Vacancy notice – Policy Officer - EU Delegation to Ottawa

We are

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership of 27 European countries. It plays an important role in international affairs through diplomacy, trade, development aid and working with global organisations. Abroad, the EU is represented through more than 140 diplomatic representations, known also as EU Delegations, which have a similar function to those of an embassy. 

The EU Delegation to Canada works in close coordination with the Embassies and Consulates of the 27 EU Member States. We are a fully-fledged diplomatic mission and represent the European Union in dealings with the Government of Canada in areas that are part of the EU’s remit.

We offer

The post of Policy Officer (Local Agent - Group I) in the Delegation’s Political, Press and Information Section, under a fixed-term employment contract of two years, with a possibility of renewal under reserve of budgetary availabilities and operational considerations. The team consists of six people and there are occasional atypical working hours.

Under this post, the recruited person will be attributed functions depending on the needs of the Delegation, and on the changes of these needs. The successful candidate will serve under the supervision and responsibility of the Head of the Political, Press and Information Section, providing support, expertise and assistance in the field of political and academic cooperation, as well as gender, human rights and public diplomacy. 

Following main tasks and duties are currently required:

Policy monitoring and reporting

• Advise and assist the Head of Section, Deputy Head of Delegation and Head of Delegation on areas of responsibility, notably by providing timely advice and recommendations to Headquarters regarding the future development of the EU's relations with Canada.

• Observe, monitor and draft regular and timely analyses and reports on Canadian domestic and foreign policy orientations and developments. Coordinate the Delegation’s bi-weekly reports and prepare policy reports on issues related to designated areas of his/her responsibility, or upon request. 

• Observe, monitor and draft regular and timely analyses and reports on the implementation of the various agreements and other bilateral instruments in force between the EU and Canada, notably the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA). Coordinate and monitor the organisation of dialogues under the SPA, offering assistance and liaising with Headquarters and Canadian authorities as needed.

• Monitor and report on developments in Canada in the areas of gender, Human rights and Data Privacy.

Stakeholder relations

• Build and maintain appropriate working level contacts with the Canadian federal and provincial authorities, the business community, the academic community and certain clusters of civil society, as well as with the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States and Acceding countries. 

• Help prepare, and participate in, formal and informal meetings with the Canadian authorities in the areas of responsibility. 

• Act as the Delegation’s main contact point for political relations with provincial officials. 

• Serve as the Delegation’s contact point for Canadian academic institutions and associations active in the field of European integration studies, including those receiving EU funding (Erasmus+ and Jean Monnet in particular). 

• Contribute to the preparation of EU coordination meetings. Substitute, when requested, for the Head of Section in attending meetings.

• Plan and participate, upon request, in the Head of Delegation's and the Head of Section's official visits to the Canadian Provinces.

• Support the organisation of incoming missions from Headquarters in the areas of responsibility and/or upon request. 

• Draft replies to external requests for information on EU policies in the areas of responsibility.

• Contribute to the explanation and defence of EU policies by participating in, and speaking at, events organised in Canada on subjects related to the areas of responsibility and/or upon request.

Public Diplomacy

• Contribute to the elaboration of public diplomacy activities in the areas of responsibility.

• Provide input to the Delegation's information and communication activities (Newsletter, website, etc,..) in respect of the areas of responsibility.

• Research and prepare, for distribution to key Canadian contacts and EU Member State diplomatic missions, fact-sheets and position papers promoting and defending the EU position on issues of importance to the EU/Canada relationship.

• Maintain regular contacts with the staff of the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association and of key Parliamentary committees, with the assistants of key MPs, as well as with the staff of the European Parliament's Delegation for Relations with Canada. 

• Transmit, on a regular basis, appropriately targeted items of information on EU positions to the offices of key Canadian MP's as well as to the Canada-Europe Parliamentary Association.

• Assist in providing input and support to the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with Canada, especially in the run up to and during the annual inter parliamentary meeting, and all other committees and sub-Committees of the European Parliament, as relevant.

Any other tasks requested by the Head of Section and/or Head of Delegation.

The place of employment is the EU Delegation, 150 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, ON, K2P 1P1 – Canada. The working hours are 37,5 hours/week Monday-Friday, with the possibility of one teleworking day per week.

The base salary will depend on relevant and verified employment experience, typically starting from 6,536 CAD/month (gross).  There is a competitive benefits package, subject to certain conditions, including personal leave days and public holidays, additional health insurance and additional retirement savings plan.

The expected start date will be 01^st of March 2026.

Minimum requirements / eligibility criteria (necessary for the application to be considered)

• Canadian citizenship or a valid resident and work permit in Canada is mandatory to apply for this position.

It is important to note that the Delegation of the European Union does not sponsor visas for locally contracted Agents.

• Completed graduate studies certified by a diploma (min. BA Degree) in a relevant field (political science, international relations, public administration, law, communication etc.). 

• Excellent knowledge in both official languages of Canada: English and French (level C2 according to Common European Language Framework).

• At least three years of proven relevant experience (including paid traineeships), performing the above-mentioned tasks.

Assets / selection criteria (basis for awarding points to select the best applicant)

Qualification

• Additional completed graduate or post-graduate studies certified by a diploma (MA degree) or proved by a certificate in a field related to any aspect of international affairs, global issues, human rights, EU external action and/or security and defence policy.

Knowledge

• Strong knowledge of the Canadian political landscape, capacity to identify and analyse relevant policy developments, and an ability to build strong relationship with relevant stakeholders.

• Relevant working experience in Canada in a field related to foreign policy/international relations, security and defence, human rights, global issues. 

• Professional experience in monitoring political developments, drafting political analysis notes or reporting, on EU external action issues, foreign policy/international relations, security and defence, human rights, global issues.

• Professional experience in internal and external communication on foreign and/or security policy issues (speeches, press releases, social media, etc.).

• Papers, essays, books or other publications and/or interventions as a speaker in national and/or international conferences on foreign policy/international relations, security and defence, human rights, global issues.

• Working experience in European Union Institutions.

Personal skills

• Capacity to communicate clearly.

• Good ability for concise reporting.

• Demonstrated ability to act with limited supervision.

• Good capacity to focus on priorities and to organise work to deliver in a timely manner.

• Good capacity to work in a multicultural environment and team.

• Flexibility to work under pressure and to respond quickly to new demands.

• Commitment to assure quality, speed and accuracy in performing technical and procedural duties.

• High degree of confidentiality and responsibility in the handling sensitive information.

How to apply

The applicant must apply by sending 

• a cover letter, signed 

• a Curriculum Vitæ (to include, at the minimum, exact job titles, employers names and detailed tasks descriptions) using one of the Europass templates available at https://europa.eu/europass/en 

all documents to the following email address: eeasjobs-123@eeas.europa.eu 

not later than: Monday 9^th of February 2026  (6 pm Ottawa Time)

Only complete applications received on time, via the Functional Mailbox eeasjobs-123@eeas.europa.eu  will be considered. 

Caution: The applicant must verify that he/she fulfils all the conditions. For easy verification, the applicant must mark all the squares  relating to each document or application condition. The absence of one of these conditions or documents is a reason for the rejection of the application.

If shortlisted, the candidate will be required to submit all relevant documents (i.e.work certificates…) justifying previous declared work experience. 

The process

After the deadline for applications, the eligible applications will be admitted to the Selection by the Committee set up for this purpose. 

Depending on the number of applications received, successive phases of selection may include shortlisting of candidates, based on assessment of the information provided in the cover letter & CV. 

The 5 best candidates will be invited to the final interviews and tests.

Only candidates admitted to each successive selection phase will be contacted individually. The Delegation will not supply additional information or discuss the selection procedure. During the selection process, please do not contact the members of the Selection Committee, but address your questions and comments to the Delegation’s Administration at Delegation-Canada-admin@eeas.europa.eu 

The successful candidate will be subject to a medical check and background check. 

Equal Opportunities

The European Union is committed to an equal opportunities policy for all its employees and applicants for employment. As an employer, the EU is committed to promoting gender equality, preventing discrimination on any grounds and ensuring a zero tolerance approach to any form of harassment. It actively welcomes applications from all qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds. We aim at a service which is truly representative of society, where each staff member feels respected, is able to give their best and can develop their full potential.

If pre-selected, candidates with disabilities are invited to contact the Delegation (functional mailbox to which the applications shall be sent) in order to accommodate any special needs and provide assistance to ensure equality of opportunities with other candidates. 

If a candidate with a disability is selected and recruited, the EEAS is committed to appropriate measures in order to accommodate his or her special needs to the working place or working conditions in accordance with Art 4 of the Decision ADMIN(2025)13 of the Director-General for Resource Management of the European External Action Service on providing reasonable accommodation for local staff with disabilities working in Union Delegations.

Data Protection Notice

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eeas-privacy-statement-data-protection-notice-purpose-processing-personal-data-related-recruitment_en