Are you a young, aspiring professional interested in the world of intellectual property and looking for your first employment experience?

We are looking for young professionals to join the EPO’s Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme in September 2025. Young professionals will work at one of the EPO's sites in Munich, The Hague, Vienna, Berlin or Brussels.

The programme aims to spot talent early in Europe's brightest and highest-achieving graduates.

In the Human Resources and Business Administration area there are several departments offering various professional development opportunities and unique experience. Below you will find a summary of what is in for you.

Depending on the department, your role may involve contributing to strategic HR topics, where you will support talent management, HR digitalisation, and communication activities that align with the EPO’s Strategic Plan 2028. Alternatively, you may be assisting with the development and coordination of training programmes that foster knowledge sharing across the organisation or enhance HR communication and develop impactful training materials. Another opportunity includes supporting procurement planning and tendering by contributing to strategic sourcing and procurement processes. You may also gain exposure to the administration and business processes within the Boards of Appeal, cand work on cross-functional projects with a dynamic, international team.

For a full list of departments that offer a seat for a young professional, including their description and the young professionals’ projects, please click here. You can express a preference for one of the listed departments in your application. 

With us you will:

• Enjoy a year-long paid programme in a field of interest – with the possibility to apply for additional two years on the programme
• Benefit from a tailored training and development programme covering IP‑specific matters, language learning and career guidance
• Learn on the job, supported by a tutor and experienced colleagues
• Work with inspiring people from a variety of cultures
• Gain hands-on experience in a dynamic and innovative environment
• Feel empowered to grow in your role and take on responsibilities
• Be among the first to see the latest inventions

Apply if you meet the following programme requirements:

• You are a national of one of the EPO’s member states 
• You were nominated by your university, which is a member of the Pan-European Seal network
• You hold at least bachelor's degree or equivalent
• You have excellent knowledge of one of the EPO’s official languages (English, French and German)

We look for talented graduates who possess strong organisational, communication, and prioritisation skills, demonstrate problem-solving abilities, and uphold confidentiality. You should also thrive in a collaborative environment and enjoy working as part of a team.

Learn more about the programme

Application process:

• Application deadline: 15 March 2025
• Online interviews: April and May 2025
• Results announced: by the end of June 2025
• Programme start date: 15 September 2025

Please note that you may only apply for one area of the programme (e.g. Economics and Finance or Law), and should indicate your preferred department within that area in your application. However, this does not mean that you cannot be considered for other areas or departments. If a suitable candidate is not found for a particular department, applicants who preferred a different department or applied to another area may also be contacted.

Key information:

Net (basic) monthly salary*: approx. EUR 2 300
Duration of appointment: one year (full-time)

Location: Office-wide

*average across sites, net amount after deduction of EPO-internal tax and after deduction of staff contributions to the social security and pension schemes