General Information
Type of contract
Fixed-term contract, which may be extended subject to individual performance and organisational needs
Who can apply?
EU nationals
Salary
H (bracket 1 - step 1) full time monthly net salary: €8,318 plus benefits, for further information see
what we offer.
Role specialisation
Market Infrastructure Project Management
Working time
Full time
Place of work
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Closing date
27.05.2026
Your team
You will be part of the Rulebook Division in the Directorate Digital Euro, part of the ECB’s Directorate General Market Infrastructure and Payments. Our Directorate leads the digital euro project, supporting its project’s management bodies in steering and monitoring progress. It also oversees all project workstreams, managing the scope, budget and resources approved by the Governing Council. For more information about the digital euro project, please visit the hub page on the ECB’s website.
In your role as Lead Expert Market Infrastructure Project Management, you will be part of the Rulebook Operationalisation team, comprising around eight members of staff.
The team is responsible for drafting the rulebook, which sets out the rules, standards and procedures for the digital euro scheme. This work is based on input from the Rulebook Development Group, its workstreams, and other divisions and units within the Directorate, ensuring the rulebook is delivered to a high standard and on schedule. You will work closely with other divisions within the Directorate, as well as with industry bodies, test labs and certification bodies. You may also be required to support procurement activities.
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 Lead Expert Market Infrastructure Project Management in the area of standards and certification you will:
- assess the suitability of existing open market standards (both functional and security-related) for the digital euro, conduct gap analyses and address any gaps by defining new standard requirements;
- assess, propose and implement testing and certification requirements for selected and developed standards, in line with the project timeline and market needs;
- ensure, through quality control, that standards, testing and certification requirements are properly reflected in the digital euro scheme rulebook specifications;
- support the monitoring of compliance by scheme participants and other relevant stakeholders with these requirements;
- communicate frameworks and technical details clearly to both internal and external stakeholders.
We actively support professional development for our staff. Besides learning opportunities such as training and mentoring, we encourage and support horizontal mobility after some years in the same position.
The position offers you excellent opportunities to contribute to the future of European payments, helping to ensure that people across the euro area continue to have secure and convenient ways to pay, both in cash and digitally. 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 business administration, economics, finance, law, political science, international relations, project management, STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering or mathematics), computer science or another relevant field (see How you can join us on our website for details on degree equivalences);
- in addition to the above, a minimum of six years’ professional experience in the field of frameworks, schemes, or processes to ensure standardised practices and consistency in the financial market infrastructure sector;
- sound understanding of the payments ecosystem, including the role of proprietary and non-proprietary standardisation requirements;
- strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical matters to different audiences, and sound drafting skills;
- 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:
- experience in compliance testing and certification in the financial market infrastructure sector;
- sound understanding of the retail payments ecosystem;
- experience in procurement processes;
- familiarity with EU regulatory requirements relating to payment and security standardisation.
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.
You are aware of your strengths and areas for development and know what motivates you to perform at your highest level.
Working modalities
We would be happy to discuss a part-time arrangement for this role.
Further information
The contract offered will be fixed-term, the appointment being until 31 March 2028.
Temporary appointments may be extended or made permanent subject to organisational needs and budgetary constraints. This may result in a staff member with a non-convertible fixed-term contract being offered a convertible contract in accordance with the ECB Conditions of Employment.
For additional information on this specific vacancy, you can speak to the hiring manager, Patrick Papsdorf, on +49 (0)69 1344 6516 between 12:00 and 14:00 Wednesday, 20 May.
Application and selection process
The recruitment process for this position will be conducted remotely. It will include 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.
Read more about how you can join us.
