Project Assistant, Public Affairs

APCO is hiring one Project Assistant to join the Brussels team with flexible start date, ideally as soon as possible.The new hire will be a part of APCO's industry-leading health practice, as well as the Research Team (APCO Brussels' group of junior staff).  

APCO's health practice works with high-profile organizations spanning industry, patient and medical organisations, and NGOs.    

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a genuine interest in and knowledge of EU health policy, be fluent in English, and have excellent written and oral communication skills.  

Responsibilities: 

• Carry out research and intelligence gathering tasks (e.g. monitor legislative developments, weekly institutional agenda, etc.) 
• Develop an understanding of relevant issues affecting clients
• Draft client materials (e.g. monitoring, stakeholder mappings, policy briefings, etc.) 
• Support client event organization (e.g. putting together invites list, conducting follow-up phone calls, etc.) 
• Support new business development by contributing to brainstorms, conducting research, compiling bios and preparing slide decks 
• Ad-hoc support tasks (e.g. Translations, management of stakeholder associations)  

Qualifications & Desired Skills: 

• Knowledge of and interest in EU and global health policy 
• Knowledge of and interest in the EU institutions and decision-making process 
• University Degree in a relevant field 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills 
• Ability to multitask, prioritize tasks and perform to a high standard under tight deadlines 
• Language skills: fluency in English (C2 level). Command of another European language is a plus 
• Prior experience within the EU institutions, in-house public affairs roles, or consultancy is a plus 
• Eligible to work in the EU  

Who is this role suited for? 

• Someone who shares our values of Curiosity, Empathy, Inclusivity and Boldness 
• Someone with a passion for and interest in public affairs and communications, particularly on issues affecting the health sector 
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same 
• Someone with good time management skills and the ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deadlines at one time 
• Someone with good verbal and written communications skills and the ability to understand and convey complex information 
• Someone who enjoys working as part of a team 
• Someone who enjoys being creative and contributing ideas 
• Someone who enjoys meeting new people and building a network   

What are the core working hours and will I need to be in an office? 
 
Our core working hours in Brussels are Monday to Friday.  

We are committed to a hybrid and flexible working environment, and there may be days that you wish to work from home which will be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. We will not be introducing any kind of formal policy for this as we want to be driven by what works best for each individual at our company. You will be provided with a company laptop and the necessary equipment to be able to do this easily.  

How do I apply?  

Applications for the Project Assistant role are open and will be reviewed on a rolling basis.  

As part of APCO's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we use a blind recruitment process for all entry-level roles in Europe, meaning that all applications are anonymous at screening stage. While you will be asked to upload your CV/Resume to the job posting, we will be keeping these separate from our initial recruiting process.  

We ask you to answer the below STAR-method interview questions in writing in order to apply for the position. We will be reviewing and shortlisting candidates based on these answers, and not on CVs. CVs will be viewed only at first interview stage.  

Please write your answers in a Word document and then upload this document into your application along with your CV (separately).

• What is your approach to working on several projects in parallel? How do you address competing priorities or deadlines? (250 words maximum) 
• Describe a time you were given a project and the assignment was something that you had never done before. How did you tackle it? (250 words maximum) 
• What is your highest achievement to date? What results are you most proud of? (Achievements can cover projects you undertook during education, your personal time or your career) (250 words maximum) 
• In your own words, please provide a definition of Public Affairs and why you would be interested in pursuing a career in this sector. (200 words maximum) 
• In your view, will health policy still be relevant in this new EU cycle? Why/why not? (400 words maximum)  

What happens once I have applied? 

We will review all applications we will then reach out to all candidates, whether successful or not. We will conduct the interviews in person, although we can arrange a Teams call if you are not available. We will do our best to factor in your availabilities.

Will I secure a job when at the end of my Project Assistant contract? 

While we cannot guarantee a permanent job at the end of the contract, we will ensure you are made aware of any opportunities to join APCO as full-time employee as you progress through your time with us. We have a strong track record of converting colleagues from part-time/short-term roles to permanent opportunities. We will also ensure you receive regular feedback on your performance.  

About APCO In Brussels 

APCO Brussels has over 65 staff working across more than 100 clients and sits at the center of the agency's global operations. Thanks to a diverse and multilingual team, APCO Brussels leads on many of the agency's most dynamic global assignments.  

With a growing client base in the most pressing issues facing the world today such as the transition to Net Zero and access to healthcare, APCO has been a fixture of the Belgian communication's market for many years and continues to be at the forefront of the seismic changes facing economies and societies today. We are a truly integrated agency, with deep expertise and experience across the full range of communication offerings including corporate communications, public affairs, digital strategy and paid media.