PanEuropeanSeal YP in Economics & Finance

Check out the units which are participating in the Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme 2024/2025 and let us know your preference when applying: 

Administration of the Reserve Funds (Munich) 
Principal Directorate Administration of Reserve Funds is the centre of competence for asset management of the Reserve Funds for Pensions and Social Security (RFPSS) of the European Patent Organisation. The Portfolio Management team is responsible for managing the Reserve Funds' investment portfolios in accordance with the Financial Regulations, the investment procedures of the RFPSS and the mandates given by the Fund Administrator. This involves monitoring and analysing financial market information, devising and implementing portfolio strategies, including executing trades, controlling portfolio risk and reporting. Moreover, Portfolio Management advises the Fund Administrator during the periodic reassessments of the Reserve Funds' strategic asset allocation. Assets under management are about EUR 10bn and comprise investments in nine asset classes (three equity portfolios, five bond portfolios, including cash, and one listed real estate portfolio). 

As a young professional, you will support the Portfolio Management team in both routine activities and special projects as they arise. Furthermore, you will draft reports (e.g. on economic indicators), conduct quantitative analysis projects, contribute to the due diligence of systematic investment strategies and support qualitative investment strategies. Additionally, you will assist Portfolio Management in projects (investment management platform, ESG topics), participate in generating investment ideas and conduct document checks. 

Chief Sustainability Officer (Munich) 
The Chief Sustainability Officer department co-ordinates the EPO sustainability agenda covering environmental, social, governance (ESG) goals, as well as all activities contributing to the UN SDGs. All activities are in alignment with the upcoming Strategic Plan 2028 focusing on one goal, sustainability, following the strategic directions of the President of the EPO and prioritising diversity and inclusion equally.  

As a young professional, you will be involved in projects supporting environmental sustainability, social and governance activities, including the proper implementation of timelines, and high-quality deliverables (including benchmarks and other studies). You will support matters relating to UN SDGs, diversity and inclusion activities and collaborate with internal stakeholders to establish meaningful networks to implement the ESG strategy. 

Corporate Performance, Risk and Compliance (The Hague) 
Directorate Corporate Performance, Risk and Compliance monitors corporate performance in relation to strategy implementation, supports strategic governance and reporting and handles corporate risks reporting. Furthermore, it oversees the functioning of the EPO's management systems (quality, health and safety, etc.) to ensure compliance with the relevant standards, and it prepares corporate reports. 

As a young professional, you will be involved in the reporting on the new strategic plan's implementation and progress and support the governance framework. Additionally, you will operate dedicated platforms and tools, prepare written reports for senior management and engage and collaborate with various stakeholders. 

Data Transformation (Vienna) 
The Data Transformation department focuses on analysing data, gaining insight, extracting value, discovering new uses for data and fulfilling the new needs of our external users. This department produces patent insight reports, trend reports and patent news and statistics by analysing data and transforming it into actionable information. Furthermore, it fosters new projects and activities and tracks how this information is later used, along with cracking patent data and interlinking it with data belonging to other domains. 

As a young professional, you will support projects related to the Academic Research Programme and assist the department by monitoring different projects approved within the programme. Moreover, you will organise online seminars and workshops featuring prominent academics in order to share insight and findings, facilitate the creation of reports and presentations, as well as ensure policy compliance in all collaborative research projects. 

Financial Planning and Analysis (Munich) 
Directorate Financial Planning and Analysis acts as a business partner and financial advisor for senior management on all matters related to the EPO's budget, including the oversight of its key financial risks and controls. Its main tasks are preparing the EPO budget and monitoring its financial performance. 

As a young professional, you will be involved in financial risk management and setting up key financial controls in the purchase-to-pay and budget execution processes. Furthermore, you will help monitor quality and the continuous improvement of key financial processes as well as the integration of financial risk processes into the budgeting cycle. In addition, you will be involved in supporting the finance partner in the change management activities related to the new activity-based budget process (presentation to stakeholder, FAQ, communication event). You will also analyse the financial impact and risks of specific projects, monitor actual spending versus budget in close co‑operation with business units and prepare financial presentations and other communication material.  

Prospects and Studies (The Hague) 
Directorate Prospects and Studies carries out and provides social analytics, studies and benchmarks to maintain the competitiveness of the EPO's social package and ensure the best use of its resources according to an evidence-based approach. 

As a young professional, you will be involved in data analysis with a focus on evidence- and fact-based decision- and policymaking. You will also support projects by writing and making reports. Moreover, you will develop a good understanding of the EPO and gain professional knowledge in a challenging environment working alongside people with superior data analyst profiles. 

IT Investments Centre of Excellence (The Hague) 
IT Investments Centre of Excellence is responsible for all financial and sourcing matters within the EPO's Business Information Technology (BIT) area, together with stakeholders in the BIT business units and the areas Procurement and Vendor Management and Finance. It supports and consolidates the planning, execution and forecasting of BIT needs in terms of purchasing software, hardware or services. 

As a young professional, you will work on the deliverables defined within Strategic Plan 2028 and the financial processes and support artefacts defined by the IT Investments Centre of Excellence team. Furthermore, you will have the unique opportunity to assist in building sound financial solutions to enable an agile and flexible digital transformation. Additionally, you will gain exposure to various areas within the organisation beyond BIT. 

Patent Research and Policies / Chief Economist Unit (Munich) 
The Chief Economist Unit (CEU) provides economic insight into issues relating to patents and innovation. It aims to contribute high-level expertise and analysis to public and expert forums and to foster well-informed debate on the economic impact of the patent system, the commercialisation of innovation, and ongoing technology trends in industry. It supports the EPO's position in public fora by providing evidence-based input to the policymaking process. Internally, the CEU helps the EPO to better understand the use and economic impact of patenting and to raise awareness regarding IP commercialisation amongst EPO staff. 

As a young professional, you will be involved in the very diverse tasks performed by the CEU, especially in preparing the unit's studies that are integrated into the activities of the EPO's Observatory on Patents and Technologies. You will also participate in the analysis of data related to the newly launched Unitary Patent system. 

Procurement Planning and Tendering (Munich) 
Procurement and Vendor Management is a professional, value-adding partner to its stakeholders for all matters related to suppliers, markets, competition, tenders, contract performance and spending. It greatly contributes to the initiatives to enable process effectiveness, efficiency and transparency. Procurement Planning and Tendering focuses on client partnerships by providing sourcing services to cover any organisational needs based on the principles of category management. 

As a young professional, you will gain insight into the operational excellence of the source-to-pay process as well as source-to-pay operations using SAP, the eProcurement platform Ivalua and etendering tools. In addition, you will be engaged in market analysis, market understanding, contract preparation and management, and you will help with procurement communication by strengthening the development of communities of practice. 

Procurement Purchasing (Munich) 
Procurement and Vendor Management handles all matters related to suppliers, markets, competition, tenders, contract performance and spending, thereby greatly contributing to initiatives related to process effectiveness, efficiency and transparency. The goal of the Procurement Purchasing team within Procurement and Vendor Management is to ensure operational excellence in the source-to-pay process. 

As a young professional, you will support source-to-pay operations using the eProcurement platform PASP (Procurement and Sourcing Portal based on Ivalua technology). You will also analyse data and create reports to establish KPIs for operational procurement along with administrative support.