198a - Senior Legal Officer

European Defence Agency; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 102,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

European Defence Agency (EDA) in Brussels invites applications for a Senior Legal Officer in the Legal Unit of the Corporate Services Directorate. The role includes providing strategic legal advice on procurement, data protection, and governance to senior management and directorates.

The successful candidate will supervise and deputise as needed, contribute to planning, and ensure compliance with EU laws. You will work in a multi‑national environment, coordinating with Member States and EU

Qualifications

• University degree in law (LL.B./LL.M. or equivalent).
• Minimum seven years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong knowledge of public/procurement law and governance.
• Experience coordinating a legal team in a multidisciplinary setting.
• Excellent English written and spoken communication.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, risk‑based legal advice on complex procurement files.
• Support ex-ante controller with procurement and financial file assessments.
• Draft and review third‑party agreements, MoUs and SLAs.
• Advise on innovation projects and EU defence initiatives with governance considerations.
• Identify and mitigate legal and governance risks with stakeholders.

Skills

Law degree

Procurement law

Data protection

Legal coordination

English proficiency

Education

Law degree

Job description

198a - Senior Legal Officer at the European Defence Agency (EDA), Brussels, Belgium. Contract type: Agency’s Temporary Staff. Grade: AD9. Directorate: Corporate Services Directorate (CSD). Reference: EDA/2026/198a. Security clearance: SECRET UE/EU SECRET. Application deadline: 2026-11-26.

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: Capability, Armament & Planning (CAP); Procurement, Support, Industry & Interoperability (PSII); Research, Technology & Innovation (RTI).

THE AGENCY'S WAY OF WORKING

The Agency is an “outward-facing” organisation, constantly interacting with its shareholders, the 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.

THE CORPORATE SERVICES DIRECTORATE (CSD)

The Corporate Services Directorate (CSD) provides critical business support to EDA operations by delivering high-quality corporate services under seven dedicated units, namely: Human Resources, Procurement and Grants Management, Finance, Information Technology, Security, Legal and General Services (encompassing Infrastructure, Records and Data Management).

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.

THE UNIT

The Legal Unit is part of the Corporate Services Directorate and provides legal advice and support to the entire Agency, including senior management, operational directorates and corporate services. It safeguards the legality, coherence, transparency and compliance of the Agency’s activities while enabling timely and effective delivery.

Its remit covers institutional and governance matters; procurement, contracts and collaborative arrangements; legal aspects of innovation, research and technology projects and European Union-funded activities; administrative and staff matters; ethics and conduct; data protection; public access to documents; litigation, complaints and investigations; cooperation with Member States, European Union institutions and third parties; and legal support to ex ante control. The Unit also monitors legal and regulatory developments relevant to the Agency and promotes early identification and mitigation of legal risk.

The Unit is headed by the Head of the Legal Unit and comprises a Senior Legal Officer who acts as Data Protection Officer and deputises for the Head of Unit when required, together with legal officers covering the Unit’s principal areas of responsibility. It is supported by an ex-ante controller and, where appropriate, trainees and external legal expertise. The Unit is structured to ensure specialised legal coverage, continuity of service and effective support across the Agency.

DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Head of the Legal Unit, the Senior Legal Officer may also act as Data Protection Officer, deputise for the Head of Unit when needed, and will be responsible for / contribute to the following activities:

• provide authoritative, strategic and risk-based legal advice on collaborative procurement, including the design and implementation of complex and high-value procurement files;
• provide legal and procedural support to the ex-ante controller within the Legal Unit, including on the assessment of procurement and financial files, the identification of legal and compliance risks, and the consistent application of the relevant regulatory and internal control framework;
• support all activity of the Legal Unit related to the preparation and negotiation of third-party agreements, including administrative arrangements, MoU, SLA, etc, by providing comprehensive legal assessments, risk analysis, procedural guidelines and legal review of any relevant working document;
• advise on innovation-related projects, security arrangements and wider European Union defence initiatives, ensuring that their legal, governance, industrial and intergovernmental dimensions are addressed coherently and at an early stage;
• identify and mitigate legal and governance risks, clarify the allocation of responsibilities, and develop robust contractual arrangements in close cooperation with operational teams, Member States and partners;
• support the Head of Unit in the management and coordination of the Unit, act on the Head of Unit’s behalf when required, and contribute to the planning, prioritisation and quality assurance of its work;
• perform the functions of Data Protection Officer, independently advising the Agency on its data protection obligations, monitoring compliance, promoting awareness and cooperation, and acting as the contact point for the European Data Protection Supervisor and data subjects.

Duties may evolve according to the development of EDA’s structure and activities, and the decisions of EDA management.

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

SELECTION CRITERIA

A. Essential

Only applications meeting all essential selection criteria will be assessed.

(1) Professional

Candidates will be required to demonstrate the following qualifications:

• a university degree (or equivalent academic qualification) in Law;
• at least seven (7) years of relevant professional experience, acquired after the award of the minimum qualification required as a condition of eligibility;
• substantial professional experience in providing legal advice on public and/or collaborative procurement, including complex or high-value procurement procedures and contractual arrangements;
• proven experience in identifying and addressing legal and governance risks and in providing legal advice on complex institutional, contractual matters;
• sound knowledge of the European Union data protection framework and proven professional experience in advising on data protection and compliance matters;
• proven experience in coordinating the work and priorities of a legal team, including quality assurance and the provision of legal and procedural advice in a multidisciplinary environment;
• good knowledge of EDA’s role, legal framework and main functions;
• a very good command of written and spoken English.

(2) Personal

All staff must be able to fit into the Agency's way of working (see para. 2). Other attributes important for this post include:

• ability to work independently and collaboratively in a complex and multidisciplinary environment;
• ability to work effectively in a multinational environment;
• reliability and ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision;
• strong analytical and problem-solving skills, sound legal judgement, and the ability to identify proportionate, practical and defensible solutions;
• excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly and influence stakeholders constructively;
• good leadership skills and ability to coordinate and support colleagues effectively;
• results-orientation and strong sense of responsibility;
• flexibility and innovativeness;
• genuine commitment to the Agency's objectives;

B. Desirable

The following will be considered an advantage:

• experience in litigation, pre-litigation or dispute management, for example before national courts, the Court of Justice of the European Union or in administrative complaint procedures;
• knowledge of, or experience in addressing, the interaction between the Agency’s legal framework and other European Union legal or funding frameworks, including the European Defence Fund, the European Defence Industry Programme and other current or future initiatives relevant to defence and security;
• familiarity with the defence international environment (especially with CSDP);
• experience of contributing or leading organisational and process change.

APPOINTMENT AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR TEMPORARY AGENTS AT EDA

EDA, whose staff are governed by its own Staff Regulations, offers specific conditions of employment with regards to contract duration and pension arrangements.

CONTRACT DURATION

The Senior Legal Officer will be appointed by the Chief Executive. Recruitment will be as a member of the temporary staff of the Agency for a 4-year period. Renewal is possible only once for an additional period of 4 years, within the limits set out in the EDA Staff Regulations. The successful candidate will be recruited as Temporary Agent, grade AD9

In line with EDA's Staff Regulations, the Agency does not offer inter-Agency mobility.

FINANCIAL ENTITLEMENTS

The pay for this position consists of a basic salary of 10.082,77€ supplemented with various allowances including, as applicable, expatriation or family allowances. Successful candidates are graded on entry into service according to the length of their professional experience. Salaries are exempted from national tax, instead an Agency tax is deducted at source.

PENSION ARRANGEMENTS SPECIFIC TO EDA

Prospective staff members considering a career at the European Defence Agency (EDA) should be aware that EDA has its own pension provisions and is not part of the EU institutions' pension scheme (PSEUI).

In addition, EDA staff have several flexible options regarding their pension contributions at the end of their contract, under certain conditions, such as:

• transfer to a public pension scheme;
• transfer to a private pension scheme;
• direct payment as a severance grant.

For further information on working conditions please refer to: https://eda.europa.eu/jobs/what-we-offer

INDEPENDENCE AND DECLARATION OF INTEREST

The selected candidate will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act independently in the Agency’s interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests that might be considered prejudicial to their independence.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

EDA is an equal opportunities employer and accepts applications without distinction on the grounds of age, race, political, philosophical or religious conviction, sex or sexual orientation and regardless of disabilities, marital status or family situation.

DATA PROTECTION

Please note that EDA will not return applications to candidates. The personal information EDA requests from candidates will be processed in line with Regulation (EU) N° 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) 45/2001 and Decision No. 1247/2002/EC.

The purpose of processing personal data which candidates submit is to manage applications in view of possible pre‑selection and recruitment at EDA. More information on personal data protection in relation to selection and recruitment can be found on the EDA website: http://www.eda.europa.eu/jobs/dataprotection

More information can also be obtained from EDA staff or the recruitment office.