EntryFull TimeEN
Job grade: AD06
Internal job grade and Interagency: AD06 and above
Type of position: Temporary agent
Selection procedure reference: EMA/AD/11413
Job title: Scientific Specialist (Pharmaceutical Quality)
Talent Pool: AD06 Science & Regulation
Deadline for applications: 26 May 2026 23:59 CET
Salary: 6961.29 Euro (including local weighting) [1] plus benefits (see calculators on the right) (based on a fulltime contract (40hrs/week))
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands (relocation to take up duties is mandatory)
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The European Medicine Agency (EMA) is looking for a Pharmaceutical Scientific Specialist to support the Pharmaceutical Quality Office (H-Qs-QUA) in delivering its new responsibilities under the Critical Medicines Act. Under this Act, the Quality Innovation Group (QIG) has been assigned a legal mandate to promote innovation in manufacturing. The aim is to enable developers of critical medicines to modernize their processes, ultimately strengthening the resilience and robustness of supply chains for the benefit of patients across the EU.
The ideal candidate will bring experience in quality assessment or hands‑on expertise in managing the technical and scientific aspects of quality dossiers in a specialist role. The selected candidate will provide scientific and regulatory input, as well as oversight of quality aspects for human medicines of biological origin, with a particular focus on recombinant proteins, vaccines, or ATMPs.
If you have a strong understanding of biological manufacturing and regulatory frameworks, if you are motivated to work at the intersection of science, regulation, and public health and have a passion for contributing to EU‑wide initiatives with tangible, positive impact on patient outcomes, this position is for you!
Here is the link to the Role Description of Scientific Specialist outlining the generic duties and responsibilities:
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/recruitment/role-description-scientific-specialist_en.pdf
To be eligible for consideration for this position, you are required to meet the following general and specific eligibility conditions:
General conditions:
1. enjoy full rights as a citizen of a European Union Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway;
2. have 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 (minimum of three years) in Pharmacy, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Engineering or other relevant life-science disciplines that must have been obtained by the closing date of this vacancy notice,
and
2. at least 3 years of professional experience after obtaining the relevant degree, that must have been obtained by the closing date of the publication.
General Condition 1 and Specific Conditions 1 and 2 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.
Experience:
At least 3 years experience in either a competent authority in the field of medicines regulation and assessment, the pharmaceutical industry or in an academic setting should have been obtained in one of the following areas:
• scientific or regulatory aspects of the research, development, authorisation or productions of human medicines
• pharmaceutical quality aspects of medicinal products containing medical devices and their associated regulatory frameworks;
Skills & Knowledge:
Role competencies
Sub-family competencies
Grade competencies
Core competencies
The assessment of competencies forms an important part of this selection process. EMA therefore advises you to refer to its Competency Framework for more information on the definitions of these competencies and their associated levels.
Experience
Selection procedure timelines - Please note, timelines may change
Deadline for applications
Foreseen: 26 May 2026 2025 23:59 CET
Preliminary Assessments
Foreseen: Week of 22 June 2026
Final assessments
Foreseen: Week of 06July 2026 2026
Decision expected
Foreseen: Second week of July 2026
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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, Role competencies, Grade specific 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.
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 competences 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 preliminary assessments. 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). In addition, selected Core Competencies may be assessed throughout the process.
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.
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.
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 114.6. 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.
