The EPO's Principal Directorate Communication is responsible for all aspects of corporate communication and plays a central role in driving the institution's strategic plan. It manages flagship events and contributes to corporate culture and reputation management. Principal Directorate Communication is a strategic support unit which reports directly to the President and comprises two directorates: Content Creation and Channel Management.

As part of its portfolio, Directorate Channel Management manages large-scale campaigns and high-profile award ceremonies, most notably the European Inventor Award (EIA) and the Young Inventors Prize (YIP). These events reach audiences of more than two million people worldwide and are critical for the EPO's visibility, reputation and stakeholder engagement.

We are now looking for an experienced, creative and enthusiastic events programme manager to join our team.

With us you will:

• develop and implement long-term event and campaign strategies aligned with our organisational priorities, communication objectives and institutional reputation
• contribute to sustainability, audience growth and digital innovation in event delivery
• oversee the full lifecycle delivery of flagship events (EIA, YIP), ensuring alignment betweenconcept, execution and impact
• be the central point of contact for senior management and institutional stakeholders with regard to high-profile campaigns and events
• ensure coordination of communication channels throughout campaign planning and execution to maintain consistency of messaging
• oversee key operational decisions, including venue selection and event set-up, in collaboration with contractors
• oversee, actively support and ensure effective on-site delivery of events, including coordination of internal teams, external contractors and partners
• ensure seamless execution of live and hybrid broadcast productions
• monitor timelines, budgets, procurement processes and quality standards throughout project lifecycles
• oversee partner relations and participant engagement

Apply if you have:

• extensive experience in managing and delivering large-scale, high-visibility international events and programmes, including hybrid (broadcast and digital) formats, within complex institutional or corporate environments
• proven track record in the delivery of high-profile events involving defined objectives, timelines and quality standards
• experience in overseeing key operational aspects of event delivery, including venue selection and event set-up in collaboration with external partners
• proven responsibility for the full lifecycle of high-profile events, including concept development from initial idea to final delivery, strategic alignment and production oversight
• demonstrated ability to translate organisational and communication objectives into event concepts and campaigns that support visibility, engagement and institutional reputation
• solid experience in managing budgets and procurement processes, including negotiations with and oversight of external suppliers and partners
• experience in coordinating communication channels and stakeholders during event/ campaign execution
• proven track record in managing stakeholder engagement at senior level, including acting as a central point of contact and handling conflicting priorities
• experience in coordinating and guiding the work of external contractors and cross-functional contributors
• in-depth knowledge of event production, audiovisual systems, live streaming and broadcast standards, with the ability to supervise complex live and hybrid productions
• demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery in high-pressure environments while maintaining quality standards
• strong project planning, risk management and problem-solving capabilities in complex delivery environments
• ability to integrate communication narratives into event concepts and ensure consistency across communication channels
• experience in using digital event platforms, hybrid engagement tools and emerging event technologies (e.g. AI tools) to support audience reach and engagement
• excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively with senior stakeholders
• fluency in English; additional European languages considered an advantage

Our minimum requirements for this post

• Diploma of completed studies at master's level or – in exceptional cases – equivalent professional experience
• Generally, an excellent knowledge (at least C1) of one official language (English, French and German) and ability to understand the other two; alternatively, excellent knowledge (at least C1) of at least one official language (in such cases, the willingness to learn the missing language(s) and to reach level B2 within a set time frame would be required)
• Citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation

Process

Candidates are kindly asked to upload an updated CV and outline their motivation in the designated application field (character limit 4000). If so wished, the motivation letter can also be uploaded as a Word or pdf attachment under "Application document" in SuccessFactors. In this case, please indicate in the designated field "Please refer to attached motivation letter".

The successful candidate will be selected on the basis of qualifications, competencies, professional experience and language knowledge, supplemented as appropriate by interviews, tests and/or a personality questionnaire.

A reserve list may be constituted, should more candidates than required at this time be considered suitable following the selection procedure. Such reserve lists are valid for 18 months and reserve list candidates may be contacted, should a vacancy with substantially the same profile arise during that period.

More information on how we recruit can be found on our EPO jobs and careers site.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Key information

Job group: 4

Grade: G7 to G10 (net (basic) monthly salary* for this vacancy: EUR 6 375 to 10 164, depending on experience and location) 

Duration of appointment: Five years, with the possibility of extension

Career path: Technical 

Location: Office-wide 

Application deadline: 08.07.2026

Interviews planned for: between 15 and 20 July 2026

* after deduction of EPO-internal tax and before deduction of staff contributions to the social security and pension schemes.