Senior Procurement and Contract Officer for Collaborative Procurement - European Defence Agency (Brussels)

Contract Type Temporary Agent
Deadline 6 August 2026

About this position

The summary below is published by European Defence Agency on the official vacancy notice. Our own analysis — salary realism, comparable openings, career trajectory, language profile — follows further down the page.

## 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…

Excerpt shown; read the full notice on the official page. The structured breakdown below covers the key facts.

Key responsibilities

According to the vacancy notice, the role centres on the following duties:

  • Coordinate day-to-day implementation of collaborative procurement portfolio covering military equipment and defence services
  • Coordinate work of procurement and contract officers supporting the portfolio
  • Prepare, handle, and follow up procurement and contractual files
  • Contribute to development of appropriate procurement approaches and governance arrangements
  • Ensure coherence with broader EU defence initiatives and funding programmes
  • Provide coordination and support for preparation, launch, and conduct of procurement procedures
  • Provide hands-on support for administration of complex and high-value contracts throughout their lifecycle
  • Support resolution of complex issues from collaborative procurement initiatives

Are you eligible?

Check these requirements from the notice before investing time in an application:

  • Education: Completed university studies attested by a diploma (four years or more), or completed university studies attested by a diploma with appropriate professional experience of at least one year (three years or more), or graduate of a national or international Defence College, or professional training of equivalent level
  • Languages: one of the languages of the participati… (C1), another of the languages of the partici… (B2)
  • Eligibility: National of a Member State participating in the Agency; entitled to full rights as citizens; fulfilled obligations imposed by laws concerning military service; appropriate character references; physically fit; no personal interest in conflict with duties; hold or be in position to obtain valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate at SECRET UE/EU SECRET level

Contract and working arrangements

Hiring unit: Corporate Services Directorate, Procurement and Contract Unit.

Position details

Reference
1096
Last Verified
23 July 2026

Position overview

This is the official EU Careers listing for Senior Procurement and Contract Officer for Collaborative Procurement at EDA based in Brussels (Temporary Agent). The vacancy reference is 1096.

## 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 CORPORATE SERVICES DIRECTORATE

The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) provides critical business support to EDA operations by delivering high-quality corporate services under seven dedicated organizational elements, namely: Human Resources; Procurement and Contract Management; Finance; IT and Information Management, Security, Legal and Infrastructure. Additionally, the Record Manager is responsible for the effective management of information produced and/or received by the organisation.

CSD processes are geared towards efficient and optimal use of resources, leveraging good practice and technological solutions while ensuring sound financial management, transparency and accountability; outward focus and commitment to continuous improvement are the hallmarks of CSD.

## 4. DUTIES

The Senior Procurement and Contract Officer for Collaborative Procurement coordinates a portfolio of collaborative procurement initiatives covering a broad range of military equipment and defence services, ensuring their efficient implementation in full compliance with the applicable legal and regulatory framework. The role is strongly coordination-oriented and hands-on, directly supporting procurement and contract files, preparing and conducting procedures, following contracts throughout their lifecycle, and facilitating day-to-day cooperation with Project Officers and relevant stakeholders. It also contributes to the development of suitable sourcing approaches and governance arrangements, in full respect of the distribution of roles and responsibilities with the Project Officers. Stakeholder management and reporting constitutes a key element of the post. Through close coordination, negotiation, risk management, and continuous improvement, the role contributes to informed decision-making, value for money, and the achievement of the Agency’s collaborative procurement objectives. The role does not entail managerial responsibility.

Under the supervision of the Head of Procurement and Contract Unit, the Senior Procurement and Contract Officer for Collaborative Procurement will contribute in particular to the following activities:

* coordinate the day-to-day implementation of the collaborative procurement portfolio, covering a broad range of military equipment and defence services; * coordinate the work of the procurement and contract officers supporting the portfolio, ensuring effective day-to-day cooperation and follow-up; * prepare, handle, and follow up procurement and contractual files in close cooperation with Project Officers and relevant stakeholders; * contribute to the development of appropriate procurement approaches and governance arrangements, ensuring alignment with Member States’ capability requirements and Agency priorities; * ensure coherence with broader EU defence initiatives and funding programmes; * provide close coordination and hands-on support for the preparation, launch, and conduct of procurement procedures and contracts, ensuring consistency with operational requirements and compliance with the applicable rules and regulations; * provide hands-on support for the administration of complex and high-value contracts throughout their lifecycle, including reporting on the portfolio; * support the resolution of complex issues arising from collaborative procurement initiatives by proposing practical and workable solutions; * identify, follow up, and help address procurement and contract risks in close coordination with Project Officers and relevant stakeholders; * contribute to the integration of development, production, test and evaluation considerations into collaborative procurement processes; * identify and leverage synergies between collaborative procurement and innovation procurement initiatives within the Agency; * integrate policy, legal, financial, and project-related inputs and prepare a variety of written material to support informed decision-making; * negotiate with Member States, EU institutions and other external stakeholders in the context of collaborative procurement initiatives, programmes/projects; * contribute to relevant working groups and committees; * promote best-practice and contribute to the development and continuous improvement of procurement policies, standard operating procedures, and tools within the Agency; * participate in relevant meetings, working groups, and external fora on behalf of the Agency; * provide regular follow-up and reporting on the progress of the activities under coordination; * provide practical support to audit activities and coordinate the related follow-up actions; * adapt to evolving priorities and operational demands in a dynamic, multinational environment; * take on additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

All of the above activities shall be carried out in support of, and in close coordination with, Project Officers, in full respect of the respective distribution of roles and responsibilities.

The duties associated with this post may evolve in line with the development of EDA’s structure and activities, as well as the Agency’s organisational needs.

## 5. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be considered eligible to take part in this selection procedure, on the closing date for the submission of applications candidates must satisfy all the eligibility criteria as specified below:

* 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 them 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; * hold, or be in a position to obtain, a valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (national or EU PSC at SECRET UE/EU SECRET level). Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (PSCC) means a certificate issued by a competent authority establishing that an individual is security cleared and holds a valid national or EU PSC, and which shows the level of EUCI to which that individual may be granted access (SECRET UE/EU SECRET), the date of validity of the relevant PSC and the date of expiry of the certificate itself. Note that the necessary procedure for obtaining a PSCC can be initiated on request of the employer only, and not by the individual candidate; * have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more, or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is at least three years or be a graduate of a national or international Defence College; or where justified in the interests of the service, professional training of an equivalent level.

Only diplomas that have been awarded in EU Member States or that are the subject of equivalence certificates issued by the authorities in the said Member States shall be taken into consideration. In the latter case, the authority authorised to conclude contracts of employment reserves the right to request proof of such equivalence.

For diplomas awarded in non-EU countries, a NARIC recognition is required:https://www.enic-naric.net/

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 required.

For native English speakers, your ability to communicate in another EU language will be tested during the selection process. To assess your foreign language levels, see: https://europa.eu/europass/en/common-european-framework-reference-language-skills

## 6. SELECTION CRITERIA

A. ESSENTIAL

(1) Professional

The candidate will be re

Application timeline

This vacancy was first listed on 5 June 2026, 48 days ago.

The application deadline is 6 August 2026, 13 days from today. Late applications are not accepted, so submit through the official EU Careers portal well in advance.

Last verified against the EU Careers feed on 23 July 2026.

Where to learn more

For headcount, mission, and other open vacancies at EDA see the EDA institution page; for the cost of living, correction coefficient, and other postings in Brussels see our Brussels location page.

New to EU careers? Our beginner's guide walks through entry routes, EPSO competitions, and what to prepare. For application logistics see application tips and EPSO competitions.

Career trajectory

Career progression for this grade staff is governed by Articles 44 to 46 of the Staff Regulations (consolidated text on EUR-Lex) and Annex IB on the promotion procedure. Step increases are automatic every two years (Art. 44); grade promotion is competitive, based on the appraisal exercise (Art. 45) and the Career Development Review. For roles at EDA, progression to the next grade typically takes three to five years on merit, with two-yearly step increases in between. Article 46 governs the classification at recruitment, which sets the starting step within the grade (usually step 1 for external recruits without prior EU service, step 2 or 3 where relevant professional experience is recognised).
Mobility within the institutions is encouraged via the inter-institutional and intra-institutional vacancy publication system: temporary agents who pass the probation period and reservists from EPSO laureate lists can typically apply to internal vacancies after one year of service. Lateral moves between Directorates-General reset the seniority clock for promotion only if the new post carries a different grade.

Language profile

Beyond the formal language requirements stated in the vacancy notice, the day-to-day working languages at this employer are English and French in roughly equal measure, with German appearing in some technical files. Internal meetings and most policy drafting in Brussels run in English; French remains the preferred internal language in Luxembourg-based services and parts of DG TRADE.

Application cadence

EDA has not advertised another comparable role with the same grade and subject signature in the past twenty-four months. This opening has rarely been seen on the EU Careers feed and may be the first such posting in our two-year window. Applicants who pass the eligibility checks should not assume the same profile will reopen on a predictable cadence.

Source: This job listing was sourced from the official EU Careers portal (EPSO). First published: .

Remove ads and unlock all features Go Premium