JOB DESCRIPTION

 

Legal and Policy Officer

in DG RTD – European Commission

Job title: Legal and Policy Officer
Domain: Science and Research
Where: Unit RTD H.4 -Common Service for Executive Agencies & Funding Bodies, Brussels
Function Group: FG IV
Contract Type: 3b
Express your interest until: 31.10.2025 – 12.00 (noon, Brussels time)

WE ARE

The mission of the Directorate-General (DG) for Research & Innovation (R&I) is to design and
implement R&I policies and programmes in collaboration with Member States, international
partners, stakeholders and citizens. By mobilising relevant policy measures, such as R&I
programmes, investments and regulations, the DG fosters the creation of new knowledge and
game-changing innovation supporting the EU’s priorities, notably the green and digital twin
transition. The aim is to generate a high scientific, technological and societal impact, built on
scientific evidence and relevant input from citizens.

Directorate H “Common Implementation Centre” (CIC) in DG for Research & Innovation designs the
strategy and provides the framework for the coherent and simplified implementation of EU R&I
programmes. It drives the digital transformation, harmonises project life-cycle management across
the Commission and maximises synergies between EU programmes. It provides comprehensive
services and advice on legal, audit, business process and IT issues, including on a corporate level –
involving more than 60 EU funding programmes.

Within the CIC, Unit RTD.H.4 – the Common Service for Executive Agencies and Funding Bodies – is
the central liaison service with the Executive Agencies and Joint Undertakings implementing R&I
programmes. The unit is at present composed of 16 staff members organized mainly in two teams,
dealing with Joint Undertakings on the one hand, and Executive Agencies on the other. Moreover,
the unit hosts a small cell of two colleagues contributing to the client centricity project, aimed at
making access to EU funding more user-friendly.

RTD.H.4 supports the Commission services in charge of their supervision and monitors horizontal
matters relating to the functioning of these implementing bodies. In addition, the unit also steers
projects to improve the functioning of those bodies and their cooperation with the Commission.
Current priorities are the upcoming revision of the landscape for the Executive Agencies and Joint
Undertakings for the start of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF): We are steering and
coordinating the triennial evaluation of the Executive Agencies, we will be involved in the “cost

(Reference: Call for interest EC/2025/RTD/197511)

benefit analysis” to decide on the externalisation of direct programme management under the next
MFF and we will co-lead the drafting of the Basic Act creating the next generation of Joint
Undertakings. We are also rethinking and improving the supervision of the implementing bodies by
increasing the collaboration between parent DGs, and introducing a more data-driven, structural
approach. In addition, the cell working on client centricity is setting up a client relationship
management system, as well as developing new functionalities for the EU Funding & Me mobile
app.

In terms of working culture, we are a committed, customer-oriented and inclusive team with flat
hierarchies, open communication and a great team spirit. What unites us is our drive to make a
tangible impact by optimising structures and processes and contributing to a smooth functioning of
the implementing bodies.

WE PROPOSE

Unit H.4 of DG RTD is seeking to hire a Legal and Policy Officer monitoring the functioning of the
implementing bodies, proposing solutions to issues of horizontal nature, but also spotting
opportunities. The position comes with a high degree of autonomy and scope for initiative. The
successful candidate will be in touch with many internal and external stakeholders (policy units in
the research family, central services, implementing bodies).

In terms of projects, notably in preparation of the next Multiannual Financial Framework, the
successful candidate would be in charge of:

• Contributing to the upcoming cost-benefit analysis to define the future landscape for the
implementation of directly managed programmes, in close cooperation with DG BUDGET,
DG HR and SECRETARIAT-GENERAL;

• Making the new organisational set-up operational, by drafting the respective Commission
decisions delegating the implementation tasks, and setting up a lean and coherent
supervision and cooperation framework (simplifying the Executive Agency Guidelines and
Memoranda of Understanding existing today);

• Analysing pertinent legal questions in relation with the externalization exercise and propose

creative and pragmatic solutions.

Recurring tasks include:

• Monitoring the operations of one or more Executive Agencies, becoming the key interlocutor
for the relevant policy unit(s) and colleagues in the agency and building up relevant
expertise (“portfolio management”);

• Providing advice on administrative, financial or other horizontal issues arising and ensuring
a harmonised interpretation and implementation of the applicable provisions, while also
proactively proposing structural measures to keep issues from arising in the first place;
• Examining any legal questions arising in relation with the Executive Agencies and providing
advice on how to proceed, taking into account the bigger policy and implementation
context;

• Cooperating closely with central services (BUDGET, SECRETARIAT-GENERAL, HR), horizontal
services within DG RTD (esp. CIC and CPC) and horizontal services in other parent DGs to
ensure compliance, align and establish best practices.

 

WE LOOK FOR

We are looking for a colleague with a keen interest in understanding the functioning of the funding
bodies, the ability to analyse complex issues and a drive to propose not only solutions but also
structural improvements, also with a view to the upcoming new Research Framework Programme.

The ideal candidate should:

• have a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset, and take initiative;
• have strong analytical skills and an eye for detail;
• have excellent (legal) drafting skills and be able to translate complex ideas into clear and

concise language;

• be well organized, have the capacity to work on different issues and deliver quality work under

often tight deadlines as well as sense of initiative and flexibility;

• be a strong networker with good oral presentation and coordination capacities.

A legal background and/or experience related to the Executive Agencies and/or experience with the
current or past research framework programmes would be considered a strong asset.

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:

1. your CV

2. completed application form.

send

Please
[email protected]
EC/2025/RTD/197511 in the subject.

these

documents

by

indicating

the
the

publication
for

call

deadline

to
reference

interest

No applications will be accepted after the publication deadline.

 

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 education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least

three years attested by a diploma.

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

EU2

• AND have a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2)3 of a second official language of

the EU, to the extent necessary for the performance of the duties.

2 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).
3 For 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).