CAJU 09 - 2026 Project Officer

 
The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU), based in Brussels, Belgium
is looking for candidates to establish a reserve list for the
Project Officer
(Temporary Agent grade AD 7)

Ref.: CAJU 09-2026 Project Officer
Please send us your application by no later than 3rd of September 2026 at 23:59 (Brussels time), following the instructions in the ANNEX I
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Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is the largest European research program in aeronautics, developing innovative, cutting-edge technology aimed at increasing commercial aircraft efficiency. The main objective of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is to contribute to reducing the ecological footprint of aviation by accelerating the development of climate neutral aviation technologies for their earliest possible deployment, therefore significantly contributing to the ambitious environment impact mitigation goals of the European Green Deal and Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council, that is to say a 55 % emissions reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, and climate neutrality at the latest by 2050.
 

The lifetime of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking and the implementation of its budget and activities financed under the ongoing Horizon Europe program are expected to run until 31/12/31 the latest. 
The European Commission published on 16/07/2025 a proposal for the next Multi-Financial Framework (MFF) for the years 2028-2034 and a legislative package of the newly proposed Horizon Europe Framework Program for R&I and of the newly proposed European Competitiveness Fund. As part of the exploratory memorandum of the legislative proposal of Horizon Europe, Clean Aviation has been listed amongst the so called proposed “Moonshots” projects areas . 
This information is provided as supporting information and without bias to the outcome of the ongoing legislative process with the Council of the EU and European Parliament and of any possible legislative proposal by the Commission on the future Joint Undertakings.

The Clean Aviation JU is located in Brussels, Belgium.
For further information, please consult the following website: https://www.clean-aviation.eu/  

1.    General profile of the post
Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is looking for an experienced, dynamic, and committed colleague who will be appointed as Project Officer.
The Project Officer will join the Project Management Unit for the overall monitoring & the implementation of Clean Aviation calls and research activities launched. The Project Officer will manage the Grant Lifecycle tasks for the assigned projects, from the grant preparation to the closure and promotion of results and will support the management of the Unit in transversal tasks that are relevant for the monitoring of the program. 

2.    Specific duties and responsibilities
In particular, the Project Officer will be responsible for:
•    Preparation and management of Calls
o    Managing the preparation of the evaluation phase (selection of experts, eligibility checks of proposals);
o    Managing the evaluation of proposals, chairing meetings with experts, hearings, preparation of evaluation reports and final ranking of proposals;
•   Grant Agreement management 
o    Managing grant-agreement life-cycle tasks for an assigned portfolio of projects;
o    Liaising with the project coordinator and the consortia and being a single focal point for CAJU communications with them;
o    Monitoring financial and legal obligations of beneficiaries;
o    Technical monitoring of results and evaluation of progress for the assigned portfolio projects;
o    Leading the monitoring of clusters of Grants around dedicated technological areas.
o    Monitoring the performance of projects (assessment of quarterly reports, KPIs) and progress of research activities.
o    Validation (both technical and financial) of reporting period periods associated to contractual obligations and following Horizon Europe Program rules.
•    Project Continuous Monitoring
o    Assessing and validating technical deliverables for the assigned projects
o    Leading major funding projects and consolidating technical assessment of cluster of projects around dedicated technological areas;
o    Monitoring project planning, developing integrating planning (across projects, techno-bricks) and risk and mitigation evolution;
o    Assessing milestones and project progress;
o    Preparing communication materials, including the translation of complex technical concepts into clear and accessible language for non-specialist audiences;
o    Supporting the development of tools and statistics relevant for the monitoring of the project or the overall program. 
•    Managing Project Reviews
o    Preparing project reviews and related reporting with or without experts involved.
o    Chairing progress reviews and delivering the project reporting.
o    Delivering internal summaries, notes and/or presentation on outcomes of reviews. 
•    Delivering program impact
o    Coordinating in the preparation of dashboards including [KPIs] across cluster of projects 
o    Delivering content and recommendations based on data analyses including integrated cross-project analyses
o    Supporting and coordinating the preparation of strategic documents, briefing notes and reports for governance bodies and senior management
o    Contributing to the unit in enhance the program/project management processes.
o    Fostering collaboration across technical domains, projects and organizational units to maximize program synergies and impact
o    Representing CAJU at high-level events, conferences, meetings and international fora across Europe and worldwide, promoting the Joint Undertaking’s ambitions, activities and project results.
o    Identifying emerging risks, opportunities and strategic priorities and proposing corrective actions or improvement measures to senior management.
o    Coordinating transversal activities, including conferences, stakeholder forums, workshops, communication campaigns and dissemination events.
•    Perform any other tasks assigned by the JU management in the interest of the smooth operation and support of the projects and the program. This may include contributing to transversal Clean Aviation activities such as communication events, preparation of articles, support to the Work Program and Annual Activity Report, conducting analyses on technologies mapping, state of the art reached, implementation and exploitation scenarios, and other strategic or technical topics.

3.    Eligibility criteria
To be considered eligible for selection, an applicant must have met by the closing date of this call, the following formal requirements:
• Be national of one of the Member States of the EU and enjoy full rights as citizens.
• Education: Evidence of a level of education corresponding to completed university studies, attested by a Master's degree, where the normal duration of university education is four years or more.
• Languages: Evidence of English knowledge (C2 or equivalent), and a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the European Union to the extent necessary for for the performance of the duties associated with the post.
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service.
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post. Prior to appointment, the selected candidate as temporary staff position shall be required to undergo a medical assessment conducted by one of the institution's medical officers in line with the requirement of Art. 12(2)(d) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union (CEOS). 

4.    Selection criteria 
Candidates selected based on the above eligibility criteria will then be evaluated according to the following selection criteria.

4.1 Essential qualifications and experience
•    A level of university education of minimum four years in Aeronautics/Aerospace Engineering domain, which corresponds to at least a completed university Master's degree studies. 
•   A minimum professional experience of at least seven years in the Aeronautics/Aerospace domain including at least five years of experience in Project/Program Management. Only professional experience gained after obtaining the minimum qualification required & up to the vacancy closing date, will be considered.
•    Proven professional experience in aeronautical development programs and excellent analytical skills to synthesize complex information into clear, high-value executive summaries for senior stakeholders.

4.2 Advantageous qualifications and experience:
•    Knowledge of EU Institutions’ procedures and processes linked to Grant Management and policies and activities in the field of research and/or other linked EU policies Horizon Europe Framework Program with specific focus on large industrial programs.

4.3    Proven capability to perform the specific duties and responsibilities:
4.3.1 Negotiation skills and problem solving: Proven professional experience to effectively engage with the stakeholders and proactively steer discussions to secure their commitments. 
Proven professional experience to accurately analyze and identify obstacles or issues, tackling them in a pro-active, constructive, and problem-solving approach.

4.3.2 Organizational and communication skills
Demonstrated ability to coordinate activities and collaborate effectively in a multicultural environment, adapting to evolving working practices and contributing to the establishment of efficient interfaces and processes, while working both independently and as part of a team. Strong sense of responsibility and accountability, with proven persistence, resilience, and the ability to maintain effectiveness when working under competing priorities.
Demonstrated ability to lead, inspire and develop high-performing teams in a complex stakeholder environment. Proven capacity to provide strategic guidance, drive organizational objectives and foster a collaborative and inclusive working culture. Strong people-management skills, with the ability to delegate effectively, empower team members and support their professional growth, while ensuring accountability and delivery of results. Demonstrated ability to manage change, resolve conflicts constructively and build commitment around a shared vision, both within teams and across organizational boundaries.
Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to convey both scientific and business information effectively to a wide range of audiences at all levels. Proven ability to communicate with confidence and assertiveness, while fostering constructive dialogue and collaboration and a creative mindset enabling innovative thinking.

5.    Conditions of employment
The place of employment is Brussels, where the JU’s premises are located.
The successful candidate will be appointed by the Executive Director of the JU as a Temporary Agent, pursuant to Article 2(f) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union, for a period of 3 years. The successful candidate will be recruited as Temporary Agent Grade AD 07.
Subject to budget availability, after an evaluation of the post holder's performance and the needs of the service, the contract may be renewed not more than once for a fixed period. Any further renewal will be for an indefinite period (In line with provisions of art. 8 of the CEOS). The period of engagement will not in any case exceed the lifetime of the JU.
Candidates should note the requirement under the Staff Regulations/ CEOS for all new staff to successfully complete a probationary period of 9 months.
Remuneration will be based on the Union scale of salaries. Pay is subject to Union tax and other deductions laid down in the Staff Regulations. The pay of staff members consists of a basic salary supplemented with specific allowances, including expatriation or family allowances. The provisions guiding the calculation of these allowances can be consulted in the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants available at the following address: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1962R0031:20140101:EN:PDF

6.    Selection procedure
A selection committee is nominated by the Appointing Authority of the JU. Each application is checked to verify whether the candidate meets the eligibility criteria.
All the eligible applications are evaluated by the selection committee based on the elements of the application and having regard to the Vacancy Notice. After the screening of the applications, the selection committee will draw up a shortlist of candidates who correspond best to the profile sought. On this basis, shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with the selection committee, which will be complemented by a written test.
As a result of those assessments, the selection committee drafts a reserve list of the best candidates which will be submitted to the Executive Director. As part of the selection procedure, the Executive Director might decide to meet the best scored candidates.

7.    Appointment and reserve list
The Executive Director will select from the reserve list the successful candidate and offer the post.
A binding commitment can only be made after the verification of all conditions and will take the form of a contract signed by the Executive Director. Recruitment will be based on availability of posts and budget. Candidates should note that inclusion in the reserve list does not guarantee recruitment. 
The reserve list for this post will be valid 24 months after the Executive Director has approved the reserve list and may be extended at the discretion of the Appointing Authority of the CAJU. 
The reserve list may be used for coverage of future vacancies for similar profile characteristics.

8.    Equal opportunities
The CAJU, as a Union body, applies a policy of equal opportunities and non-discrimination in accordance with Article 1d of the Staff Regulations.               
9.    Closing date
Applications must be submitted before the closing date indicated for this vacancy: 3rd of September 2026 at 23:59 (Brussels time). The closing date of this vacancy may be extended.