JOB DESCRIPTION

VACANCY NOTICE TO CONSTITUTE A RESERVE LIST

Job title: Emerging Technologies Officer

Type of contract: Temporary Agent

Function group/grade: AD 5

Reference: EXT/25/32/AD5/Emerging Technologies Officer

Deadline for applications: 12/01/2026 23:59 Alicante time (CET)

Place of employment: ALICANTE, Spain (ES)

Reserve list (RL) valid until: 31/12/2027

Number of candidates on RL: 30

The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is organising a selection procedure in order to constitute a reserve list from which to fill vacant posts of Emerging Technologies Officer. The ensuing reserve list will be used progressively for recruitment in different departments depending on the EUIPO’s needs.

1. BACKGROUND

With over 30 years of experience, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is an independent, self-financed, non-profit European Union (EU) agency entrusted with granting unitary intellectual property rights (IPR), including EU trade marks, designs and geographical indications (GIs) for craft and industrial products.

Together with the intellectual property (IP) offices of the EU Member States, gathered in the European Union Intellectual Property Network, the EUIPO plays a key role within the European IP and innovation ecosystem. Recognised as one of the most technologically advanced and innovative organisations in the world of IP, the EUIPO is a leading organisation, committed to continuous innovation by integrating data-driven solutions and adopting cutting-edge technologies. Its efforts aim to streamline high-value IP services to citizens and businesses in an efficient and effective manner.

The EUIPO has fully embraced new IP trends in terms of globalisation and emerging importance of enforcement. Since 2013, the Office is responsible for IP research, communication, knowledge sharing and cooperation with enforcement authorities, covering all IPRs, via the European Observatory on Infringements of IP Rights (the Observatory).

The EUIPO does not operate solely in Europe: it has expanded its reach across all five continents and is implementing EU projects on IP in China, Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa, reflecting its commitment to global IP excellence.

Located in Alicante, the EUIPO boasts a privileged seafront campus where staff enjoy world-class facilities, including catering services, sports amenities, and more. Alicante is a vibrant, well-connected city, featuring high-speed train connections and Spain’s 5th largest airport, ensuring seamless travel possibilities. The Office operates in a dynamic, multilingual environment, with English, French, German, Italian and Spanish as its working languages, reflecting its international scope. In addition, the city is also home to a European School offering four language sections (English, French, German and Spanish) making it an ideal destination for professionals and their families.

Since 2008, the Office is engaged to reducing its environmental impact through extensive initiatives. Dedication to sustainability is a core aspect of our operations, reinforcing our broader commitment to social responsibility.

The EUIPO is an equal opportunities employer, committed to building a diverse and culturally inclusive workplace. As part of our Equal Opportunities Programme, we seek diverse talent from all backgrounds to join our teams, and we encourage our staff to bring their authentic selves to work. We therefore encourage applications from all qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, age, nationality, disability, race, sexual orientation, ethnicity, beliefs, or other characteristics.

Join the EUIPO, where professional opportunities and quality of life converge, and be part of an organisation that is shaping the future of IP.

For further information, please consult our website, our corporate video and EUIPO’s Strategic Plan 2030.

2. DUTIES

Under the supervision of the relevant Director/Deputy Director/Head of Service, the successful candidates will be expected to carry out tasks in any department of the Office with a focus on the driving innovation and working with cutting-edge solutions based on new and emerging technologies. The duties may include the following:

contribute to the adoption and integration of emerging technologies with a human-centric approach (e.g. artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, blockchain, data analytics, automation and cybersecurity) across the Office’s operations and services;
research and analyse trends and opportunities in digital innovation, and contribute to the development of strategies, policies, and frameworks linked to the adoption of emerging technologies at the Office;
assess, experiment and monitor the impact of emerging technologies (e.g., AI, blockchain, data analytics, automatization) on the different areas of competence of the Office, and bringing efficiency;
prepare reports, documentation and presentations related to the deployment of emerging technologies in the Office ;
promote knowledge-sharing, training, and awareness-raising activities and technological developments of the EUIPO;
contribute to coordinating cross-functional projects and initiatives, including cooperation and partnership projects with EU and international stakeholders, with a view to streamline the use of new technologies and improve operational efficiency;
contribute to ensuring compliance with applicable regulations, as well as ethical, and quality standards in the development and deployment of new technologies, and in particular AI solutions;

Duties applicable to all staff:

actively work towards the achievement of the goals of the EUIPO in accordance with the Strategic Plan;
perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the line manager.

3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

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

3.1 General conditions[1]

be a national of one of the Member States of the European Union;
enjoy full rights as a citizen;
have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the laws concerning military service;
meet the character requirements as to suitability for the performance of the duties involved;
be physically fit to perform the duties.

3.2 Education

have a level of education that corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a degree in business, business analytics, economics, law, technology, engineering, data science, innovation management, or other disciplines related to digital transformation, data analytics, or emerging technologies or equivalent.

3.3 Language skills

have a thorough knowledge of English (minimum level C1) – Language 1;
have a good knowledge of one of the official languages of the EU (minimum level B2) – Language 2[2];

The levels indicated correspond to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

3.4 Digital and data literacy skills

have excellent digital and data literacy skills;
have hands-on experience with computer applications such as Microsoft 365, collaborative and remote working tools, document management systems and online search tools.

4. SELECTION CRITERIA

Notwithstanding the requirements under point 3 of the present vacancy notice (eligibility criteria), the Office will use the following criteria in order to select the best qualified candidates for the interview and test phase:

knowledge of and demonstrated interest in new and emerging technologies and AI (e.g. as shown by coursework, research, or projects).
Recent studies (e.g. Masters or diplomas/ certifications) in AI, or digital law, or new technologies (e.g., blockchain, data analytics);
knowledge of digital transformation or change management processes (e.g. as shown by coursework, thesis, research, or projects);
exposure to international and multicultural environments;
proven knowledge of the EU institutions and agencies´ landscape (including the AI Act, the Digital Service Act, etc.);
excellent drafting skills in EN (e.g. based on proof of publications, articles, thesis, or papers written);
a thorough knowledge of one of the following languages of the European Union: Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Finish, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovenian, Swedish (at minimum level C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

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

Competencies

In particular:

communication: communicate clearly and precisely both orally and in writing and build consensus to achieve results;
analysis and problem-solving: identify the critical facts in complex issues and develop creative and practical solutions;
working together: work cooperatively in teams and across organisational boundaries, respecting the differences between people;
continuous learning and development: develop and improve personal skills and knowledge of the organisation applying lessons learnt;
prioritisation and organisation: work flexibly and organise own workload efficiently, anticipating and prioritising the most important tasks;
quality and results: take personal responsibility and initiative for delivering work to a high standard of quality within set procedures;
resilience: remain effective under work pressure, be flexible and adapt to a changing work environment;
leadership: lead and manage people and teams to achieve results.

5. INTERVIEWS AND TESTS

Pre-selection

Admissible candidates whose applications rank among the best qualified in accordance with the selection criteria detailed under point 4, may be contacted in order to verify their language skills (in particular, spoken production in English), as well as to prove their university degree and/or other skills, knowledge and competencies. This pre-selection contact does not entitle candidates to be invited for interview: it is a step in selecting the most suitable candidates to be invited for the afore mentioned phase.

Interview

Interviews will be conducted virtually and, given the nature of the duties, will be carried out in English. Other relevant languages as declared in the candidate’s application/CV may be assessed in accordance with the levels indicated in this vacancy notice.

The interview will test the candidate’s motivation, suitability and knowledge of matters relating to the duties to be performed and the selection criteria established in the vacancy notice (technical knowledge and behavioural competencies).

Test(s)

One or several tests will complete the assessment of one or several of the above aspects. Candidates called for the interview and test phase, which will be held remotely, will receive detailed information with the invitation. As regards the test, this will comprise a specific privacy statement, guidelines on online assessment as well as a user guide from the respective remote testing solution provider[3], detailing all necessary preparatory actions to take into account by invited candidates prior to an exam. The remote online test will be delivered via an application to be downloaded and installed by candidates. For the exam to be completed, candidates must have administrator rights on their PCs in order to disable the firewall/antivirus for which reason it is highly recommended for candidates to use a personal device, and to avoid using corporate computers/laptops, complying with minimum technical requirements as specified in the user guide provided by the remote testing solution provider along with the invitation to the exam. Invigilation is done through an automatic algorithm and pictures/recordings of the candidates during the test which are reviewed and analysed after the exam by human proctors.

6. GENERAL INFORMATION

For general information on selection and recruitment procedures at the EUIPO as well as employment conditions, please refer to the following link.

Candidates who wish to discuss any accessibility requirements related to the recruitment process or this role are invited to contact [email protected], where appropriate support will be provided.

7. HOW TO APPLY

To apply please click on this link.

All the documents included as links or made reference to within the context of this notice are considered to be part of the present vacancy notice.

Important:

Candidates should note that the information provided in their application/CV/profile constitutes a basis for appreciation of the eligibility and selection criteria. Therefore, they are invited to read carefully the requirements and to provide the relevant information in such detail that it allows this appreciation. Particular attention should be paid to information on their education and professional experience (if any), in particular exact dates, description of responsibilities, duties performed, and tools used.