Policy and Research Officer

The Centre for Democracy & Technology, Europe (CDT Europe) is seeking a Policy and Research Officer to support our work protecting human rights and democracy in the digital age. This position offers an exciting opportunity to engage on challenging issues related to human rights in the digital age in Europe including government surveillance, the right to privacy, and protecting civic space online from governmental interference. The Policy and Research Officer will join CDT's Security, Surveillance and Human Rights programme, supporting the organisation's advocacy and research pertaining to EU surveillance laws and policy, with a particular focus on spyware regulation and protecting encryption. The role offers the opportunity to collaborate with leaders of digital rights organisations across Europe, engage with officials from key European institutions such as the Commission, Council, and Parliament, and contribute to the development of impactful legal and advocacy strategies. The Policy and Research Officer will play a crucial part in shaping approaches to rapidly evolving issues in the digital space, working to protect human rights in Europe and beyond.

Particular issue areas include: developing guardrails to govern the use of surveillance technologies in the national security and law enforcement realms; addressing misuse of spyware in the EU; preserving encryption; advancing pro-privacy cybersecurity policy; resisting discriminatory surveillance of marginalised communities based on immigration status, race, religion or political views; and challenging warrantless surveillance and law enforcement overreach in the digital space.

The position will be based in CDT Europe's office in Brussels, Belgium.

About CDT Europe

CDT Europe works to increase equality, amplify voices, and promote human rights in European level law and policy debates. We champion policies, laws, and technical designs that protect against invasive, discriminatory, and exploitative uses of new technologies. We use our in-depth tech policy knowledge to build capacity and, in turn, learn from other civil society partners on issues such as discriminatory impact of algorithms and participation in online debates. In our interventions, CDT Europe insists that technology services be transparent, accountable, and respect human rights. We advocate that regulation should set limits on the collection and use of personal information and give people greater control.

We work at the European level to ensure that people are free from unwarranted surveillance. In line with international human rights law standards, we advocate that government surveillance should have strict, independent oversight and checks against discrimination. We also work to promote a positive role for the European Union and its Member States in global debates about securing strong protections against government surveillance, which is consistent with the EU's own human rights foreign policy. In addition, we advocate for private companies to align their governmental data sharing practices with human rights standards. Our work also focuses on curtailing the use of spyware by EU Governments by advocating for robust safeguards, regulation and accountability. To this end CDT EU has spearheaded the creation of a civil society coordination group focused on spyware, who advocate for transparency, accountability and respect for fundamental rights in relation to spyware technologies in the EU.

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Responsibilities

The Policy and Research Officer will support the Security, Surveillance and Human Rights Programme by;

• Developing analyses on a broad spectrum of EU laws and assessing their applicability to security and surveillance and the protection of fundamental rights. This includes conducting background research to support the development of CDT's policy positions and drafting of policy papers, blog posts, joint letters;
• Conducting research on legal and policy issues in relation to spyware regulation to support the development of CDT's policy positions and the production of research-based reports and articles;
• Supporting the Programme Director in the management and coordination of a civil society coalition on spyware led by CDT Europe;
• Engaging with EU institutions, industry, civil society partners and other relevant stakeholders on relevant files under the Security, Surveillance and Human Rights Programme.
• Developing and sustaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and representing CDT EU in coalitions, at events and with multistakeholder bodies

Qualifications

An ideal candidate would have:

• At least 2-3 years of work experience (internships included) in the area of EU law and policy making relating to technology and democracy and human rights;
• A degree or expertise in a relevant field (e.g., human rights, EU law, information technology, surveillance law, privacy law (GDPR), public policy);
• Familiarity with EU security and surveillance policies. A comprehensive understanding of the tensions between human rights and national security, counter-terrorism measures, and public order concerns is highly desired;
• Strong research skills and demonstrated experience in analysing and interpreting complex policy issues.
• Solid understanding of EU decision making processes
• Experience in supporting diverse coalitions that may include civil society, industry, academics, and other stakeholders is desirable;
• Fluent in English with excellent verbal and written communication skills; fluency in other EU languages is desirable;
• An energetic, entrepreneurial, and collaborative working style.

Remuneration and benefits package

• Full-time, fixed-term 18 month Belgian employment contract, with potential for renewal based on performance and availability of funding;
• Salary scale: €40,000-45,000 gross per annum depending on experience;
• Must have a right to work in Belgium;
• Benefits include: hospitalisation insurance, pension contribution and meal vouchers.

Application process

Please apply via the link with a copy of your CV and a cover letter explaining your interest and how your experience and qualifications match the requirements. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

Deadline for applications: 19 October 2025

The Centre for Democracy & Technology Europe is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer. CDT does not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation in any of its activities or operations. We believe that a diverse staff enables us to do better and more impactful work. Women, people of colour, and members of low-income, disadvantaged, and LGBTQI communities are strongly encouraged to apply.