Traineeship call for applications

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is an independent EU body set up in 2008. We enhance Europe’s ability to innovate by nurturing entrepreneurial talent and supporting new ideas.

Our mission is to:  

•  Contribute to the competitiveness of Europe, its sustainable economic growth and job creation by promoting and strengthening synergies and cooperation among businesses, education institutions and research organisations.
•  Create favourable environments for creative thoughts, to enable world-class innovation and entrepreneurship to thrive in Europe. 

The EIT is an integral part of Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme running from 2021-2027. Horizon Europe promotes excellence and provides valuable support to top researchers and innovators to drive the systemic changes needed to ensure a green, healthy and resilient Europe.

 The EIT is launching a call for application for its traineeship programme for a period of six months for an intake beginning of 2025. The trainee will support the daily operations of the Directorate & Administration; Innovation, Education & Communication; and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities Departments at the EIT.  

The place of employment will be Budapest, Hungary, where the EIT Headquarters are located. For the case of the Communication & Engagement Unit, there is a possibility for one of the trainees to be assigned to work from the EIT Liaison Office in Brussels, Belgium.  More information about the EIT and its activities can be found on: http://eit.europa.eu. 

Job Profile:

The EIT is looking for a trainee who will support one of the following Units in its tasks and projects as well as in its day-to-day operations:  

1.1 Director’s Office

The trainee, ideally with a knowledge in the area of EU policies related to the activities of the EIT, will support the Directorate in its administrative tasks and projects as well as in its day-to-day operations. The trainee will also have the opportunity to develop a project during the traineeship together with his/her trainee peers.

Trainee assignment  

• Provide support in the day-to-day administrative tasks and activities of the Directorate; 
• Provide support in activities related to strategic planning, governance, management;
• Support the Internal Control Coordinator with audit recommendations; 
• Support the Directorate in the effective representation of the EIT’s interests in external relations. 
  
  

1.2 Legal Section
Trainee assignment 

•  Provide legal inputs in the field of data protection: assessment of processing operations  based on the EU Data Protection legislative framework and the guidelines of the European Data Protection Supervisor; preparation of privacy statements and records in the fields of activities of the EIT; 
• Support the EIT Antifraud Team in their regular activities, namely, annual meeting with the KICs, with the EIT staff and OLAF; 
• Contribute to the other legal areas of the Legal Section including grants, EIT and KIC governance, intellectual property, AI law and governance; 
• Contribute to the other activities of the Legal Section, including access to documents, procurement, inter-agency cooperation, provision of information (SharePoint and website content);
• Conduct background research and analysis of relevant guidance, practices and case law in the areas of activity of the Legal Section. 

1.2 Administration Unit

The trainee will work in any of the following sections in the Administration Unit according to the trainee’s area of knowledge: Finance, Procurement & Logistics, Human Resources or IT. The selected trainee will be assigned to any of these sections to implement the portfolio of their tasks.  

Trainee assignment: 

• Preparation of tenders and procurement documentation;
• Budgetary and financial reports analysis;
• Supporting of HR recruitment, performance and career, learning and development and individual staff entitlements in line with the Staff Regulations;
• Drafting and updating rules, decisions, policies and procedures;
• Implementation of information & communication technology (ICT) related projects and tasks;
• Other general administrative tasks, as required. The assessment of applications will be based on the following criteria: 
• Knowledge in at least one domain: EU policies, EU law, Public Administration, Management, Economics, Finance, IT, Human Resources or Social Studies (either gained through studies or initial work experience) is essential;
• Studies or initial work experience in an international or multicultural environment is considered an advantage

The assessment of applications will be based on the following criteria: •

• Knowledge of one of the areas of EIT portfolio is essential. 
•  Studies or initial work experience in an international or multicultural environment is considered an advantage;
• Knowledge of EU funds, grant management or project management (either gained through studies or initial work experience) is considered an advantage;
• Analytical and numerical skills proven by studies or work experience are considered an advantage.

2. Requirements: Eligibility criteria

2.1 Nationality

Candidates shall be selected from nationals of the Member States of the European Union (EU), the Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA), the European Free Trade Area (EFTA), and from candidate countries. In addition, a limited number of nationals from countries other than those listed above can also be accepted but should not exceed 20% of the total intake of trainees for the year. Candidates from countries other than those listed above in particular should explain in their motivation letter how they will contribute to the EIT's objectives.

The EIT is supporting those Ukrainian residents (recent graduates and young professionals) affected by the war in Ukraine, therefore their applications are also encouraged.

2.2 Qualification

Candidates must have completed, by the closing date for applications, the first cycle of university education and obtained a full degree or its equivalent (Annex I of the Rules governing the Traineeship Scheme of the EIT).  Candidates must provide copies of diplomas (or of relevant official certificates), of all university or postuniversity studies declared in their application. For declared ongoing studies an official declaration from the relevant university must be provided.  Applicants whose university or post-graduate diplomas are not issued in one of the official EU languages must provide a translation of these documents into English, the working language of the EIT. If recruited for a traineeship, presentation of all diplomas declared and, if applicable, official certified translations will be required.

 2.3 Languages

 To fully benefit from the traineeship and to be able to follow meetings and perform adequately, being the working language of the EIT, candidates must have very good knowledge of English corresponding to at least level B2 as defined by the CEFR7 (Council of Europe's Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). Candidates will be required to provide the appropriate justification (i.e. diplomas, certificates, proof of having studied in the language in question, etc.) regarding the knowledge of languages declared on the application form, other than the mother tongue.

2.4 Other conditions

Applicants are required to have a general behaviour compatible with the security requirements of the EIT and to be physically fit to perform the tasks.

2.5 Prior employment

The EIT wishes to offer to as many people as possible the opportunity of in-service training. Therefore, traineeships are only open to candidates who have not: 

•  Benefited already or benefit from any kind of traineeship (formal or informal, paid or unpaid) within a European Institution or body (Annex II of the Rules governing the Traineeship Scheme of the EIT); or
• Had or have any kind of employment within a European Institution or body, delegation or representation office, including anyone who is or has been an assistant to a Member of the European Parliament, an intra-muros consultant or researcher, a temporary staff member, a contract staff member, an auxiliary staff member or an interim staff member of any EU Institution, body, delegation or representative office;
• Had or have any paid or unpaid traineeship or have had employment or other contractual relationship with the existing Knowledge and Innovation Communities (i.e. the legal entity and partners of EIT Digital, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Health, EIT Raw Materials, EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing, EIT Urban Mobility). Candidates shall inform the EIT of any change in their situation that might occur at any stage of the application process.

2.6 Conflict of interest of applicants

Applications will be rejected if it is established that the applicant is in one or more of the following situations of conflict of interest:

• The applicant had or has prior employment as listed above; 
• The applicant is a close family member of an EIT staff member or an EIT Governing Board member;
• The applicant is in any other situation that could cast doubt on his/her ability to participate in the traineeship, or that could reasonably appear to do so in the eyes of an external third party

3. The selection process

 3.1 How to apply:

Please consult the Guide for Applicants on the EIT website at https://eit.europa.eu/collaborate/careers  which contains detailed instructions to help you submit your application correctly.

Only applications submitted through the EU CV Online system will be accepted. 

To apply, you must register in the EU CV Online system via the link provided on the EIT website, and follow all instructions concerning the various stages of the procedure.  In order to facilitate the selection procedure we accept applications submitted only in English (the working language of the EIT).

 Before applying, you should carefully check whether you meet all the eligibility criteria.  The assessment of applications (in order to be placed on the shortlist) will be based on the application submitted.

Please clearly indicate in the motivation letter of your application:
1. Which profile(s) you wish to apply for;
2. How you meet the criteria for the profile(s) you wish to apply for;  
3. How you applied the above behavioural skills in your educational and/or work experiences so far.

Failing to submit a motivational letter and indication of the profiles selected may result in the disqualification from the selection procedure.

It is your responsibility to complete your online registration in time. We strongly advise you not to wait until the last few days before applying, since heavy Internet traffic or a problem with the Internet connection could lead to your online registration being interrupted before you complete it, thereby obliging you to repeat the whole process. Once the deadline has passed, you will no longer be able to register.

On completion of your online registration, you will receive on screen a registration number, which you must note. Once you receive this number, the registration process is finished. This will be your reference number in all matters concerning your application. Please note that if you do not receive a number, your application has not been registered.

An acknowledgement of your application will be sent to the e-mail address indicated in your application. It is your responsibility to verify that you provide the correct e-mail address.

Deadline for applications: 14 February 2025 (13:00 CET) 

Skills common to all profiles in the departments above: 

• Very good interpersonal and communication skills; 
• Ability to take initiative;
•  Very good writing and speaking skills in English; 
• Good MS Office skills (Excel, Word); 
• Ability to work well in teams, particularly in a multicultural team.