Policy & Project Officer

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Position description

Are you passionate about making a real difference for people with disabilities in Europe? Do you want to shape EU policy on disability employment and lead meaningful projects that have a direct impact on people’s lives? Are you looking for a role that combines policy expertise, project management and stakeholder engagement at the highest European level?

Then join EASPD in Brussels as a Policy and Project Officer!

This role will lead EASPD’s disability employment portfolio, one of the most dynamic and policy-rich areas of EASPD’s work. The position combines substantive policy advocacy at EU level with hands-on project management of EU-funded projects, and active engagement with EASPD’s member network.

EASPD is the most representative European umbrella organisation for “alternative employment” models, covering the full range of relevant sub-sectors, including sheltered and supported employment, and other forms of employment support.

The person in this role will be EASPD’s lead expert on the EU Disability Employment Package, Social Economy Policy, Public Procurement, the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), and employer engagement. They will build and maintain EASPD’s relationships with mainstream employers, employer federations and social economy actors, and represent EASPD in relevant EU-level forums and processes.

Main Tasks

Policy and Advocacy

• Lead EASPD’s engagement on the EU Disability Employment Package, including monitoring implementation, contributing to consultations, and producing policy outputs;
• Develop and maintain EASPD’s positions and publications on public procurement, the General Block – Exemption Regulation and social economy policy as they relate to disability employment;
• Build and manage relationships with mainstream employers, employer federations and social economy networks relevant to disability employment;
• Represent EASPD at EU-level events, conferences, working groups and stakeholder forums on disability employment;
• Monitor and analyse relevant EU policy and legislative developments, including the European Semester, the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the EU Pillar of Social Rights in collaboration with other team members;
• Write position papers, policy briefings, reports and articles on disability employment topics.

Project Management

• Lead and manage EU-funded projects including day-to-day coordination, partner communication, financial monitoring and reporting to the European Commission;
• Coordinate the work of project partners across multiple EU Member States, ensuring quality outputs and timely delivery;
• Organise and facilitate project meetings, workshops and events;
• Support the development of new project proposals in the employment area.

Member Engagement

• Facilitate and coordinate the EASPD Member Forum on Employment, creating a space for members to exchange knowledge, share good practices and engage with EU policy developments;
• Support members in understanding and engaging with EU employment policy frameworks relevant to disability service providers;
• Develop and disseminate resources, briefings and learning materials for EASPD members on employment topics.

Other relevant tasks

• Contribute to the broader work of EASPD’s Policy Team, including participation in EU policy events and cross-cutting initiatives;
• Support the organisation of EASPD conferences, workshops and webinars;
• Contribute to EASPD’s overall communications and visibility on employment issues.

The position will be part of EASPD’s Policy Team, under the leadership of the Head of Policy, and will work closely with colleagues across the Policy, Projects, Communications and Knowledge and Innovation teams.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. EU affairs, law, social policy, economics, international relations or a related field);
• At least 3 years of proven experience in EU policy work and/or project management, ideally in a Brussels-based NGO, think tank or EU institution;
• Solid knowledge of the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the European Pillar of Social Rights, including the Disability Employment Package, Social Economy Action Plan, as well as European Semester and related instruments;
• Knowledge of public procurement rules, the General Block Exemption Regulation and/or social economy policy as they relate to disability and social services;
• Experience in managing or coordinating EU-funded projects, including financial reporting and partner coordination;
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English; ability to produce high-quality policy documents independently;
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and experience working with diverse actors including employers, public authorities and civil society;
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and deliver to deadlines;
• Fluency in English and at least one additional European language.

Desired

• Knowledge of or experience in the disability sector, including social services for persons with disabilities;
• Experience in facilitating member networks, working groups or communities of practice;
• Knowledge of the social economy landscape in Europe;
• Experience in developing and submitting EU project proposals;
• Good command of MS Office and digital collaboration tools.

Application instructions

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