SME officer
Job grade: FGIV
Internal job grade and Interagency: FGIV
Type of position: Contract agent
Selection procedure reference: EMA/CA/11361
Job title: SME officer
Talent Pool: FGIV Engagement, Communication, International & Institutional Affairs
Deadline for applications: 12 May 2026 at 23:59 CET
Salary: 4,449.31 Euro (including local weighting) [1] plus benefits (see calculators on the right) (based on a fulltime contract (40hrs/week))
Location: [[Amsterdam]]; [[The Netherlands]] (relocation to take up duties is mandatory)
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About this position:
The EMA SME Office is looking for an SME officer to help foster a supportive regulatory environment for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In this role, you will help SMEs in navigating the EU regulatory system and accessing key incentives, directly supporting the Agency’s strategic priorities of promoting innovation and strengthening the competitiveness of the European life sciences sector.
The role includes providing financial and administrative support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2049/2005 (EMA SME Regulation), Regulation (EU) 2024/568 (Fees), and related activities under Regulation (EU) 2017/745 (Medical Devices) and Regulation (EU) 2017/746 (In Vitro Diagnostic Devices).
In this role you will:
- Review small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) status applications according to standard operating procedures;
- Provide regulatory, administrative and procedural assistance and support to SMEs;
- Plan the organisation of workshops and training events for SMEs;
- Plan the organisation of internal and external meetings with stakeholders;
- Supervise the provision of translations of product information for marketing authorisations applications by SMEs;
- Prepare documents, manuals and other relevant communication tools (e.g. newsletters, targeted mailings, user guide);
- Monitor and report SME activities in relevant systems, databases and governance documents;
- Support the implementation and delivery of the Agency and the European medicines regulatory network strategies relating to regulatory science, innovation and competitiveness;
- Collaborate with Commission Directorates/European Agencies and European Institutions in related areas of activity;
- Represent the Agency in external meetings and public conferences;
- Collaborate with international institutions in related activities.
Here is the link to the SME officer Role Descriptions, outlining generic duties and responsibilities: SME Officer (CF-01-05-300)
Apply if you meet these eligibility criteria:
General Conditions:
1. Enjoy full rights as a citizen of a European Union Member State or Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway;
2. A thorough knowledge of English (at least level C1) and a satisfactory knowledge of another official language of the European Union (at least level B2);
3. Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by applicable laws concerning military service.
Specific Conditions:
1. Possess a university degree of a minimum of three years in Life Sciences (e.g. medicine, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy) that must have been obtained by the closing date of this vacancy notice.
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General Condition 1 and Specific Conditions 1 will be verified firstly based on the application form and then you will be required to provide documentary evidence at the interview stage. Failing to present these documents may result in the disqualification from the selection procedure.
Only candidates eligible will be assessed by the Selection Committee in accordance with the Assessment Criteria below.
You will also need to have:
Experience
- At least 1 year experience in either a competent authority in the field of medicines regulation, the pharmaceutical industry or in a healthcare/academic setting obtained on the scientific, regulatory or procedural aspects of research, development, authorisation, manufacturing or supervision of human and/or veterinary medicines;
Skills & Knowledge
- Knowledge and understanding of the legal and regulatory framework for medicinal products in the EU;
- Knowledge and understanding of EU SME definition;
- Organisational skills;
- Attention to details.
Competencies you will need to have:
Role competencies
- Continuous improvement, Basic
- Regulatory frameworks & strategy, Intermediate
Sub-family competencies
- Understanding business context, Intermediate
- Corporate communication, Basic
- Applied knowledge, Intermediate
Grade competencies
- Adaptability and agility, Intermediate
- Coping with pressures and setbacks, Intermediate
- Analysing and problem solving, Intermediate
Core competencies
- Ethics and integrity, Intermediate
- Team collaboration, Intermediate
- Customer centricity, Intermediate
- Results orientation, Intermediate
- Communication, Intermediate
- Cross-cultural sensitivity, Intermediate
- Continuous learning and self-development, Basic
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For more information about definitions of competencies and associated proficiency levels, please refer to the EMA Competency Framework.
These are considered nice to have:
Education
- Master’s degree or course in regulatory affairs.
Experience
- In analysing and reporting on scientific/regulatory matters;
- In preparing, reviewing or assessing a regulatory application dossier;
- In dealing with internal and external stakeholders (industry and national/international authorities);
- In working in an international organisation;
- In preparing and updating of SOPs/WINs, templates and other quality management systems documents and guidance.
Skills & Knowledge
- Understanding of pharmaceutical, (non)clinical, pharmacovigilance regulatory requirements in pre- and post-authorisation;
- Understanding of EMA roles and responsibilities, and activities of the Committees.
Certificates
- Certificates corresponding to the aforementioned requirements.
Selection procedure timelines
Selection procedure timelines are subject to changes
|
Deadline for applications |
12/05/2026 23:59 CET |
|
Preliminary Assessments |
Foreseen: week of 08/06/2026 |
|
Final assessments |
Foreseen: week of 22/06/2026 |
|
Decision expected |
End of June 2026 |
Selection process
Only eligible candidates (see eligibility criteria) will be assessed by the selection committee.
Suitability and qualifications of eligible candidates will be assessed against the assessment criteria and competences in different steps of the selection procedure.
Note: Candidates who fail any assessment linked to any Need to Have requirement, Sub-family, Grade specific competencies, Role competencies and Core Competencies at any stage of the process are disqualified, despite getting points on other criteria.
Before the start of the selection procedure, it is decided which criteria and competences will be assessed at each stage of the process. Certain criteria / competences will be assessed / scored only for shortlisted candidates during interviews (and/or tests). Please consult the Careers at EMA - Guidance on selection and recruitment (section 1.3. selection procedure) for an overview of the criteria and competences assessed at each stage of the process.
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Shortlisting
In order to allow the selection committee to carry out an objective assessment of all candidates in a structured way, as part of their application, all candidates must answer the pre-defined set of questions based on Need to have criteria, Sub-family competencies and Role Competencies.
The Selection Committee will therefore assess eligible candidates using the information provided in the responses to those questions and in their application. When answering a question, you should include all relevant information, even if it is already mentioned in other sections of your application form.
The Selection Committee will decide to limit the number of candidates invited to the next stages. Please consult the Careers at EMA - Guidance on selection and recruitment (table on section 1.3.6 Preliminary and final assessments) for an overview of the thresholds.
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Assessments
Next steps of selection may include a preliminary assessment. Most assessments will be conducted remotely (i.e. Webex/Teams, remote test, etc.). All assessments are based on the assessment criteria listed in this vacancy notice.
Shortlisted candidates will participate in personality assessments (e.g. SHL occupational personality questionnaire OPQ32) to assess their Core Competencies (pass score is 26 out of 100 points and above).
Additional assessments, such as cognitive (e.g. deductive reasoning) assessments might also be foreseen as part of the selection process. Furthermore, motivation and overall fit for the job and knowledge of EU relevant to role may be assessed.
Please consult the Careers at EMA - Guidance on selection and recruitment (section 1.3.3 selection procedure) for an overview of the criteria and competences assessed at each stage of the process and the type of assessment tolls used.
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Reserve list and/or job offers
The aim of this selection procedure is to create a reserve list of qualified and suitable candidates. Each candidate having reached the final step of the selection procedure will be notified via e-mail whether she/he has been placed on the reserve list, and relevant Talent Pool.
Candidates should note that the placement on a reserve list and/or Talent Pool does not guarantee an employment offer.
We strongly encourage that candidates do not apply for the vacancies that are at the same grade and the same subfamily as the Talent Pool they have been placed on, as this will not improve their chances of being considered for a vacant post within the Agency.
When a vacancy becomes available, candidates on the reserve list may be contacted for an additional interview.
More information about selection and recruitment (including administrative complaint procedure) at the EMA is available at our careers website.
Contract Agent posts differ from Temporary Agent posts in terms of categories, function groups, grades and remuneration and career progression.
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Conditions of employment
In principle, the Agency offers a five-year renewable contract. Contracts of a shorter duration may be offered to the candidates.
The successful candidate will be required to relocate to the Netherlands to pick up duties.
[1] The local weighting adjusts salaries to the cost of living in the Netherlands compared to Brussels. The current weighting for the EMA's location in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is 111.4. Please consult the Eurostat and Commission websites for more information on weightings.
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Domenico Scarlattilaan 6 - 1083 HS Amsterdam - The Netherlands
Telephone +31 (0)88 781 6000 - Email recruitment@ema.europa.eu
© European Medicines Agency, 2025. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.
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