Investigator Expert

Remote | Frankfurt

Organization: ECB - European Central Bank
Location: Remote | Frankfurt
Grade: F/G (bracket 1 - step 1)
Occupational Groups:
- Internal audit, Investigation and Inspection
Closing Date: 2026-01-23

General Information

Type of contract Fixed-term contract which may be converted into a permanent contract after three years subject to individual performance and organisational needs

Who can apply? EU nationals

Salary F/G (bracket 1 - step 1) full time monthly net salary: €5,743 plus benefits, for further information see what we offer.

Role specialisation Audit – Infrastructure and Governance

Working time Full time

Place of work Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Closing date 23.01.2026

Your team

You will be part of the Independent Internal Investigations Division in the Directorate Internal Audit. Our Directorate has 60 staff providing internal audit services and running administrative investigations.

In your role as Investigator Expert, you will be part of a team responsible for assessing reports of possible breaches of professional duties within the ECB. The team assesses and manages a wide array of information received through the ECB’s internal whistleblowing tool or directly from ECB employees. Reflecting its commitment to thoroughness and transparency, the team is responsible for the entire investigation process, including running administrative investigations. The team works closely with other business areas in the ECB, such as the Directorate General Legal Services, the Compliance and Governance Office and the Directorate General Human Resources.

The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

Your role

As an Investigator Expert you will:

manage investigations into suspected breaches of professional duties under the ECB rules and applicable EU laws and regulations;
coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely and effective handling of reported breaches;
develop investigative strategies and methodologies, and prepare supporting documentation to ensure procedural robustness and compliance;
present findings and recommendations to senior management and decision-making bodies;
engage and collaborate with peer institutions to exchange best practices and enhance cross-institutional cooperation;
contribute to improving internal communication and fostering transparency for ECB colleagues regarding investigations.

The position offers you excellent opportunities to work with highly motivated colleagues contributing to the improvement of our investigations processes and impact. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.

Qualifications, experience and skills

Essential:

a master’s degree or equivalent in law or another relevant field (see How you can join us for details on degree equivalences);
in addition to the above, a minimum of four years of professional experience involving tasks and assignments related to European institutional law, civil service law and/or administrative law;
experience in assessing complaints or alleged breaches of professional duties and/or conducting internal investigations;
a sound knowledge of European institutional law, civil service law and/or employment law and related European case-law and doctrine;
experience in working on multiple tasks or processes and with multiple stakeholders, as well as the ability to analyse complex cases and reports and produce clear, concise assessments for senior management and decision-makers;
strong drafting and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to prepare clear, concise presentations and briefings for diverse audiences;
an advanced (C1) command of English and an intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Desired:

relevant professional experience within a European institution, agency or body and/or an international organisation;
professional experience involving tasks and assignments related to European data protection law;
relevant professional training and/or certification, e.g. admission to a bar association or certification as a data protection officer;
an understanding of the tasks and functions of central banking, banking supervision and/or financial institutions, preferably combined with practical experience in these fields;
an advanced command (C1) of French according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

You engage collaboratively with others. You pursue team goals and learn willingly from other people’s diverse perspectives. You signal any need for change by explaining it and proposing alternative solutions. You analyse complex information effectively and can evaluate different views to arrive at solutions. You know and anticipate stakeholder needs.

You are motivated to be part of our team and to develop and use your skills and competencies to achieve the aims of this position.

Working modalities

We would be happy to discuss a part-time arrangement for this role.

Further information

For additional information on this specific vacancy, you can speak to Carin Pronk, the Head of the Independent Internal Investigations Division, on +491752296941 between 15:00 and 16:00 on 8 January 2026.

Application and selection process

The recruitment process for this position will be conducted remotely. It may include a pre-recorded video interview in the pre-selection phase and – if you are invited to participate in the subsequent selection phase – a written exercise, a presentation and an interview.

If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list (see step 4 of How we hire), from which you might be considered for similar positions within the ECB.

Find out how to apply for a position at the ECB.