JOB DESCRIPTION

ERCEA
CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF
INTEREST

The European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA), located in Brussels, Belgium, supports the
work of the European Research Council (ERC).

The ERC, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premier European funding organisation for
excellent frontier research. It funds creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects
based across Europe. The ERC offers four core grant schemes: Starting Grants, Consolidator
Grants, Advanced Grants and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept Grant scheme, the
ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between their pioneering research and early phases of its
commercialisation. The ERC is led by an independent governing body, the Scientific Council. Maria
Leptin has been the President of the ERC since November 2021. The overall ERC budget from 2021 to
2027 is more than €16 billion, as part of the Horizon Europe programme, which is under the
responsibility of Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation.

Since the creation of the Agency, some 15 000 researchers at various stages of their careers have
been supported.

The ERCEA is looking for Seconded National Experts (SNEs), also called Research Programme Experts,
intergovernmental organisations who will help strengthen
from public administrations and
cooperation, build up synergies and promote exchanges of best practices. While the ERCEA can
benefit from the high level of professional knowledge and experience of the National Experts, the
National Experts can learn about the operations of an EU research funding agency and develop new
competencies and skills.

Seconded National Experts in Policy Analysis

REFERENCE

ERCEA/SNE/248/2025

POSITION

DOMAIN

Seconded National Expert (Research Programme Expert)

Policy Analysis

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION

7 November 2025 by 12:00 (midday) Brussels time.

POSITION
The SNE in Policy Analysis would join the ′Support to the Scientific Council′ Unit of the ERCEA. The
Unit supports the Scientific Council to establish the overall research funding and management
strategy of the ERC, including the annual work programme, and leads the assessment, monitoring,
evaluation, reporting and statistical analysis of the ERC’s activities. The Unit counts over 20 highly
committed and qualified staff members.

The work of ERC SNEs in Policy Analysis directly supports the activities of the Scientific Council of the
ERC and contributes to overall strategic policy analysis. Furthermore, they support the development
of new or existing strategic activities on the assessment, monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and
statistical analysis of the ERC’s activities.

The initial period of secondment at the ERCEA would be two years. The secondment is renewable, but
the total secondment period cannot exceed six years. SNEs continue to be employed and
remunerated by their employers throughout the period of secondment, while receiving allowances
from the ERCEA. For more information, please see below.

ERC Executive Agency I Read more about the ERC and ERC Executive Agency here: http://erc.europa.eu I
Have a question? We are happy to help you at: [email protected] I

JOB DESCRIPTION
The jobholder’s main responsibilities will include some or all of the following:
− Analyse, evaluate and report on the implementation of the current ERC strategy, including in the
area of open science; follow-up and monitor the progress of new policy developments, ensure
coherence in the implementation of the ERC strategy guidelines and priorities.

− Develop, propose and follow up on statistical surveys, data collection and information gathering

activities relevant to the ERC strategy.

− Organise, prepare, run and/or supervise quantitative and qualitative policy analyses, studies,

consultations and/or extended assessments.

− Process, structure, analyse and understand relevant data and information to support and

implement strategic activities of the ERC Scientific Council.

− Draft and update comprehensive reports and/or briefings primarily for the ERC Scientific Council.
− Study results of stakeholder consultations and integrate them into informative documents for the

ERC Scientific Council.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Candidates must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
− Be a national of an EU Member State or of a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Member
State (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) or a national of a country with which the
Council has decided to open accession negotiations and which has concluded a specific
agreement with the European Commission on staff secondments (Türkiye).

− Be employed by a national, regional or local public administration or a public intergovernmental
organisation (IGO). The SNE’s employer shall continue to pay the SNE’s salary, maintain their
administrative status, and be responsible for all social rights, particularly social security and
pension. On this basis, the secondment is not an employment, nor does it lead to an employment.
− Have worked for their employer on a permanent or contract basis for at least 12 months before
the secondment and remain in the service of that employer throughout the period of
secondment.

− Have a level of education which corresponds to having completed university studies of at least

three years, attested by a diploma.

− Have at least three years of experience in administrative, legal, scientific, technical, advisory or

supervisory functions.

− Have a thorough knowledge of one EU language and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU
language to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties outlined in the Job
Description. An SNE from a non-member state shall have thorough knowledge of one EU language
necessary for the performance of their duties. English is the predominant working language at
ERCEA and generally considered the lingua franca of the scientific community.

− The rules applicable to National Experts seconded to the ERCEA, the ‘SNE Rules’, may be found

here.

SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates need to make explicitly clear in their application how and to what extent they meet the
selection criteria. The applications of candidates that do not meet one or more of the essential
selection criteria will not be evaluated further.

Essential selection criteria
− Completed master’s level degree in a field related to data, policy or strategic analysis.
− Professional experience of at least three years in the area of the profile.
− Excellent knowledge of English1: spoken and written skills equivalent to level C1 or higher level for
working purposes, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

1 English is the predominant working language at ERCEA and generally considered the lingua franca of the scientific
community. The language for this selection process has been defined in line with the interests of the service.

ERCEA/SNE/248/2025 Page 2 of 5

Advantageous selection criteria
− Knowledge of European research policies and programmes.
− Research experience in a relevant area for the profile.
− Experience in working as a researcher in international research projects and/or the management

of research projects.

− Satisfactory knowledge of French or German: spoken and written skills equivalent to level B2 or
higher level for working purposes, according to the Common European Framework of Reference
for Languages.

Job-related competencies
− Ability to deliver quality results, individually and in a team, working under tight deadlines.
− Ability to work in an international and multicultural context.
− Strong organisational and communication skills.

HOW TO APPLY
If you are interested in applying, please include the following documents:

1. A 2-page CV2 (in English and saved in pdf format with the title: FAMILY NAME – ERCEA-SNE-

248-2025 – CV).

2. The duly completed ERCEA Application Form (in English and saved in pdf format with the title

FAMILY NAME – ERCEA-SNE-248-2025 – Application Form).
➔ Download the Application Form here and follow the instructions and rules listed in the
Application Form.

3. A scan of your current contract stating that you are “employed by a national, regional or local
public administration” and “have worked for your employer on a permanent or contract basis
for at least 12 months before your secondment”.

4. The declaration on your status of employment, which can be found here, indicating that you
“shall remain in the service of that employer throughout the period of secondment”.
Specifically, your employer “shall thus undertake to continue to pay [your] salary, to maintain
[your] administrative status throughout the period of secondment [and] shall also continue to
be responsible for all [your] social rights, particularly social security and pension”.

Applicants must send their completed applications (CV, Application Form, current contract
and declaration on status of employment) to the Permanent Representations, the EFTA
Secretariat, the Permanent Delegation of Türkiye.

The Permanent Representations, the EFTA Secretariat, the Permanent Delegation of
Türkiye, must forward the applications to: [email protected] by 7 November
2025 by 12:00 (midday) Brussels time.

Following the receipt of the applications by the ERCEA, candidates will receive a
confirmation e-mail within three working days.

Applications sent by candidates directly to the ERCEA will NOT be taken into account.
Please liaise with your Permanent Representation, the EFTA Secretariat, the Permanent
Delegation of Türkiye, to ensure that your application is sent before the deadline.

Candidates are strongly advised not to leave the submission process to the last minute. The ERCEA
cannot be held responsible for any delay due to, for example, heavy internet traffic or connection
difficulties. In the case of multiple submissions, only the latest valid and complete application will
be considered. Candidates are responsible for the information they provide and for ensuring that
all the information is complete and correct before submitting the application.