VACANCY NOTICE - CONTRACT AGENT

About us

We are the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG R&I).

Our mission is to develop and implement European Research and Innovation (R&I) policy. The DG supports R&I through European Framework Programmes, coordinates and supports national and regional R&I programmes, contributes to the creation of the European Research Area, and supports the cooperation of European organisations and researchers in Europe and in an international context.

Our unit B.3. "Climate and Planetary Boundaries" supports the transition to a healthy planet, which is climate neutral by 2050, and operating within safe planetary boundaries by:

• Contributing to the implementation of the European Green Deal, through research and innovation in the areas of climate science (mitigation and adaptation), biodiversity and environmental observation;

• Strengthening scientific knowledge on global climate change and biosphere integrity, contributing to better, evidenced-based and more impactful policymaking and implementation, in support to key international processes (IPCC, IPBES, UNFCCC, CBD, GEO), and to increase awareness of climate and environmental challenges in the society at large;

• Enhancing the knowledge on biodiversity, ecosystems services and natural capital and developing solutions to monitor, protect and restore biosphere's integrity, including innovative and versatile nature-based solutions;

• Enhancing the understanding of the risks and impacts of climate change and developing solutions that expand capacities and options to build long-term resilience in line with the ambition of the EU Adaptation Strategy;

• Developing a fit for purpose planetary observation system as a cornerstone for informing policy design, implementation and enforcement, with particular focus on areas that underpin environmental and climate action.

Unit B.3. expands the frontiers of climate mitigation, adaptation and biodiversity science and exploits the enabling potential of environmental observations to increase our understanding of and awareness about the wide-reaching impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss on the society and the natural environment. The unit contributes to defining the actions that must be taken at global, regional and sectoral levels to respond to these challenges.

We lead on the EU Mission on Adaptation to climate change with strong synergies to the Missions on "Healthy Seas, Oceans and Natural Waters", "Climate-Neutral and Smart cities" and "Soil Health".

By building on foresight, state-of-art knowledge and data stemming from our project portfolio, we will achieve more impactful R&I programmes, evidence-based policies and more systemic, transformational solutions that are necessary to address climate and nature crises. Our activities contribute to policy design and review, including through feedback to policy and communication, dissemination and exploitation efforts to enhance the impact of our R&I project portfolio.

The activities are carried out in co-creation with other Commission services and through a multi-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder approach and in partnership with EU Member States and international partners.

The work of the unit is directly relevant to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 13 “climate action”, SDG 15 “life on land” and SDG 14 “life below water”. It also contributes to SDG 3 “health and well-being”, SDG 6 “clean water”, SDG 8 “decent work and economic growth”, SDG 9 “industry, innovation and infrastructure”, SDG 11 “sustainable cities and communities”, SDG 12 “responsible consumption and production”, and SDG 17 “global partnerships”.

About the role

We offer a challenging and rewarding position as Policy Officer focusing on Research and Innovation (R&I) on the economic and financial dimensions of biodiversity within the Biodiversity and Nature-based Solutions team of the unit.

The role contributes to advancing relevant EU priorities and frameworks, including of the European Green Deal, particularly the EU’s sustainable finance agenda, the development of nature-positive business models, the mobilisation of private investment for biodiversity, and the integration of biodiversity-related risks and opportunities into economic and financial systems. It also supports the objectives of EU research and innovation (R&I) policy in generating the knowledge, evidence and solutions needed to transform economic and financial systems in support of biodiversity protection, restoration and sustainable use. In doing so, the role contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the objectives of the Paris Agreement, and the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly by strengthening the role of research and innovation in aligning economic and financial systems with global sustainability and biodiversity goals.

The jobholder will:

• Contribute to EU Research and Innovation (R&I) strategy and programming of Horizon Europe 2028-2034 and the European Competitiveness Fund, on biodiversity, notably on economics and finance, transformative change and Nature-based Solutions.
• Coordinate and oversee a broad portfolio of biodiversity-related research and innovation projects and other actions funded under relevant EU programmes, ensuring strategic alignment with policy priorities, coherence across activities, and effective uptake and dissemination of results, in close cooperation with the Executive Agencies.
• Identify opportunities and provide policy advice on mobilising public and private investment to scale up the transition towards a nature-positive and climate-neutral Europe, with a focus on biodiversity and the IPBES nexus approach, while fostering synergies with climate adaptation and the One Health approach.
• Contribute to costs/benefits analysis of actions focusing on protection, restoration and in particular sustainable use of biodiversity, for example bioeconomy, based on the IPBES Transformative Change and Business and Biodiversity assessments.
• Identify and address economic and financial knowledge gaps and promote research and innovation to develop solutions that support the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy, commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
• Contribute R&I expertise and evidence to inform the implementation of the European

Startup and Scaleup strategy, supporting the development and scaling-up of innovative, nature-positive businesses and technologies.

• Facilitate the uptake of research findings in policymaking through effective science-policy-society interfaces and feedback mechanisms that inform policy development and implementation.
• Promote the mainstreaming of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) across policy areas and economic sectors by facilitating the uptake of R&I results in policy and practice, in collaboration with relevant European Commission services, external partners and stakeholders.
• Steer the synthesis, prioritisation and dissemination of results from biodiversity R&I projects addressing economic and financial dimensions and transformative change.
• Liaise with the RTD B.3 Climate team on climate science and research, in particular on the economics of climate change, to support the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change, and with the Environmental Observation team on environmental monitoring, biodiversity data, observation technologies and innovative tools.

In fulfilling these tasks, the jobholder will develop and maintain regular interaction with other units, Directorates, Directorates-General, EU institutions, Member States and external stakeholders. In particular, the jobholder will be in charge of liaising with relevant executive agencies (REA, CINEA, ERCEA) and of strengthening synergies with other EU funding programmes (InvestEU, Innovation Fund, European Competitiveness Fund, Common Agriculture Policy, etc.).

Qualifications, experience and skills

We are looking for a dynamic and committed colleague, with expertise in the economic, financial, social and ecological dimensions of translating research on a nature-positive economy and society into tangible real-world impact.

Excellent coordination and networking skills are essential for the role, alongside strong analytical and synthesis skills and sound professional judgement.

The successful candidate will possess:

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, environmental economics, finance, environmental finance, sustainable finance, or another closely related discipline relevant to the economic and financial dimensions of biodiversity is required. A degree in environmental studies, sustainable development or a related field, combined with a strong background in economics or finance, may also be considered. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, combined with two additional years of relevant professional experience, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• Proven experience in EU biodiversity policies and relevant legislation, including the ability to assess their economic and financial implications.

• Good understanding of the international policy landscape related to biodiversity, including the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as relevant climate policy frameworks, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

• Good knowledge of the processes, governance structures and work cycles of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including the Conferences of the Parties (COPs), and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), including their respective roles in shaping international biodiversity policy and informing decision-making.

• Proven knowledge of EU research and innovation (R&I) policy and the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation, including Horizon Europe and the forthcoming FP10, their structures, objectives and expected impacts.

• Proven ability to develop conceptual approaches and translate complex information into strategic programming and robust policy analysis, supporting evidence-based policy development and decision-making.

• Professional experience in communication, drafting and presentation, including the preparation of concise, high-quality outputs, speaking in public, contributing to expert panels and high-level discussions, and the organisation of high-level events.

• Experienced drafter of clear, effective briefings for senior management and decision-makers.

• Strong team spirit, organisational, interpersonal and negotiation skills, with a pragmatic and solution-oriented mindset, the ability to adapt quickly, and the readiness to respond promptly to emerging demands.

• A very good command of English is essential.

Additional technical knowledge in other areas covered by the unit, particularly climate change, would be an asset. Familiarity with other disciplines relevant to Nature-based Solutions (NbS), including relevant social sciences, would also be advantageous. Experience or knowledge related to the prioritisation of research and innovation needs in the fields of NbS and biodiversity, including the processes involved and engagement with Member States and stakeholders, would be considered an asset.

How to express your interest?

You should send your documents in one single pdf in the following order:

1. Your CV
2. Completed application form

Please send these documents to RTD-B3-CA-APPLICATIONS@ec.europa.eu by the publication deadline indicating the selection reference EC/2026/RTD/317435.

Eligibility, recruitment steps, contract and working conditions

Please consult the pdf document at the end of this page