Expert - Urban Sustainability

🔍\ Copenhagen, Hovedstaden, Denmark

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📁📅Apr 24, 2026Post Date📅EEA/CA/2026/5Requisition #

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VACANCY NOTICE FOR POSITIONS OF

Expert - Urban Sustainability - Contract Agent (FG IV)

Reference no. EEA/CA/2026/5

Please send us your application by no later than 2 June 2026 at midnight (Copenhagen time), following the instructions in the ANNEX .

The European Environment Agency (EEA) is organising an open competition with a view to establishing a reserve list of experts to work in the field of urban sustainability.

THE AGENCY:

The EEA is an Agency of the European Union (EU) and one of the decentralised Union bodies. The EEA aims to support sustainable development and to help achieve significant and measurable improvement in Europe’s environment, through the provision of timely, targeted, relevant and reliable information to policy-making agents and the public.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Under the responsibility of the Head of Unit ‘Sustainability Transitions’, reporting to the Head of Department ‘Environment and Sustainability’ (see organisational chart), the Expert shall be responsible for ensuring the delivery of knowledge on urban sustainability.

The position will entail the following tasks:

• Developing knowledge on progress towards socially-fair sustainability at local, urban, and regional scales, and the supporting role of EU policies. This includes efforts to foster resource efficiency, improve climate resilience, and boost biodiversity and nature in urban environments, while also considering equity, affordability, and fair access to ecosystem services such as green space, drinking water, and sanitation.
• Maintaining institutional relations with urban networks, stakeholders, and EEA Eionet partners to compile knowledge on solutions (including nature-based, technological, and social solutions) as well as knowledge on how cities manage transitions towards sustainability. This includes following activities under the New European Bauhaus to promote sustainable built environments.
• Collaborating with colleagues across the EEA to integrate knowledge on urban and social fairness into a broad range of thematic areas, such as climate adaptation, nature, mobility, and energy.
• Disseminating relevant EEA knowledge on urban sustainability to a broad range of audiences, including policymakers and stakeholders.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Candidates applying must satisfy the following eligibility criteria on the closing date for the submission of applications:

a)    a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma, OR where justified in the interest of the service, professional training of an equivalent level;

b)    a minimum of 1 year of relevant professional experience after achieving the qualification set out above.

In addition, in order to be eligible a candidate must:

• Be a national of one of the member countries of the EEA (Member States of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and Türkiye);
• Enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by law concerning military service;
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the languages of the EEA member countries and a satisfactory knowledge of another of these languages (corresponding to level B.2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages CEFR);
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

Candidates should assess carefully and check before submitting their application whether they fulfil all the conditions for admission laid down in the vacancy notice, particularly in terms of qualifications and relevant professional experience.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

(In your application, please provide examples from current or past work experience where these competencies have been applied)

Essential:

• Proven professional experience and knowledge in the field of urban sustainability and/or urban biodiversity at local, regional, national or European level;
• Demonstrated expertise in analysing local drivers, enabling conditions, governance arrangements, and policies that support sustainability transitions or nature-based solutions, including their social impacts;
• Excellent analytical skills, including proficiency in using digital tools for data driven analysis of the environmental and socio economic dimensions of urban sustainability;
• Excellent command of written and spoken English language, at least at level C1 in all categories according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Language.

Advantageous:

• Demonstrated project management skills, with proven track record of working with diverse stakeholders;
• Experience with technological or nature-based solutions for urban sustainability, or socially innovative approaches that promote inclusive and equitable transitions.

In addition to the requirements above, candidates invited to the written test and interview stage, will also be assessed against the following behavioural competencies:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Diversity awareness and sensitivity;
• Well-developed solution-oriented and problem-solving approach;
• Ability to take responsibility for specific areas of work and to deliver to high standards;
• Service orientation and ability to understand stakeholder needs and requirements;
• Ability to seek out learning opportunities proactively, to handle situations and problems with innovation and creativity.

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:

The successful candidate will be offered a Contract Agent contract in accordance with Article 3a) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Unio n. The selected candidate will be employed for an initial time period of four years, renewable.