Trainee (Quality management, preparation for IAS audit and roll-out of change management)

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 Strategic Planning and Governance Department.

Specific objectives and projects

As a trainee in the Quality and Risk Management Office, you will primarily support the preparation and execution of activities related to the quality and risk management audit, scheduled for 2026 by the Internal Audit Service of the Commission. In particular, you be involved in the following activities:

• Participating and contributing to the preparation of internal audits as an auditee coordinator, particularly supporting the preparation and execution of activities related to the Quality and Risk Management audit, scheduled for 2026 by the Internal Audit Service of the Commission.
• Assisting in the preparation and delivery of training sessions related to the review of the Quality and Risk Management System.
• Contributing to the revision and update of critical documentation, such as policies, process mapping, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and work instructions (WINs).

Learning outcomes

During this traineeship, you will learn:

• Quality Management: 

- Understand the principles of quality management and internal controls.
- Learn how organizations maintain high standards through policies, procedures, and continuous improvement.
- Explore international quality standards such as ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems).

• Risk Management: 

- Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities at the EMA
- Assess and prioritise risks using structured frameworks.
- Learn risk mitigation strategies, including preventive measures and crisis response.
- Business Continuity Management (BCM): 

• Discover how the Agency prepare for disruptions like cyber-attacks, natural disasters, or public health crises.
• Learn how to develop a Business Continuity Plan (BCP), ensuring operations continue during a crisis.
• Practical Application: Work on real-life case studies and simulations.
• Develop problem-solving and decision-making skills in risk scenarios.
   

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 Business Administration, Public administration, Political science or Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biology, Medicine, or Biomedical Sciences with focus on quality management, risk management or operations (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. Knowledge of AI LLM, data transformation and visualization tools is an advantage.
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

• Familiarity with Quality & Risk Frameworks.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and experience with data analysis tools is a plus.
• Ability to present findings clearly, write reports, and contribute to discussions in a corporate setting.Ability to assess risks, identify patterns in data, and provide well-reasoned insights.
• Ability to think critically and propose solutions to mitigate risks and improve processes.
• Working effectively with colleagues across different departments.
• Managing multiple tasks efficiently while meeting deadlines.
• Willingness to learn new concepts, take initiative, and adapt to evolving challenges.

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.