The general role of administrators is to support decision-makers in fulfilling the mission of their institution or body. AD 5 is often the grade at which graduates begin their careers as administrators in the European institutions. Administrators recruited at this grade can undertake, under supervision, three main types of work in the institutions: policy formulation, operational delivery, and resource management.

The main duties, which may vary from one institution to another, are listed in the Notice of Competition.

You can also have a look at our website where you can find access to useful information about permanent officials.

Assistants are generally employed in an executive and/or technical role (administrative, financial, communication, research, policy development and implementation etc.). They play an important role in the internal management of the Institutions, notably in budgetary and financial affairs, personnel work, computing, and document management and scientific laboratory work.

• An assistant career covers grades AST 1 to AST 11.
• New staff usually enters at grade AST 1 or AST 3.
• AST 1 candidates must have completed secondary education and have previous relevant experience, or have a relevant vocational qualification.
• AST 3 candidates should generally have completed secondary education, a relevant vocational qualification and/or several years' relevant experience.

Secretaries/Clerks are generally employed in an office management and administrative support role. They can take on a broad range of tasks such as preparing files, supporting the organisation and coordination of the department's activities, managing documents, as well as many others involved in supporting teams, managers, or other services within the EU institutions.

• A Secretary/Clerk career covers grades AST/SC1 to AST/SC6.
• New staff usually enter at grades AST/SC 1 or AST/SC 2.
• AST/SC1 candidates must have completed secondary education and have previous relevant experience, or have a relevant vocational qualification.
• AST/SC2 grade is sometimes available for more experienced candidates).

The EU institutions select candidates for permanent contracts through open competitions. These are tests and assessment exercises designed to measure your professional skills and a number of core competencies. In view of the very large number of applicants, this is the fairest and most transparent selection procedure. This means that spontaneous applications cannot be taken into account.

The EU institutions select candidates for permanent contracts through the organisation of open competitions. Each of these competitions is announced by the publication of a Notice of Competition in the Official Journal of the European Union, as well as on EPSO’s website. The Notice of Competition contains a full description of the profile sought, the minimum requirements as regards education (and sometimes work experience) and indicates the tests and other assessment exercises (designed to measure your professional skills and a number of core competencies) that will take place during the competition. The Notice of Competition also includes information and instructions on how to apply for the open competition. In general, the Notice of Competition is published on the first day of the application period.

In view of the very large number of applicants, EPSO deems that this is the fairest and most transparent method for selection procedures. Spontaneous applications cannot therefore be taken into account.

Each selection procedure (competition) for permanent EU officials has its own selection board. Each selection board is composed of officials from the EU institutions and bodies served by EPSO. Officials join the selection board on a voluntary basis, following a dedicated call for interest. Selection board members are nominated formally by their organisation of origin. They must have no conflict of interest as regards their competition in order to be confirmed as members of the selection board.

In the case of competitions published until 31 December 2022, selection boards consist, generally, of permanent members and non-permanent members. Permanent members are EU officials seconded to EPSO from their organisations of origin usually for a period of 2 or 4 years. Non-permanent members are EU officials appointed by their organisations of origin to a particular competition for their technical or linguistic expertise, for example. In the case of competitions published after 1 January 2023, selection boards no longer include permanent members systematically. Gradually, selection boards will be composed of non-permanent members only.

Nominated selection board members are trained on selection and assessment methodologies before they take up their duties and continue to receive specific training and guidance from EPSO’s team of psychologists during the different stages of their competition.

Selection boards decide on the difficulty of the competition tests and approve their content, assess the candidates’ compliance with the specific eligibility criteria, compare candidates’ merits, and select the best candidates in the light of the requirements set out in the notice of competition. The proceedings of the selection boards are secrete and their work is facilitated by EPSO.

An administrator career covers grades AD 5 to AD 16. 

AD 5 is generally the entry level for University graduates.  In most cases, no professional experience is required.

Selection and recruitment may also be offered at AD 6 / AD 7 for specialist roles. Several years' relevant experience will be required. 

AD 9 / AD 12 is middle management level. Selection/recruitment at these grades requires previous management experience.