206a - Head of Unit Air & Space

European Defence Agency; Brussel Hoofdstad; On-site; EUR 131,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

The European Defence Agency (EDA) in Brussels seeks a Head of Unit Air & Space to lead capability planning, development and armament activities in the Air and Space domains. You will coordinate with EU bodies, Member States and NATO to advance EU capability development priorities and procurement initiatives.

As Head of Unit, you will manage strategic objectives, ensure cross‑unit coherence, and drive collaborative projects within CAP, reporting to CAP leadership.

Qualifications

• University degree in a relevant field; defence/military sciences, air & space engineering.
• Extensive leadership and stakeholder engagement experience in international defence settings.
• Proven ability to manage large, strategic defence programmes and cross‑agency collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Air & Space Unit within CAP, coordinating across pillars and ensuring delivery of priorities.
• Represent the Agency at senior-level meetings and with external partners including Member States, EU institutions, NATO and industry.
• Oversee mobilisation of resources, governance of projects and cross-domain collaboration for capability development and procurement.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Project management

English (advanced)

Education

University degree in defence studies / military sciences / air & space engineering

Job description

206a - Head of Unit Air & Space at the European Defence Agency (EDA), Brussels, Belgium. Contract type: Agency’s Temporary Staff. Grade: AD11. Directorate: Capability, Armament & Planning Directorate (CAP). Reference: EDA/2026/206a. Security clearance: SECRET UE/EU SECRET. Application deadline: 2026-11-17.

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 CAPABILITY, ARMAMENT & PLANNING DIRECTORATE (CAP)

The Capability, Armament & Planning Directorate (CAP) supports Member States in collaboratively planning, developing and acquiring defence capabilities that meet their needs as well as EU priorities. This implies supporting Member States in identifying, preparing and supporting the execution of possible cooperation projects and programmes ranging from long term military capability development to short term armament procurement. This includes obtaining agreement on shared needs and related priorities, harmonising capability requirements and conducting capability development preparatory activities across all dimensions of capabilities (concept & doctrine, organisation, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, facilities, and interoperability). It also includes aggregating demand towards joint procurement of defence products and services.

The Directorate, together with Member States and with the support of other competent EU institutions and bodies, operates the intergovernmental EU Capability Development Planning System (EU-CDPS) comprising several EU tools. The Capability Development Plan (CDP), managed with the EU Military Committee (EUMC) and EU Military Staff (EUMS) contributions, leads to the identification of Capability Development Priorities agreed at EU level as a reference for all EU initiatives on Defence. The Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), conducted with the contribution of EUMS, enables the analysis of the “State of the Union on Defence” and to identify opportunities for cooperation. The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), conducted together with the European External Action Service (EEAS), including EUMS, coordinates the analysis of the annual PESCO National Implementation Plans to assess the participating Member States’ fulfilment of the PESCO commitments, assesses Member States' PESCO project proposals and monitors their progress.

Within EU-CDPS, the Directorate engages with Member States’ capability planners and experts to implement the EU Capability Development Priorities based on agreed collaborative roadmaps. When preparatory activities enable the identification of a possible cooperation project, the Directorate supports Member States interested in the project by elaborating a business case with them.

The CAP Directorate comprises six units and one Coordination and Strategic Analysis Office. Five units address capability development and armament procurement activities of operational domains associated to EU agreed priorities and one operates the EU-CDPS and related processes and tools:

• Air & Space Domain Unit: Air Combat, Airborne Command and Inform Capabilities, Integrated Air and Missile Defence, Air Transport, Space Operations and Space Services;
• Maritime Domain Unit: Naval Combat and Maritime Interdiction, Underwater and Seabed Warfare, Maritime Domain Awareness;
• Land Domain Unit: Ground Combat Capabilities, Land-Based Precision Engagement, Future Soldier Systems;
• Strategic Enablers & Cyber Unit: Cyber Warfare & Operations, Electro Magnetic Spectrum Operations & Electronic Warfare, Command / Control / Communications / Computers / Information Systems / Surveillance / Target Acquisition & Reconnaissance (C4ISTAR), Special Operation Forces;
• Resilience & Support Unit: Military Mobility, Logistics, CBRN Defence, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Medical Support, Energy;
• Maritime Unit: Naval Combat and Maritime Interdiction, Underwater and Seabed Warfare, Maritime Domain Awareness;
• Cooperation Planning Unit: Management of EU-CDPS, including the conduct of the Capability Development Plan, CARD and PESCO.

Based on this organization, in coordination with other Directorates, CAP supports Member States with concrete proposals for cooperation at levels ranging from the technical to the political, while actively contributing to various capability-related initiatives launched by Member States at EU level, such as the EU Defence Readiness objective and associated Priority Capability Areas.

DUTIES

Under the supervision of the Capability, Armament and Planning Director, the Head of Unit Air & Space will be responsible for leading the Agency's capability planning and development and armament acquisition activities in the domains of Air and Space. Specifically, the jobholder will be responsible for managing with his unit and with Member States the collaborative implementation of the EU agreed Capability Development Priorities Air Combat, Airborne Command & Inform Capabilities, Integrated Air & Missile Defence, Air Transport, Space Operations and Space Services. In particular, the jobholder will be responsible for the following activities:

• support the CAP Director in the elaboration of strategic objectives and proposals regarding Air & Space capability planning and development challenges at EU level and regarding the optimisation of the EU related approaches;
• lead and manage the Air & Space Unit, fostering an integrated and collaborative approach across the Unit's areas of responsibility and ensuring effective delivery of objectives, projects and activities;
• maintain a strategic overview of the Air & Space portfolio and ensure coherence across the different pillars / strands of work of the unit, promoting synergies where appropriate;
• provide strategic direction, leadership and guidance to the Unit staff for the implementation of Air & Space EU Capability Development Priorities, including the identification, harmonisation and consolidation of military requirements and collaborative opportunities for addressing these requirements;
• ensure effective resource planning, prioritisation of activities, staff development and a high-performance working environment;
• ensure a transversal and cross-domain approach to the planning and development of Air & Space capabilities, and coordination across all CAP Units, recognising that both Air and Space capabilities are intertwined with other operational domains and key enablers of operational readiness and freedom of action across all military domains;
• contribute to the further development and implementation of the EU Capability Development Planning System (EU-CDPS), including notably the Capability Development Plan (CDP), Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD), Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and other defence initiatives within the Unit's areas of responsibility;
• supervise and coordinate the management of Capability Planning Groups (CPGs), Capability Expert Groups (CEGs), project arrangements, ad hoc working groups and other collaborative frameworks (such as Priority Capability Areas) related to the Unit's portfolio;
• oversee and coordinate the development of collaborative projects and programmes, including activities related to harmonisation of requirements, aggregation of demand, cooperative development and joint procurement initiatives;
• ensure coordination with other Directorates, in particular for articulating capability development planning with R&T and Innovation activities and for articulating the preparation of acquisition with the EDA Joint Procurement Center;
• interact with Member States, the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Commission, the EU Military Staff (EUMS), NATO, and other relevant EU institutions, bodies and agencies, industry and research organisations;
• represent the Agency at senior-level meetings, steering boards, conferences, seminars and other relevant fora;
• take on additional tasks as required in the interest of the service.

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

The candidate will be required to demonstrate that he/she has:

• a university degree (or equivalent academic qualification) in a field relevant to the duties of the post, such as defence studies, military sciences, air & space engineering;
• a minimum of fifteen (15) years of experience in the Air or the Space domain acquired in military environment after the award of the qualification required as a condition of eligibility, with an extensive knowledge in one of the capability areas “Air Combat”, “Airborne Command & Inform”, “IAMD”, “Air Transport”, “Space Operations” or “Space Services” and corresponding track records;
• a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in military capability planning / development and /or armament programmes with corresponding track records;
• substantial professional experience in international relations and in international defence organisations;
• demonstrated leadership experience in managerial positions, including strategic planning, resource management, prioritisation of activities and the successful delivery of complex programmes, projects and organisational initiatives;
• a strong understanding of EU defence initiatives, including both from the intergovernmental side (the Capability Development Plan (CDP), CARD, PESCO, …) and the communitarian side (DG DEFIS Instruments) and a very good knowledge of the European Space ecosystem;
• proven experience in high‑level stakeholder engagement with Member States, EU institutions, NATO, industry and/or other relevant organisations;
• excellent knowledge 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:

• excellent leadership and people management skills;
• ability to inspire, lead and develop diverse multidisciplinary teams;
• strategic thinking and the ability to translate complex challenges into actionable objectives;
• strong coordination, negotiation and stakeholder‑management skills;
• ability to build productive and cooperative relationships at senior levels;
• strong results‑oriented approach and sound judgement;
• flexibility, innovation and openness to change;
• commitment to the Agency's mission, values and objectives;
• excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.

B. Desirable

The following will be considered an advantage:

• a military operational experience in a field relevant to the post;
• a postgraduate qualification in a field relevant to the post;
• a professional experience in NATO relevant to the post;
• hold a (recognised) project management qualification;
• experience of 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

Head of Unit Air & Space Unit 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 AD11. 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 12 907,41 € 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