Position description

The European Ombudsman is an independent and impartial body that works to promote good administration at EU level. The Ombudsman investigates complaints about maladministration by EU institutions and bodies, and also proactively looks into broader systemic issues.

The Office’s guiding principles are integrity, fairness, impartiality, independence and accountability.

Equal opportunities

The European Ombudsman is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from anybody who meets the eligibility criteria and required qualifications. We will try to accommodate the needs of applicants with disabilities.

1. Traineeships

We invite you to apply for a traineeship starting on1 September 2026. We offer paid traineeships of one year, subject to a positive assessment of the trainee’s performance.

For the digital communication profile, the Ombudsman is offering one traineeship.

2. Eligibility criteria and required qualifications

Candidates should be nationals of a Member State of the European Union or ofan accession/candidate country.

Candidates should not have benefitted, for more than eight consecutive weeks or two full months, from a previous paid traineeship or work contract in a European institution, body, agency, office, service, delegation, representation, including the office of a Member of the European Parliament or of a European political group.

They should have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the EU and a very good knowledge of another. The main working language of the Ombudsman’s office is English and therefore a very good knowledge of English is required.

Candidates applying for traineeships in digital communication should have a university degree or diploma of at least 3 years in communication, media design or equivalent, with focus on online media, digital marketing and/or communication design.

Applications from candidates with a university degree or diploma in a field other than the ones listed above, but coupled with proven expertise and/or prior work experience in digital communication, will also be taken into consideration.

3. Selection criteria

Candidates should fulfil one or more of the following specific selection criteria:

• Very good understanding of social media and online communication;

• Strong knowledge in creating and editing assets for online use (including but not limited to, short video clips from pre-existing content, visuals for social media, simple infographics); Ability to draft texts for social media and web is an asset;

• Knowledge of Illustrator, Premiere Pro and InDesign; Knowledge of other Adobe Suite software such as After Effects, Photoshop is a strong asset;

• A good understanding of the challenges related to content production for EU institutions and an ability to communicate complex matters simply, visually and creatively.

In addition, candidates should have:

• Understanding of the role of the European Ombudsman;

• Understanding of the EU institutions;

• English language skills (spoken and written);

• Speaking and writing skills in another official language of the European Union.

4. Responsibilities and tasks

As a trainee in digital communication, you will:

• Assist with digital communication-related tasks with a focus on creating assets for social media and online campaigns (LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, Medium, scrollable web stories made with Shorthand, etc.);

• Contribute to the implementation of the Unit’s strategy by proposing, producing and editing online and offline content;

• Assist in the production of analytics reports on social media and press performance;

• Assist in other communication activities, such as event organisation, newsletter and publication production;

• Draft minutes of meetings.

5. Selection procedure

Applicants must submit their applications in theonline Application system of the website of the European Ombudsman.

Applications should include the following documents:

• A completed online application form;

• An English version of the applicant’s curriculum vitae;

• A one-page cover letter in English explaining the reasons and the motivation for applying for the traineeship.

• Copies of the applicant’s relevant diplomas, degrees, or certificates (copies do not need to be certified or translated for the purposes of this selection stage).

The provision of information requested when applying online, and of the supporting documents, is obligatory. Incomplete applications will automatically be excluded from the registration system.

Following the assessment of the applications and their supporting documents, longlisted applicants will be invited to take a written test.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview to be conducted through a video-conferencing tool.

In case a person with a disability is selected, the selected applicant will be provided, if needed, with reasonable accommodation at work (office space and equipment) to be able to carry out their tasks.

The Ombudsman’s Office will inform applicants of their results at each step of the selection procedure. The selected candidate will be informed of the results during the first week of June 2026.

6. Use of AI

We are committed to ensuring a fair and personal assessment of all candidate applications and do not use AI in our evaluation process. You can find more information on how we use AIhere.

AI can also be a helpful tool in preparing for a recruitment process and improving your overall candidate experience. If you choose to use AI tools as part of your application and preparation, we suggest that you follow the guidelines outlined below:

• AI should not replace your own judgment or ownership;

• Ensure your CV and motivation reflect your own work and experiences;

• When preparing for your interview, rely on your own thinking and approach;

• Avoid using AI to fabricate roles, skills, or achievements, or to present motivations that are not your own. Any misrepresentation can be identified during the interview stage.

7. Place of work

Brussels or Strasbourg

Application instructions

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