Trainee (International Affairs)

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 International Affairs Department.

Specific objectives and projects

EMA and US FDA have more than twenty years' experience of working together, including through technical groups called 'clusters'. With more than 30 clusters now operating across a range of therapeutic and technical disciplines, you will contribute to the implementation by EMA and FDA of a new Cluster Framework for how these groups work. The work project will focus in overseeing the implementation of the new framework, more specifically you will be involved in supporting in the implementation of a system to track cluster activities and impact.

You will also be part of the work to develop and implement an EMA international engagement strategy.

We would also like you to help us improve our internal and external communications and stakeholder engagement on international activities, as well as being able to be involved in the wider activities of the International Affairs team.

Learning outcomes

The US FDA is our biggest partner, representing well over half of all the Agency's international interactions. You will have the chance to learn about the broad range of our engagements, as well as how these interactions are managed.
You will have the opportunity to experience first-hand how international regulators work together as part of delivering on our public and animal health mandates. You will learn the tools and instruments we can use to support our international engagements. Importantly you will also learn about working across a large EU organisation and the wider network of Member State national authorities and European Commission.
Plus of course, you will interact with fellow trainees working across the EMA and build your own new network of contacts.

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 pharmacy, sciences, international politics or international relations background (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

In addition to the above, you will have:

• Research skills;
• communication experience;
• experience in or understanding of global public health issues;
• ability to work in multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.

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.