Trainee (Inspections Office)

About the traineeship programme

The Agency is looking for motivated, qualified recent graduates or students on an Erasmus+ or other programme or PhD students or Master's students (who posses a previous degree), who are interested in gaining experience and contribute to the Agency’s work for every patient in Europe. The purpose of a traineeship at the Agency is to perform tasks that are predominantly in the interest of the trainee’s training and principally serve to increase the trainee’s knowledge and to gain relevant experience.

Placement description

We are looking for a trainee in the Quality and Safety of Medicines Department.

Specific objectives and projects

EMA Inspections Office chairs and provides secretarial support to inspectors working groups, which comprises of inspection representatives from each EEA Member State, who meet quarterly to discuss inspection approaches and harmonise positions.

During the traineeship you will be involved in a project to better position response to the supervision of the use of new technologies in manufacturing, clinical trials and pharmacoivigilance by:
 

• mapping out scientific expertise of the Inspectors' Working Groups (IWGs), to better position response to the supervision of the use of new technologies in manufacturing, clinical trials and pharmacoivigilance
• implementing improved communication channels between the EMA and inspectorates, and between inspectorates themselves
• improving the on-boarding of new members of the Inspectors' Working Groups

The core of the project will lead better identification and grouping of experts to ensure the IWGs are positioned to regulate new technologies. This project will benefit from a trainee with an innovative and practical mindset right from the start.

Learning outcomes

The trainee will:

•    gain an understanding of different types of inspections (manufacturing, clinical trials, pharmacovigilance) 
•    gain an understanding of how the inspections and compliance system in the EEA is organised
•    gain a good comprehension of managing working groups and their meetings/interactions
•    gain an understanding of quality management systems and obtain practical experience in developing trainings and written instructions
•    develop their project management and communication skills
•    develop an appreciation in challenges faced by IWGs in regulating novel technologies and methods
 

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible for consideration for this placement, you are required to:

1. enjoy full rights as a citizen of a European Union Member State or Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway;
2. possess a university degree in life sciences (minimum of three years or more) that must have been obtained between 6 May 2024 and 6 May 2025 or be a university student on an Erasmus + or a similar programme or a PhD student or a Master's student with a previous fully finished degree in the areas mentioned before.
3. a thorough knowledge of English (at least level C1) and good knowledge of other official EU language (at least B2) of the Common European Framework for Languages

For criteria 1 and 2, you will be required to provide proof in the application form and at the interview stage. Failing to present these documents may result in the disqualification from the procedure.

Additional skills

• Good communication skills with ability to compile, summarise and present information clearly and effectively
• Good analytical and organisational skills
• Good project management skills and knowledge of different IT systems
• Proactive and collaborative approach

Behavioural Competencies

You will demonstrate the following behavioural competencies:

• Communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Working with others
• Adaptability
• Research and analytical skills
• Learning and development

Expected selection timelines

Conditions of traineeship

The traineeship is offered for 10 months (1 October 2025 – 31 July 2026) and takes place at the Agency’s premises in Amsterdam with possibility for teleworking up to 40% of working time from The Netherlands and occasional teleworking from outside The Netherlands. Traineeships are offered for either full-time or part-time (80% or 50%) if combined with university studies.

The Agency pays a monthly stipend of €1,942.19 for a full-time traineeship (reduced accordingly for 80% or 50%) and a travel contribution upon joining the Agency.

Each trainee will have a mentor at the Agency who will guide the trainee through the programme.

The conditions of employment are stated in the Executive Decision on rules governing the traineeship programme at the EMA available here.