Head of Procurement and Contract Unit
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- Grade
- AD 12
- Contract
- Temporary agent · Agency's Temporary Staff
- Security clearance
- SECRET UE/EU SECRET
- Published salary
- €14,604/mo
- Deadline
- October 20, 2026 at 11:59 PM · Europe/Brussels
- Location
- Brussels, Belgium
- Reference
- EDA/2026/063e
European Defence Agency
The European Defence Agency supports member states in developing defence capabilities and strengthening European defence cooperation.
Visit official websiteRadar brief
The Head of Procurement and Contract Unit leads the Agency's procurement, contracting and grant management, including annual activity planning, end-to-end procurement procedures, and quality assurance. The strongest stated requirement is at least twelve years of professional experience, of which at least eight years in positions with tasks relevant to the duties.
This role ensures EDA's procurement and grant management supports the Agency's mission to improve EU defence capabilities and sustain CSDP.
What you would do
- Prepare the annual activity plan covering the Agency's general budget, ad hoc budgets and assigned revenue, including EU contributions.
- Manage, monitor and report on the implementation of the activity plan using key performance indicators.
- Prioritise and steer the procurement and grant-management pipeline, balancing operational urgency, legal and financial constraints, resources and audit-readiness.
- Oversee end-to-end preparation, launch, evaluation, award and implementation of ordinary procurement procedures.
- Coordinate procurement activities under EDA ad hoc projects and programmes, including category A and B arrangements.
- Provide guidance and quality assurance for grant and EU-contribution management activities, including calls, award procedures, grant agreements, amendments, reporting and interaction with beneficiaries.
- Ensure risk-based quality assurance and ex ante control of procurement, contractual and grant-management files.
- Foster the identification of needs and development of procurement and grant-management tools and procedures, including guidelines, templates and standard documents.
Eligibility snapshot
Must have
- National of a Member State participating in the Agency.
- Entitled to full rights as citizens.
- Fulfilled any obligations imposed by laws concerning military service.
- Produce appropriate character references (extract from judicial record or certificate of good conduct requested prior to recruitment).
- Physically fit to perform duties.
- Thorough knowledge (minimum C1 oral and written) of one EU language and satisfactory knowledge (minimum B2 oral and written) of another.
- No personal interest (financial, family relationship, or other) conflicting with disinterested discharge of duties.
- Hold or be in a position to obtain a valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate at SECRET UE/EU SECRET level.
Advantageous
- Good knowledge and understanding of VAT mechanisms within the EU, in particular VAT exemptions.
- Good knowledge of the international defence environment, including EU defence programmes such as EDF and EDIP, and CFSP/CSDP.
- Very good knowledge of the Defence and Security Procurement Directive.
- Experience in a legal and/or business advisory function.
- Good knowledge of French.
Contract and workplace context
Temporary-agent post. Contract duration, renewal, probation and grade conditions remain governed by the official notice.
€14,604–€16,523 per month
Official grid estimate before personal allowances, deductions and location adjustments.Application toolkit
Documents
- Applications are invited with a view to establish a reserve list for the post of Head of Procurement and Contract Unit at EDA.
- This list will be valid until 31/12/2028, and may be extended by decision of the Chief Executive.
- During the validity of the reserve list, successful candidates may be offered a post in EDA according to their competences in relation to the specific requirements of the vacant post.
- Inclusion on the reserve list does not imply any entitlement of employment in the Agency.Candidates must submit their application electronically solely via the EDA website.
- Applications by any other means (hard copy or ordinary e-mail) will not be accepted.
- Applications must be submitted no later than midnight.
- Candidates are reminded that the on-line application system will not accept applications after midnight (Brussels time, GMT+1) on the date of the deadline.
- Please note that once you have created your EDA profile, any correspondence regarding your application must be sent or received via your EDA profile.
Selection steps
- Applications must be submitted electronically solely via the EDA website; other means will not be accepted.
- Applications must be submitted no later than midnight (Brussels time, GMT+1) on the deadline.
- A selection panel will be appointed.
Source notice
Reference: EDA/2026/063e Directorate: Corporate Services Directorate Security clearance: SECRET UE/EU SECRET Indicative starting date: 16/01/2027 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…
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