Jobs at the JRC

At the JRC, you will contribute to evidence-based policymaking to improve our society.

As a JRC employee, you will enjoy:

a flexible work environment for a good work-life balance;
dedicated support for you and your family, including relocation, childcare, schooling, transport and more;
health insurance coverage for you and your family;
learning opportunities.

Our headquarters are located in Brussels, but we have openings across our 6 sites across 5 EU countries.

Staff categories

Permanent civil servant

Permanent civil servants (permanent staff) are members of the EU civil service appointed for an indefinite time. They constitute the core working force.

The recruitment of permanent staff is managed by the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) through open competitions. On the EPSO page you can learn more about how to apply for vacancies and see the tests you may need to pass in order to get a job with the EU institutions.

Temporary staff

Temporary staff is recruited to fill vacant positions within the EU institutions and agencies for a set amount of time; this may range from a few months to a few years.

Vacancies for JRC temporary agents

Contract staff

Contract agents (CA) work for the EU on a fixed-term contract basis. At the JRC, we offer contract staff positions for researchers and for administrative/auxiliary staff in fields such as finance, communication, security, safety, legal affairs, ICT and more.

Vacancies for contract agents

Working conditions and Salary simulations

Seconded national experts

Seconded national experts (SNEs) are qualified civil servants from EU Member States who bring their expertise to the EU for a fixed period of time.

Please note: While the JRC is publishing vacancies for SNEs no applications should be sent to the JRC. Please contact your permanent representation, diplomatic mission of non-member country, EFTA secretariat or IGO administration.

Research fellows

Aimed at developing training, career development and mobility opportunities for researchers throughout their careers. The JRC offers contracts under the national employment law. There are currently 2 categories:

Category 20 grantholder contracts: for students pursuing their PhD studies (Collaborative Doctoral Partnership programme).

Open calls for PhD candidates
Category 40 grantholders contracts: for senior scientists in a field relevant to the JRC’s scientific activities (doctoral degree and 10 years of research experience or 15 years of research experience after a degree allowing access to doctoral studies).

Open calls for senior researchers.

JRC grantholder rules

EC trainees

The EC traineeships programmes offer recent graduates a chance to increase their professional skills, expand their network and enhance their knowledge of the EU. Traineeshipsoffer a great insight into the work of the EU civil service and are available in a wide range of fields.

JRC scientific trainees

Twice a year, the JRC offers paid traineeships in a multi-disciplinary research environment. The traineeship sessions generally start in March and October of each year and run for a fixed period of 5 months.

Vacancies for JRC scientific trainees

JRC scientific traineeship rules