Operational Project Assistant (Air Transport)

• Function title: Operational Project Assistant (Air Transport)
• Reference: NOC-AT-2026-AST/1154
• Location: Brétigny-sur-Orge
• In accordance with the Service Regulations, staff are required to reside either at their place of employment or at such distance from it as is compatible with the proper performance of their duties.
• The Innovation Hub is expected to relocate to the Innovation Cluster Paris-Saclay around 2028.
• Information about living in Brétigny-sur-Orge
• Nature of competition: Internal and external competition
• Applicable regulations: Staff regulations governing officials of the EUROCONTROL Agency
• Type of post: Assistant
• Job level: AST4-AST6 - Check salary simulations for the basic grade
• Generic job title: Specialised Technical/Administrative Assistant
• Number of posts: 1
• Duration of appointment: 5 Year(s) - renewal or conversion of the contract is possible under certain conditions see “Useful information” section
• Security clearance: Security vetting may be required in accordance with the relevant EUROCONTROL security policies
• Directorate/Service: ATD/INO/COE - Centre of Expertise Service
• Working arrangement: EUROCONTROL operates a hybrid working model, combining onsite presence with teleworking opportunities. Teleworking is subject to the applicable internal rules and is granted in line with business needs and managerial approval.
  Teleworking must not exceed 50% of the days worked in a month when performed at the official place of residence as defined above.
  In addition, all staff may telework from a location of their choice for up to 20 working days per calendar year, with line manager authorisation. These 20 days do not count towards the 50% monthly limit.
• Competition publication date: 03/09/2026
• Competition closing date: 01/10/2026 (23:59 Brussels time)
• Reserve list: Applicable - See details in the "Useful information" section

Your team

Within the The Aviation Transformation Directorate, the EUROCONTROL Innovation Hub (EIH) carries out research, innovation and simulation activities aimed at improving the performance, safety and sustainability of European aviation by bridging the gap between research and development and operations. The EIH also addresses emerging technologies as well as the deployment of drones and urban air mobility systems.

As an Operational Project Assistant, you will provide specialised support to air transport related activities, particularly in the context of INO's Research & Innovation (R&I) work programme. You will contribute to the development, analysis and validation of concepts and systems, provide advice on aviation-related activities, support the definition and management of operational and technical requirements, organise and participate in stakeholder workshops, collect and analyse data, and prepare reports, presentations, training materials and other technical documentation.

Your role

Your role will be to:

• Provide specialised technical support to R&I projects and activities/work programmes in Air transport, and assist with the development of new concepts and system.
• Assist with collecting stakeholders needs, develop operational and technical requirements, and select indicators as needed to support the validation of new concepts.
• Collect, organise and analyse data to assist in identifying trends, support studies, assessments, reports, meetings, etc. ensuring accuracy and reliability.
• Participate in validations/simulation exercise as support to assessments of projects/concepts feasibility and provide inputs as needed.
• Support with the drafting and formatting of technical documentation, working papers, reports, presentations, training material, guidelines, etc. (e.g. ConOps, Operational Specifications, etc.)
• Identify and suggest new ways and/or propose improvements in procedures/processes/technical solutions/standards/methods/guidelines, etc.
• Assist and/or support staff with less experience in the domain of expertise/knowledge.
• Develop knowledge and skills in the field of expertise under the guidance of more senior staff.
• Carry out any other tasks in line with the main purpose of the job.

Required qualifications, experience & competencies

• Candidates must fulfil the following educational and professional experience requirements:

  • Completion of post-secondary education in a relevant domain (e.g. Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics, etc.) meeting European Qualifications Framework (EQF) Level 5 followed by a minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience.

• Internal candidates can check on the intranet to see what level of in-house experience is considered equivalent to educational qualifications where appropriate.
• Experience contributing to the development, improvement and design of concepts and systems.
• Experience supporting operational validation activities, including real time simulations, exercises, operational trials or similar validation activities.
• Experience in an engineering discipline including exposure to the definition and management of requirements.
• Experience or knowledge in Aviation Research & Innovation.
• Experience or knowledge in at least one of the following domains:
  • Air Traffic Management (ATM);
  • Airport operations;
  • UAS/U-Space;
  • Network Management.
• Knowledge of the European ATM environment, including ICAO and European regulatory frameworks.
• Technical drafting skills in English.
• As an asset, knowledge or experience in:
  • Agile development methodologies;
  • SESAR Concept of Operations and Program;
  • UX/UI and/or design thinking approaches;
  • E-OCVM;
  • Machine learning techniques, toolkits, data analytics, data visualisation (using tools as Power BI, Tableau, etc.), statistical analysis, modelling, algorithm design and software development/scripting;
  • Use of AI-enabled tools to support professional tasks and ways of working.
• Analytical thinking: you analyse information and are able to identify relationships.
• Creativity and innovation: you apply new approaches.
• Communication: you adapt your communication to different situations and audiences.
• Quality focus: you set and foster high quality standards.
• Teamwork: you foster teamwork.
• Ability to work in a multinational and multicultural environment.
• Professional conduct in line with the corporate behaviours of the Agency, i.e. result-driven, readiness to change, customer focus, integrity and team-player approach.
• The working languages of the Agency are English and French. For this particular job, candidates must be proficient users of English at level C1. The selected candidate will be required to become at least a basic user of French at level A1 before the end of the probation period.
  The levels relate to the European-framework-reference Common European Framework of References for languages (CEFR).

Useful information

• Applications will be accepted from nationals of EUROCONTROL Member States only.
• The selected candidate may be required to provide documentary evidence confirming they meet the minimum education requirements. They will be informed if and when specific evidence is needed. Please note that no offer (for external candidates) or appointment (for internal candidates) will be made until the necessary evidence, if required, is validated.
• The selected candidate will be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Staff regulations governing officials of the EUROCONTROL Agency. This appointment may be renewed several times, but its total duration, including all renewal periods, may not exceed nine (9) years. A conversion to an undetermined duration appointment is possible where all of the following cumulative conditions are met: the post is confirmed as being of a lasting nature; the staff member has completed at least five years of service; the staff member’s performance has been satisfactory; and the conversion is in the interests of the service. Conversion is therefore not automatic.
• Conditions depending on current type of engagement
  Internal staff appointed for a determined period
  • Retain their current type of appointment duration.
  • Continue under their existing appointment duration, as appointment durations are not cumulative.
  • The duration of their appointment will therefore not restart upon selection to the new post, i.e. the remaining duration of their current determined appointment continues to apply.
  • Renewal(s): This appointment may be renewed several times, but its total duration, including all renewal periods, may not exceed nine (9) years.
  • Conversion: Conversion to an undetermined duration appointment is possible where all of the following cumulative conditions are met: the post is confirmed as being of a lasting nature; the staff member has completed at least five years of service; the staff member’s performance has been satisfactory; and the conversion is in the interests of the service. Conversion is therefore not automatic.
  Internal staff appointed for an undetermined period
  • Retain their current type of appointment duration.
  At the end of the 5 Year period of the post for which they were selected:
  • If the assignment is extended, they will continue in the post in accordance with the applicable rules.
  • If the assignment is not extended and/or the duties are not confirmed as being of a lasting nature, they will be transferred to another post corresponding to their “previous” type of post, job level, and function group.
• The selected candidate must successfully complete a probationary period of nine (9) months before being established in the post.
• The selected candidate shall be appointed at the grade set out in this vacancy notice, or if a group of grades has been published for a job level, in principle at the basic grade of the published job level.

• Candidates declared suitable who are not selected for the post will be placed on a reserve list for similar roles. The reserve list will be valid for one year from the closing date of applications.
• Information on salary and benefits can be found on our Careers site
• EUROCONTROL is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality and diversity. In the event of equal merit, preference may be given to the applicant from the under-represented diversity characteristics in order to complement diversity of teams and rebalance the workforce.
• Candidates should go to our Careers site and read the tips on how to apply.