The European Consortium of Innovative Universities (ECIU), in collaboration with its member institution, Linköping University (LiU) in Sweden, is seeking a proactive and dynamic Policy Officer to support their joint Brussels Office. The successful candidate will contribute to LiU’s and ECIU’s policy engagement and play an active role in outreach to EU institutions and networks.

About the Role

As our EU Policy Officer, you will represent both Linköping University and ECIU in Brussels, fostering strategic relationships with EU institutions, research networks, and key stakeholders. Your role will be crucial in monitoring EU policy developments, advocating for research and innovation policies, and ensuring the consortium’s active participation in European funding programmes.

Based in Brussels, you will be working closely with the ECIU Brussels Office, ECIU funding advisors, and the Region Östergötland EU Office. The position will include business trips to Linköping University and other ECIU member institutions when needed.

As an EU Policy Officer, you will drive LiU’s strategic positioning within Europe’s Research and Innovation Agenda actively supporting its vision of being a leading European university by 2030 as well as leveraging the collaborative strength of the ECIU.

Key Responsibilities

Advocacy & Lobbying: Develop and implement strategies to influence EU policies. Prepare position papers, policy briefs, and responses to consultations.
Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with EU institutions, research organizations, and advocacy groups.
Policy Monitoring & Analysis: Track and analyze EU policy developments in research, innovation, and higher education, informing ECIU and LiU stakeholders.
Strategic Communication: Provide clear insights on EU policies to internal stakeholders and ensure coherent messaging at the EU level.
Project Funding: Identify EU funding opportunities, supporting the initiation of collaborative projects within the consortium and at LiU.
Representation & Networking: Represent ECIU and LiU in EU forums, working groups, and key policy events.

The person we need

Your role will be characterized by independence, constructive and collegial international collaboration, with excellent opportunities for individual development. We are looking for someone with excellent skills in establishing and maintaining an international, professional network in Brussels. You think strategically, see the broader perspectives and have great abilities to analyze complex information and contexts. In this role, it is critical to have cultural awareness, valuing diversity and understanding how background, culture, and group affiliation can influence decisions and actions. You should be able to consider these factors when making decisions and choosing courses of action. We are looking for someone who works well with others, has strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to work closely with ECIU member institutions.

We want you to have:

Experience with EU affairs – practical experience working within EU institutions, research and innovation policy, and advocacy
Expertise in EU policy work – deep understanding of EU policy processes, European interest organizations, and EU research and innovation programs
Experience in positioning science in a political context and in drafting strategic policy documents
A master’s degree or equivalent
Excellent communication skills – very good knowledge of English, both spoken and written

It is advantageous if you have:

An existing professional network within EU institutions
Knowledge of additional EU languages

Our Offer

This position offers a unique opportunity to shape EU research and innovation policies while working within a highly collaborative, international environment. If you are passionate about European policy and higher education and eager to make an impact, we encourage you to apply.

We offer competitive remuneration based on educational qualifications and work experience. A stimulating and professional work environment characterized by independent action and constructive, collegial collaboration within an engaged team, and individual training opportunities to enable professional and personal development.

Depending on your citizenship, country of residence, and/or your preferences the employment will either be at Linköping University, in accordance with the Swedish Agreement on Overseas Contracts and Guidelines for Employment Conditions for Service Abroad (URA), or under the ECIU foundation under Belgium law.

Employment is initially limited to a two-year period/pilot to be evaluated, with the possibility of extension.

Information and application

For more information about this vacancy, please contact Ms. Olga Wessels, Head of the ECIU Brussels Office, [email protected] or Mr. Jan Axelsson, Rector’s Advisor at Linköping University, [email protected].

To apply, please submit your CV, a cover letter outlining your qualifications and motivation, references, and salary expectations by 15 May 2025 to [email protected]. If you are eligible to use the Swedish URA Agreement, please apply via this link.

As a consortium of innovative universities, we believe that equality and diversity are a driving forces for innovation. ECIU aims to make diversity – embracing and taking into account differences between individuals and groups – and equality – providing equal access to resources, opportunities and participation (incl. decision-making) – the priority of ECIU’s top management and the priority in all ECIU activities. Therefore, we encourage all interested candidates to apply for this position, and we will take the ambition for a diverse team into account during the selection process.

About ECIU

The European Consortium of Innovative Universities (eciu.eu) is a network of 13 entrepreneurial and research-intensive universities. We remain dedicated to ensuring a culture of innovation in all our institutions, and to providing a catalytic role for innovation in business and society at large. All our members are strong in technology, engineering and social sciences. The ECIU member universities have a proven track record of collaboration in open ecosystems together with stakeholders leading to relevant societal impact. It is in our DNA to look boldly into the future, see opportunities, and reinvent ourselves over and over again at the European level. In past years ECIU member universities have regularly submitted joint grant proposals.

About LiU

We all want to create a better world. At Linköping University, LiU, we use boundary-breaking research and innovative education to get there. To solve the challenges of the day, we are in continuous and close contact with industry and society. International rankings show that LiU is among the world’s top universities. Our students are sought after in the labour market, and we are one of the most attractive employers in Sweden. We believe that all this stems from our courage to think freely and innovate in contexts large and small.

LiU continues to give generations of curious individuals the opportunity to grow and contribute to a better world. We do this with the power of 46,000 students and 4,600 co-workers.