JOB DESCRIPTION

 

Policy Officer

in DG RTD – European Commission

Job title: Policy Officer
Domain: Science and Research
Where: Unit A.2 – European Research Area (ERA), Spreading Excellence and Research Careers, Brussels
Function Group: FG IV
Contract Type: 3b
Express your interest until: 19.12.2025 – 12.00 (noon, Brussels time)

WE ARE

Unit RTD.A2 – ERA, Spreading Excellence and Research Careers, is responsible for the design and
implementation of the ERA policy agenda in order to deliver on the four objectives of the new ERA:
prioritising investments and reforms, improving access to excellence, translating Research &
Innovation (R&I) results into the economy and deepening the ERA, including through the upcoming
ERA ACT. For that purpose, it coordinates the ERA governance (the ERA Forum, ERAC and the ERA
Monitoring Mechanism) and the work of different colleagues in RTD. In addition, the unit develops a
policy and relevant tools for attracting and retaining research talents and careers under the Choose
Europe for Science initiative, also by empowering higher education institutions. The unit is also
responsible for promoting the Spreading of Excellence and preparing the work programme on
“Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area” (WIDERA), overseeing its
implementation.

The objective is to bring together the actors (Commission, Member States, stakeholders and
associated countries) and policies that contribute to establishing a single market for knowledge,
allowing for the free flow of researchers, data and ideas, encouraging national investments and
addressing the R&I disparities among EU countries.

The unit is organised in three teams covering ERA governance, research careers and spreading
excellence (widening).

WE PROPOSE

Unit RTD.A2 – ERA, Spreading Excellence and Research Careers is seeking to hire one policy officer
working on policies and programmes on spreading excellence, an interesting and challenging
position with the following main tasks:

• Coordinate the preparation of the Horizon Europe work programme “Widening participation
and strengthening the European Research Area” and the related processes and programme
committee meetings

 

• Contribute to the drafting process of the ERA component of WIDERA work programme
• Coordinate with the other Commission services concerned, as well as the Research

Executive Agency

• Design feedback to policy activities for the ERA component in close collaboration with other

services, based on the implementation of the programme

• Engage with the other Commission services concerned, as well as the Research Executive

Agency

• Organise meetings and workshops with relevant actors, such as Member States,

stakeholders, National Contact Points and external experts

• Draft policy briefings including speaking notes for the Commissioner and senior

management

• Represent the Commission and Directorate-General in external and internal events and

fora.

WE LOOK FOR

We are looking for a committed and motivated colleague, with knowledge and understanding of EU
research and innovation policy and work programmes. Good attention to detail, capacity to
implement and follow procedures, and the ability to collect and treat data are essential, as well as
experience in dealing with stakeholders. The candidate should also have a service-oriented attitude
and a problem-solving mindset. You should be able to:

•

•

•

communicate in a clear and structured way, both orally and in writing, in particular in
English;
familiarise yourself quickly with the relevant IT applications and procedures necessary for
the task related to the work programmes and programme committees;
train and guide other team members and colleagues involved in the work programme
tasks;

• work effectively with colleagues across the organisation and at all levels;
• demonstrate sound judgement and an ability to identify potential issues and to propose

solutions.

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.

 

2. You should send your documents in a single pdf in the following order:

send

2. completed application form.
these documents by

1. your CV
to RTD-A2-CA-
Please
[email protected] indicating the call for interest reference EC/2025/RTD/383309
in the subject.

the publication deadline

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline.