Seconded National Expert - Health/SSH Expert (RTD.D.3)

The ‘People – Health & Society’ Directorate in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation addresses the challenges posed to human health and well-being, as well as citizens’ democratic participation and engagement in a fair and inclusive, ageing, increasingly digitalised and globalised society. Overall, its activities aim at helping to achieve the sustainable development goals, whilst also contributing to the competitiveness of Europe's creative, digital and health industries and services, as well as to fair, inclusive and resilient societies.

The RTD D3 Unit “Health and Societal Transitions” contributes to the performance and effectiveness of healthy and fair societies by shaping and coordinating evidence-based R&I policies. The Unit ensures that R&I policies and programmes, especially Horizon Europe, support the EU policy objectives in health and social transitions, notably in demographic change, inter-generational fairness, mental health, migration, socio-economic and inclusion issues.

The position offers the chance to work at the heart of European research and innovation policy, gaining unique experience in international cooperation and policy development. This is also a great opportunity to support the exchange of knowledge and good practices between national (and/or regional) administrations and policy-making at European level.

In this role as a policy officer, you will perform analysis, provide assistance and draft policy documents for EU R&I policies and initiatives in either or both the fields of (1) health and life sciences R&I and/or (2) in social sciences and humanities, and in societal transitions. As these are quite broad areas, the specific thematic priorities of your role will be defined in agreement between you, your home organisation and the EC. There is some flexibility.

Your activities will contribute to concept development of evidence-based EU policies in the areas of health, social sciences and humanities, and societal transitions. As a policy officer in the EC RTD People Directorate (Health and Society), you will get insights in, as well as contribute to developments in research and innovation ecosystems and instruments (including public & private financial support to EU R&I).

In addition, you may be expected to draft speeches, briefings, minutes, studies, and various reports and support dissemination and exploitation of research and innovation results. Also, you could be asked to participate in internal and external events and support the preparation of events.

You will be expected to be resourceful and self-starting. You will be surrounded by 24 experienced colleagues who greatly value team spirit and support each other.

The SNE will work under the supervision of an administrator. Without prejudice to the principle of loyal cooperation between the national/regional and European administrations, the SNE will not work on individual cases having implications with files he/she would have had to deal with in his/her national administration in the two years preceding its entry into the Commission, or directly adjacent cases.

The Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU points out that ONLY applications submitted by the Permanent Representation will be considered. Interested parties are therefore requested to send application documents in English (Europass CV, letter of motivation and declaration of approval of the employer) 7 days before the official deadline, namely by June, 18, 2026 by email to sne.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at.

Only the “Europass CV” form should be used to create the CV. Applicants must state the exact name of the position for which they are applying (e.g. JRC-B-5) in all documents submitted.

For more detailed information on the job profile, requirements and selection procedure, please refer to the detailed vacancy notice below.

Reference: RTD.D.3