artificial intelligence or data science.

Diplomas and certificates awarded in EU Member States shall be taken into consideration. Diplomas and certificates awarded in non-EU countries may also be taken into consideration, provided that they are accompanied by an equivalence certificate issued by the competent authorities of an EU Member State. Any equivalence certificate shall be issued by the deadline for applications. More information on recognition of academic diplomas is available here:

[https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/education/university/recognition/index_en.htm](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/education/university/recognition/index_en.htm)

Language skills

* Have a thorough knowledge (level C1 in all dimensions as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or CEFRL[[2]](https://fra.gestmax.eu/_fra/public/css/#_ftn2)) of English, as this is the working language of FRA, and * Have a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2 in all dimensions as per the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages or CEFRL) of other EU language (non-applicable for SNE from non-member country).

### Selection criteria

In order to admit the best-qualified and most suitable candidates to the interview and possible test phase, FRA will assess the following essential and advantageous criteria.

Please note that all essential criteria are mandatory. If a candidate scores zero on any individual essential criterion, their application will not be assessed further. Therefore – it is important that all applications are accurate and clear with respect to the information given.

The following criteria will be considered as essential:

* At least 3 years of professional experience at a level equivalent to the post and relevant to the tasks listed under section 2 “Duties”; * Evidence of having drafted and published material (can include a PhD thesis, not counting bachelor’s and master’s thesis) in areas related to the work of the Data and Digital Sector and/or Justice and Security Sector, with a focus on AI, digitalisation and/or new technologies; * Demonstrated knowledge of the regulatory and policy framework of the EU in one or more areas relating to data and digitalisation, including the AI Act, the Digital Services Act and the data protection acquis.

The following criteria will be considered as advantageous:

* Evidence of knowledge about data processing and analysis, including artificial intelligence; * Competence in the use of relevant computer software that goes beyond standard office tools; * Experience in the field of protection of fundamental rights - such as data protection, non-discrimination or freedom of expression - in the context of information technology systems or digital processing of data, such as on online platforms or through artificial intelligence (AI).

In addition to the essentialand advantageous criteria, candidates invited to the interview and test phase will also be assessed against the following requirements:

* Communication: communicate clearly and precisely both orally and in writing; * Analysis and problem-solving: ability to identify the critical facts in complex issues and to develop creative and practical solutions; * Working with others: work cooperatively with others in teams and across organisational boundaries and respect differences between people; create a sense of team spirit by encouraging shared goals and exchange of knowledge and experience; * Prioritisation and organisation: ability to prioritise the most important tasks, work flexibly and organise own and others’ workload efficiently; * Quality and results: take personal responsibility and initiative for delivering work to a high standard quality within set procedures; show clear customer orientation (internal and external); build systematic and methodical processes into projects and work of self and own team; * Resilience: remain effective under work pressure, be flexible and adapt to a changing work environment; encourage others to do the same and adjust own and team’s approach to embrace changing circumstances.

### Selection criteria

In order to admit the best-qualified and most suitable candidates to the interview and possible test phase, FRA will assess the following essential and advantageous criteria.

Please note that all essential criteria are mandatory. If a candidate scores zero on any individual essential criterion, their application will not be assessed further. Therefore – it is important that all applications are accurate and clear with respect to the information given.

The following criteria will be considered as essential:

* At least 3 years of professional experience at a level equivalent to the post and relevant to the tasks listed under section 2 “Duties”; * Evidence of having drafted and published material (can include a PhD thesi

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 28 July 2026, 9 days ago.

The application deadline is 31 August 2026, 25 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 6 August 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at FRA see the FRA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Vienna see our Vienna location page.

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