Joint Research Centre is looking for a Knowledge Management Officer - Organisational Transformation

Employer: European Commission - Joint Research Centre (JRC)

Reference: 2026-JRC.S.2.002-BRU-FGIV-003331

Contract type: Auxiliary Contract Staff

Grade: FGIV

Location: Brussels

Unit: Science Advice on Knowledge Sharing, Collaboration and New Ways of Working

Deadline: 19 November 2026 23:59 (Brussels time)

The current vacancy is in Directorate Innovation in Science and Policymaking , in the Science for Democracy, Public Governance and Administration Unit.

For complete information, please consult the Vacancy Notice.

VACANCY NOTICE – 2026-JRC.S.2.002-BRU-FGIV-003331

• Type of contract: Member of the European Commission's contract staff, Function Group IV (article 3b of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants)
• Duration of contract: 36 months (renewable up to maximum 6 years)
• Area: Knowledge Management - Organisational change
• Place of employment: Brussels (BE)
• Indicative basic salary: 4.449,31 - 6.444,59 € (applicable as of 1st of July 2025) For more detailed information please consult: Working Conditions

WE ARE

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) provides independent, evidence-based knowledge and science, supporting EU policies to positively impact society.

The current vacancy is in Directorate Innovation in Science and Policymaking - whose mission is to help EU policies to innovate, stay relevant and be responsive to citizens' needs by connecting, synthesising and integrating in the processes that underpin evidence-informed policymaking forward-looking knowledge, science and methods from within the JRC and beyond combined with new ways the Commission engages with citizens.

Specifically, the vacancy is in the "Science for Democracy, Public Governance and Administration Unit", whose mission is to strengthen evidence-informed and collaborative policymaking and administration, as well as democracy within the Commission and the EU.

The Unit enhances the capacity of the JRC and the Commission by research, tools, training and methods on knowledge synthesis, citizen engagement and democracy well as the science and application of collaboration and science for policy. A core part of its mission is to foster a culture of using scientific evidence, of collaboration and democratic innovation across the Commission and the Member states – helping spread the skills, tools and mindsets needed to use scientific evidence, collaborate better, train national officials and engage citizens.

Further information: https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/organisational-transformation_en

Policymaking institutions are under pressure to transform. Complex challenges such as climate change, migration, security and AI governance are testing their capacity to deliver effective policies and maintain citizens' trust. The JRC project "Rethinking Policymaking Institutions in the Age of AI" aims to provide insights on how to approach this transformation, drawing on state-of-the-art evidence from the behavioural and organisational sciences, political science and public administration.

We offer:

A unique opportunity to work at the science-policy interface on one of the defining questions of our time: how public institutions can transform themselves in the age of AI. You will join a dynamic, multidisciplinary and international research environment at the heart of EU policymaking, co-shaping a high-visibility project from its launch. The role offers direct collaboration with leading researchers in the behavioural and organisational sciences and engagement with high-level officials in the European Commission and Member States. You will benefit from a stimulating intellectual community, ample opportunities to present your work, and a family-friendly, flexible working environment with online collaboration and occasional travel.

Please see also Working at the Commission – conditions and environment (europa.eu)

WE PROPOSE

We are looking for an experienced scientist who would like to play a key role as a knowledge broker at the intersection of cutting-edge science and public sector innovation. The jobholder will co-lead the newly launched JRC project "Rethinking Policymaking Institutions in the Age of AI", which aims to bring interdisciplinary insights to help the European Commission and Member States reimagine and transform policymaking institutions focusing on culture, structure and processes. The project requires a solid scientific background as its main objective is to gather state-of-the-art evidence from diverse scientific fields on the crucial enablers of institutional transformation. It will focus on topics like collective intelligence, organisational learning, public leadership, science-informed policymaking and participatory democracy, with AI as an overarching meta-theme. Its main envisioned outputs will be a set of science-for-policy brief series, an expert consultation synthesis, cross-disciplinary literature reviews. The aim is also to establish a Community of Practice on evidence for public sector transformation and convene high-level exchanges between senior policymakers and leading researchers.

The position foresees the following tasks:

• Review, monitor and analyse best practice and the latest scientific evidence in behavioural and organisational sciences, collective intelligence, organisational development and public administration relevant to the transformation of policymaking institutions;
• Research and co-draft, in collaboration with external researchers, the project's science-for-policy briefs and the final report, translating complex, cross-disciplinary evidence into clear, actionable recommendations for policymakers and administrators;
• Design and conduct both first-hand qualitative and/or quantitative research in areas broadly related to organisational/behavioural change as well as via the expert consultation process (interviews, surveys, use-case analyses) with top researchers and their teams, and synthesise its findings;
• Contribute to establishing and maintaining regular contacts and exchanges with research institutions, the academic community, international organisations and civil society in the field of public sector transformation, including by helping to build and animate the Community of Practice on Evidence for Public Sector Transformation;
• Prepare briefings, opinions, reports, work programme input and other contributions for the different levels of steering committees and management, including engagement with high-level officials in the Commission and Member States;
• Advise other Commission services on change management and organisational development, and on work design processes and competencies that optimise the interaction between tools, processes and behaviours in a flexible work context;
• Contribute to the design and delivery of learning material, workshops, training actions and the project's high-level event, including their evaluation and follow-up;
• Support procurement and contract management where needed: define terms of reference, prepare calls for tender, supervision of contract performance (deadlines, expenditure, ...) and quality control and evaluation of outcomes.

WE LOOK FOR

We are looking for an experienced researcher in behavioural and organisational sciences who is enthusiastic about translating scientific insights to advise high-level policymakers and decision-makers on running public sector transformation initiatives.

Essential requirements:

• A PhD in psychology, cognitive science, or another relevant social or behavioural science discipline; interdisciplinary backgrounds combining these fields will be considered an asset;
• At least 2 years of professional experience as a researcher, in one or more of the following areas: organisational science, collective intelligence, organisational development, or knowledge sharing and collaboration; additional experience outside academia (e.g. project management, science for policy studies) will be considered an asset;
• Sound knowledge of recent advances in their respective field, the broader scientific research landscape and the leading experts in the field; excellent grasp of a diverse set of methodological approaches applied in the social sciences, both quantitative and qualitative;
• Excellent writing skills, with a proven ability to synthesise complex scientific evidence into clear, engaging and policy-relevant texts for non-specialist audiences;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to build and sustain relationships with senior researchers and their teams as well as with high-level officials and managers;
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken (minimum C1); Knowledge of other EU languages is an asset.
• Ability to work effectively in an international, multicultural environment;

Desirable requirements:

• Experience with expert consultation and research methods such as interviews, surveys and use-case analysis, as well as consultancy techniques, collaborative tools and platforms, and information management;
• Experience in change management, business process re-engineering and/or project management;
• A track record of scientific publications and/or science-for-policy outputs (e.g. policy briefs, evidence reviews);
• Good understanding and interest in recent AI developments and their implications for organisations and public administrations;
• Experience of working in international organisations or acquired in more than one country;

HOW TO APPLY

If you are already on a valid CAST FG IV reserve list, or you have already applied to one of the calls below, you can directly submit your application at JRC Recruitment Portal.

If not, before applying to this position, you must register for one of the two following databases:

• the Selection process for contract staff | EU Personnel Selection – EU Careers (EPSO CAST FG IV), which is used by a wide range of organisations (institutions, bodies, offices and agencies of the European Union), or
• the JRC Open Call for Researchers, (JRC Call COM/1/2015/GFIV – Research), which is mainly used by the JRC.

Note that each of the calls above has different minimum eligibility requirements and different selection tests.

The JRC cultivates a workplace based on respect for other people and the environment, and embraces non-discriminatory practices and equality of opportunity. In case of equal merit, preference will be given to the gender in minority.

While we do our best in sharing high quality job postings, Jobs in Brussels can't guarantee or be made responsible for the content in the postings (e.g. specified deadlines or links).