Project Officer Eu-funded Defence Research

**Contract type**:
Temporary agent

**Directorate**:
Research, Technology and Innovation Directorate (RTI)

**Group**:
N.A.

**Grade**:
AD8

**Level of Security Clearance**:
SECRET UE/EU SECRET

**Management of staff**:
N.A.

**Location**:
Brussels

**Indicative starting date**:
01/04/2025

09/01/2025

1. BACKGROUND

The European Defence Agency (EDA) was established on 12 July 2004, and is governed by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1835 defining the statute, seat and operational rules of the European Defence Agency. The Agency has its headquarters in Brussels.

The main task of EDA is to support the Council and the Member States in their effort to improve the Union's defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) as it currently stands and as it develops in the future.

The Agency is structured into four directorates. The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) and three operational directorates: Industry, Synergies and Enablers (ISE); Capability, Armament & Planning (CAP); Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI).

2. THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING

The Agency is an “outward-facing” organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the participating Member States, as well as with a wide range of stakeholders. It works in an integrated way, with multi-disciplinary teams representing all of the Agency’s functional areas, to realise its objectives. Its business processes are flexible and oriented towards achieving results. Staff at all levels need to demonstrate the corresponding qualities of commitment, flexibility, innovation, and team-working; to work effectively with shareholders and stakeholder groups, formal and informal; and to operate without the need for detailed direction.

3. THE RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION DIRECTORATE (RTI)

The Research, Technology & Innovation Directorate (RTI) promotes and supports defence research at EU level. Based on the Overarching Strategic Research Agenda (OSRA), developed together with the Member States, the Directorate coordinates and plans joint research activities and the study of technical solutions to meet future operational needs.

The RTI Directorate provides support to Member States and to the European Commission for the Preparatory Action for defence research, including its implementation, and the research dimension of the European Defence Fund. The RTI directorate also ensures the promotion of innovation in defence and the exploitation of synergies at EU level with civil research in dual-use technology fields.

The RTI Directorate comprises two Units and an RTI Coordination Team, with the following key tasks:

- The EU-funded Defence Research Unit: upstream, implementing and downstream support linked to defence research activities funded by the EU budget under delegation by the European Commission
- The Technology & Innovation Unit: facilitating the work of the Capability Technology Groups (CapTechs), the Energy & Environment Working Group; development and management of ad hoc research activities based on sectoral Strategic Research Agendas
- The RTI Coordination Team: coordination of the RTI Directorate’s contributions to EDA’s transversal activities (such as CDP, CARD, PESCO, and KSA); overview of the Agency’s research portfolio; provision of outlook for research activities and technology watch.

4. DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Head of Unit EU-funded Defence Research, the jobholder will be responsible for/contribute to the following activities:

- manage projects entrusted to EDA for indirect management under the European Defence Fund (EDF)
- liaise with the internal units (contracting, finance and security) for the negotiations and signature of the assigned grant agreements;
- liaise/cooperate with relevant EDA internal working groups, especially CapTechs, to look for synergies and exploitation of projects results;
- manage and monitor assigned projects once the grant agreements are signed and review the deliverables;
- provide oversight and participate in the review meetings of the assigned projects;
- implement risk management for assigned projects;
- prepare inputs to obligatory reports towards Commission, especially the annual progress report, the interim progress report and the final report of assigned projects;
- prepare briefing notes and assist in updating information concerning the activities of the assigned projects;
- contribute to the assessment of assigned projects and draw lessons learnt and propose appropriate follow-on actions;
- represent the Agency at public conferences and seminars;
- take on additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

Duties may evolve according to development of the EDA’s structure and activities, and the decisions of EDA management.

5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- be a national of a Member State participating in the Agency;
- be entitled to their full rights as citizens;
- have fulfilled any obligations imp