Policy Assistant

**Contract type**:
Contract agent

**Directorate**:
Chief Executive’s Policy Office

**Group**:
FGIII

**Grade**:
N.A.

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

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

**Location**:
Brussels

**Indicative starting date**:
01/03/2025

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 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S POLICY OFFICE

The Chief Executive’s Policy Office works in direct support of the Agency’s top management (Chief Executive & Deputy Chief Executive). It is responsible for strategic policy development, planning and coordination of EDA’s activities. The Office is the Agency’s prime interface at policy level towards Member States and is responsible for relations with EU institutions and bodies, as well as third parties. It acts as the Secretariat of the Steering Board and of the Agency Management Board.

4. DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Head of the Chief Executive's Policy Office (CEPO), the jobholder will contribute to the following activities:

- support the Unit in strategy development and policy coordination, including on EDA priorities and objectives;
- support the Unit with aspects such as invitations, documentation, logistics, etc., in organising Steering Boards, Agency Management Board and other high-level meetings, as well as meetings/events with other EU institutions or Member States, and with international organisations;
- support the Unit in providing top management with background analyses, briefings, speaking notes, speeches, and reports of visits and/or meetings;
- perform quality check (editing, proof-reading, formatting) of documents, briefings, speaking notes, speeches and
reports of visits and/or meetings;
- support the Unit in updating a list of Steering Board members and national Points of Contact;
- support the Unit in organisational, administrative, and coordination tasks;
- 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 imposed on their by the laws concerning military service;
- produce the appropriate character references as to their suitability for the performance of their duties (extract from the “judicial record” or certificate of good conduct will be requested prior to recruitment);
- be physically fit to perform their duties;
- have a thorough knowledge (minimum level C1 oral and written) of one of the languages of the participating Member States and a satisfactory knowledge (minimum level B2 oral and written) of another of these languages to the extent necessary to discharge their duties;
- have no personal interest (financial, family relationship, or other) which could be in conflict with disinterested discharge of their duties within the Agency;
- have a level of post-secondary education attested by a diploma; or a level of secondary education attested by a diploma giving access to post-secondary education, and appropriate professional experience of at least three years; or, where justified in the interests of the service, professional training or professional experience of an equivalent level.

Qualifications/diplomas awarded until 31/12/2020 in the United Kingdom are accepted without further recognition. For diplomas awarded after this date (from 01/01/2021), a NARIC recognition is requi