VACANCY NOTICE - Policy Officer (Political Section)

We are:

The European Union (EU) is an economic and political partnership between 27 European countries. It plays an important role in international affairs through diplomacy, trade, development aid and working with global organizations. 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 Vietnam 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 Vietnamese government 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 for a definite term contract of two years, with possibility to be extended. 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 Political, Press and Information Section, providing support, expertise and assistance in cooperation activities.

Objectives of the post:

To follow, analyse and report in political, sectoral and regional issues. 

The following main tasks and duties are currently required: 

•    Monitor and analyse developments in Vietnam’s domestic politics, its legal and administrative frameworks, as well as in key sectors of relevance to the work of the Section
•    Monitor and analyse laws and regulations, government documents, reports and studies, and assess their impact
•    Monitor and analyse regional and international developments and Vietnam’s role in and positions on them, and their impact and relevance for Vietnam and the EU (e.g. in the context of ASEAN, or the UN)
•    Follow the implementation of EU policies for the ASEAN and Indo-Pacific regions and other relevant regional or horizontal EU policies (e.g. in the area of global and regional security, justice and home affairs); develop proposals for Vietnam’s role in them, and assist in their implementation
•    Draft, and provide inputs to, Delegation reports and notes in these areas
•    Prepare events and dialogues with Vietnamese counterparts in the above areas, e.g. in the context of the EU-Vietnam Joint Committee and relevant subgroups under the EU-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), EU-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue as well as EU-Vietnam Defence and Security Dialogue, and in other bilateral or regional settings
•    Coordinate or assist in the preparation of high-level visits from/to Headquarters
•    Establish and maintain contacts with the Vietnamese authorities, Member States’ and other Embassies, and other relevant organisations in the areas in question
•    Any other activities in the interest of the Section
•    The jobholder can be asked to support other priorities of the Delegation as defined by the Ambassador for up to 20% of his/her total working time. 

The base salary will depend on relevant and verified employment experience, typically starting from EUR 3,242.00. There is a competitive benefits package, subject to certain conditions, including personal leave days and public holidays, health insurances and a retirement savings plan. 

The expected start date is 01 June 2026.

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

•    University degree in Politics, International Relations, History, Law or related subject 
•    At least four years of working experience after graduation
•    Experience in political and governance issues 
•    Excellent proficiency in English (written and spoken) with minimum C1 level, Vietnamese mother tongue 
•    Familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point
 

Please note that the selected candidates will have to demonstrate that they possess the necessary legal authorization to live and work in Vietnam.

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

•    Master’s degree in one or more fields relevant to the sectors covered by this post
•    Knowledge of EC/EU policies, administrative procedures and terminologies 
•    Knowledge of another EU language 
•    Use of social media and AI tools for research and analysis
•    Communication skills: capacity to communicate clearly, present complex matters in a simple way, and draft quickly and precisely
•    Interpersonal skills: 
      -    Strong networking capabilities
      -    Ability to listen, to consult and share information and ideas.
      -    Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
•    Intellectual skills: 
      -    Ability to identify and analyse key points in verbal and numerical information, evaluate alternatives objectively and make sound, logical and good judgements taking on board the impact of decisions.
      -    Ability to determine long-term outcomes of a change in operations.
      -    Ability to come up with suggestions for new topics of interest.
•    Management/Organisational skills:
      -    Capacity to prioritise and to organise work to deliver within tight deadlines.
      -    Ability to negotiate in a multicultural and multilingual environment.
      -    Capacity to monitor progress of work.
      -    Facilitation and conflict resolution skills.
•    Personal qualities:
      -    Flexibility to work under pressure and to respond quickly to new demands including in areas not necessarily in his/her specific area of expertise.
      -    Commitment to assure quality, speed and accuracy in performing duties.
      -    Discretion in dealing with work related sensitive matters.
      -    High degree of responsibility in handling tasks.
      -    Positive attitude, willingness to provide support to others and commitment to contribute to the work of the team.

 

How to apply:

Please submit your application, consisting of a cover letter and Europass format CV (please see here for Europass template) via delegation-vietnam-vacancy@eeas.europa.eu no later than 17:30 (Hanoi time) on 15 April 2026. Only complete applications received on time via the mentioned mailbox will be considered. Kindly indicate in the email’s subject for which position you are applying.

The successful candidate will be subject to a medical check.

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 assessment of the information provided in the cover letter, CV, practical testing and interviews. At least 3 best candidates will be invited to the final interview.

Only candidates admitted to each successive selection phase will be contacted individually. The Delegation will use the same means of publication as for this job advertisement to inform the remaining candidates once the recruitment procedure has been completed and that a candidate has (or has not) been recruited.

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 mailbox delegation-vietnam-vacancy@eeas.europa.eu.

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 and to preventing discrimination on any grounds. 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.