Temporary staff are recruited on fixed-term contracts, mainly for expert, policy or managerial roles. Their responsibilities are often comparable to those of permanent staff.
Levels and responsibilities
Roles for temporary staff are grouped into 3 function groups. Each group reflects the type of work involved, the level of responsibility, the required experience and the salary. Within each group, there are different grades. These show seniority: the higher the grade, the greater the responsibility and the higher the salary.
Administrators (AD)
Administrators work in strategic and policy-oriented roles. Their work can include:
- developing and coordinating policy
- legal and regulatory work
- economic analysis and research
- scientific or technical expert work
- management and leadership
- project management
Grade range: AD5 to AD16
Entry grades: usually AD5 to AD7
Senior and management roles: higher AD grades
Assistants (AST)
Assistants provide administrative, technical and training support. These roles focus on implementation and day-to-day delivery, usually under the guidance of more senior staff. Their work can include:
- operational and technical support
- administrative coordination
- project and programme support
Grade range: AST 1 to AST 11
Entry grades: usually AST 1 to AST 3
Assistant-Secretaries and Clerks (AST/SC)
Assistant-secretaries and clerks provide clerical and secretarial support. They ensure services run smoothly by supporting day-to-day organisation and administration, under the supervision of senior staff. Their work can include:
- office management and secretarial work
- administrative and clerical support
- document management and coordination
Grade range: AST/SC 1 to AST/SC 6
Entry grades: usually AST/SC 1 or AST/SC 2
How temporary staff are recruited
Temporary staff are selected through vacancy notices published by the EU institutions on this website.
- Go to the Jobs tab
Look for vacancies labelled ‘temporary staff’.
- Prepare your application
In most cases, you will be asked to submit:
- a CV (often in Europass format)
- a motivation letter
- copies of your diplomas and certificates
Type of temporary staff
There are several types of temporary staff, depending on the post and the institution.
| TA (a) | Staff recruited to fill a post that is classified as temporary in an institution’s budget. |
|---|---|
| TA (b) | Staff recruited to fill a permanent post on a temporary basis in an EU institution. In the same institution, you may be offered up to 2 contracts of this type, with 1 renewal for each contract. The total length of these contracts, including extensions, can’t be more than 6 years in the same institution. |
| TA (c) | Staff recruited to support a person holding a specific office (such as the president of an institution or body). They may also support political groups in the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions or the European Economic and Social Committee. |
| TA (d) | Staff recruited to fill a permanent post temporarily that is paid from research and investment budgets. |
| TA (e) | Staff seconded from the national diplomatic services of EU countries to fill a permanent post in the European External Action Service (EEAS). |
| TA (f) | Staff recruited by EU agencies to fill a post classified as temporary. This type excludes heads and deputy heads of agencies and permanent staff seconded to an agency. |
(The letters are from the article in the EU legal text that sets out the types of temporary staff.)