Notice of vacancy – Policy Analyst on Gender Equality

FEPS IS RECRUITING A POLICY ANALYST ON GENDER EQUALITY

(6-month-long determinate contract aimed at continuation with indeterminate contract)

Deadline for Applications: Monday, November 23^rd 2026 noon CET

The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS – www.feps-europe.eu) is currently looking for one Policy Analyst for a thematic field: Gender Equality.

The successful candidate is to join the FEPS Team based in Brussels from January 2027 onwards (cf. selection timetable below).

FEPS is an equal opportunity employer, committed to enhancing fairness and to achieving workplace diversity. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

About FEPS

The Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) is the think tank of the progressive political family at the EU level. Our mission is to develop innovative research, policy advice, training and debates to inspire and inform socialist and social democratic politics and policies across Europe.

FEPS operates as hub for thinking to facilitate the emergence of progressive answers to the challenges that Europe faces today.

FEPS works in close partnership with its members and partners, forging connections and boosting coherence among stakeholders from the world of politics, academia and civil society at local, regional, national, European and global levels.

Today FEPS benefits from a network of 76 member organisations. Among these, 40 are full members, 31 have observer status and 5 are ex-officio members. In addition to this network of organisations that are active in the promotion of progressive values, FEPS also has an extensive network of partners, including renowned universities, scholars, policymakers and activists.

FEPS’ ambition is to undertake intellectual reflection for the benefit of the progressive movement, and to promote the founding principles of the EU – freedom, equality, solidarity, democracy, respect of human rights, fundamental freedoms, human dignity, and the rule of law.

Reporting Line:

FEPS’ Policy Analysts report daily to the delegate of the Secretary General (i.e. the Director or Head of Programme appointed to supervise the thematic field in question)

Mission of the Role:

The mission of the Policy Analyst is to substantiate FEPS’ work on Gender Equality.

S.he will embody FEPS’ internal expertise in the field (including feminism, anti-discrimination policies, equal opportunity, social investment, demography etc.). To do so, the Policy Analyst will design, steer and implement a coherent portfolio of FEPS (co-)funded projects (including its development and consolidation) aimed at impacting policies, political debates and/or public awareness related to the EU’s approach to Gender Equality.

The ideal candidate will have the following profile:

• At least an MA or MSc degree in a relevant field. A PhD will be considered a relevant asset and account to the years of professional experience
• Knowledge and interest for EU affairs and political sensitivity
• At least 5 years professional experience in a field connected to Gender Equality
• Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative research, data analyses and surveys design
• Capacity to follow developments at international, European, national, regional and local levels, and analyse relevant trends across political, economic and social dimensions
• Experience in designing, overseeing and managing multi-stakeholders’ projects
• Written and oral proficiency in English and in a second European language. Any additional European language will be considered an asset
• Proven ability to draft analysis, research and policy recommendations
• A strong set of soft skills, with specific reference to:
  • Innovative and out-of-the-box thinking
  • High organisational and time-management skills
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Advanced interpersonal and social skills
  • Exceptional team player with the ability to contribute positively to a team
  • Ability to work under pressure and tight deadlines
• Readiness to travel and adapt to flexible working hours

Employment conditions

The position is to be filled out as from January 2027 onwards.

• The position is to be filled out January 2027
• The duration of the contract will be 6 months (potentially renewable in the form of an indeterminate contract)
• The fixed starting monthly gross salary will be 4.500 EUR
• The workplace will be Brussels (Belgium)
• Applicants must be able to work and reside in Belgium
• As FEPS is registered in Belgium, the contract will be under Belgian law

Applications’ composition and deadline

Applications are to be done online via the careers’ section of FEPS’ website:

by Monday the 23^rd of November 2026 at noon CET.

Your application is to include:

• A cover letter outlining your motivation for the post and your understanding of progressive values (maximum 2 pages)
• A detailed CV without picture (possibly in Europass format)
• A sample of work authored in the thematic field covered by the present notice (links or attached)
• The name of 2 referees with the related contact details

Applications not respecting the completion and submission instructions will not be considered.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) usage for the purpose of applying with FEPS

Although specifically drafted for the purpose of research and writing activities, FEPS’ general approach and principles for the usage of Artificial Intelligence apply:

• Applicants wishing to use AI for the purpose of preparing their application are free to do so

By way of the online application forms (dedicated tick boxes and fields are foreseen in this respect):

• All applicants will be requested to declare whether they used AI or not
• All documents submitted for the purpose of all applications will be scanned and reviewed to check for the use of AI tools
• If an applicant declares that AI has not been used but that the review raises any doubt about an undeclared use of AI, the related application will be eliminated

• Applicants declaring having used AI for the purpose of preparing their application:
  • Must declare how and for which of the submitted documents AI was used
  • Must upload the Markdown (MD) file(s) containing the prompts and AI conversations used to generate the related documents

Submitted MD file(s) will be used for the purpose of crosschecking (1) consistency with FEPS’ AI approach and principles and (2) the applicant’s AI literacy.

Please note that the usage of AI is hereby not encouraged.

The fact of using AI or not is not an assessment criteria as such.

Transparency about its usage is and, in the case of usage, AI literacy will be. 

The tentative selection timetable is the following:

• Deadline for submission of complete applications: Monday 23.11.2026 noon CET
• Eligibility check and first assessment of written applications

→ This will result in a shortlist of no more than 6 candidates who will be invited for the subsequent step

• First round of interviews of candidates & short written test between 30.11.2026 and 04.12.2026

→ This will result in a shortlist of no more than 3 candidates who will be invited for the subsequent step

• Second interview of shortlisted candidates: early January 2027
• Communication of the final results to candidates: by the end of January 2027

During the entire selection procedure, FEPS is absolutely committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We value diversity and lived experience, and acknowledge the underrepresentation of people from certain backgrounds. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all employees feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential. The equal opportunity principle encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, origins or disabilities.

www.feps-europe.eu