Your tasks

Your team You will join the Directorate Digital Euro, which is part of the Directorate General Market Infrastructure and Payments and is responsible for leading the digital euro project. Following the successful completion of the preparation phase, the next phase of this project focuses on advancing technical readiness, deepening market engagement, supporting the legislative process and preparing for a pilot.

For more information about the digital euro project, please visit the hub page on the ECB's website.

In your role as Team Lead Market Infrastructure, you will be part of a growing team of approximately 100 people. We are looking to fill several lead positions to work on: (i) facilitating the adoption of the digital euro Regulation and coordinating engagement with EU institutions and policymakers, as well as detailing the digital euro's value proposition for intermediaries, consumers and merchants; (ii) planning, preparing and executing a roll-out of use cases, as well as a pilot and the possible subsequent launch; and (iii) detailing the functionalities for the offline digital euro.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of European payments, ensuring people across the euro area continue to have secure and convenient ways to pay, both in cash and digitally.

Your role As Team Lead Market Infrastructure you will:

• manage and guide your team/portfolio in line with the next phase of the digital euro project;
• carry out the preparatory work to define the digital euro product for intermediaries, including the compensation model;
• carry out the preparatory and execution work to define the requirements and specifications for the digital euro pilot and the possible subsequent launch for consumers and merchants;
• leading the definition of a best-in-class user experience for digital euro payments and reflect this in the digital euro pilot;
• refine the proposed use cases by further developing specifications for functional and non-functional requirements;
• provide strategic advice to management on the overall digital euro product;
• liaise with a variety of stakeholders, including payment service providers, Eurosystem national central banks, governance groups and other market participants;
• manage the day-to-day tasks of your team, ensuring deliverables are achieved and milestones met;
• coordinate with other Team Leads to ensure cross-functional support is provided in the Directorate.

The specific tasks and responsibilities assigned to the positions may vary depending on the final work distribution and approved setting of the next phase of the digital euro project. You will be part of a multicultural team that strives for continuous innovation to make a positive impact on the lives of European citizens.

Qualifications, experience and skills

Essential:

• a master's degree or equivalent in business administration, economics, project management, finance, STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), computer science or another relevant field (see How you can join us for details on degree equivalences);
• in addition to the above, a minimum of six years' professional experience in retail payments and/or playing a leading role in the design and/or roll-out of a large-scale, consumer-facing payment or financial product;
• expert knowledge of the payments and/or financial system landscape;
• experience in managing teams and/or coordinating people, projects or transversal activities;
• proven analytical skills and experience in drafting concise and clear notes and reports;
• an advanced (C1) command of English and an intermediate (B1) command of at least one other official language of the EU, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Desired:

• experience in working with payment service providers to implement payment solutions or schemes, including implementation of revenue models;
• experience in working on standards for front-end payment solutions;
• experience in developing an offline payment product or researching possible offline payment solutions, including experience with proofs of concept;
• experience in engaging with internal and external stakeholders to address their needs, while ensuring project deliverables are achieved.

You engage collaboratively with others. You pursue team goals and learn willingly from other people's diverse perspectives. You signal any need for change by explaining it and proposing alternative solutions. You analyse complex information effectively and can evaluate different views to arrive at solutions. You know and anticipate stakeholder needs. You are skilled at encouraging people to develop their abilities and are able to build up high-performing teams.

You are motivated to contribute to the ECB's mission, to serve the citizens of the EU as a member of a public institution and to work with colleagues from all over Europe.

You are motivated to be part of our team and to develop and use your skills and competencies to achieve the aims of this position.

Further information

Fin. Markets & Market Infrastructure Ops

Digital Euro

12534

General Information

Type of contract Fixed-term contract, which may be extended subject to individual performance and organisational needs

Who can apply? EU nationals

Salary H (bracket 1 - step 1) full time monthly net salary: €8,130 plus benefits, for further information see what we offer.

Role specialisation Market Infrastructure Project Management

Working time Full time

Place of work Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Closing date 05.01.2026

The ECB is an inclusive employer and we strive to reflect the diversity of the population we serve. We encourage you to apply irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

The contracts offered will be fixed-term, the appointment being until 31.03. 2028.

Temporary appointments may be extended or made permanent subject to organisational needs and budgetary constraints. This may result in a staff member with a non-convertible fixed-term contract being offered a convertible contract in accordance with the ECB Conditions of Employment.

Contact

For additional information on this specific vacancy, you can speak to the hiring manager, Daniel McLean, on +49 (0)69 1344 6584 between 12:00 and 13:00 on Wednesday, 17 December 2025.

Application and selection process

The recruitment process for this position will be conducted remotely. It will include a pre-recorded video interview in the pre-selection phase and - if you are invited to participate in the subsequent selection phase - a written exercise, a presentation and interviews.

If you are not selected for this position but are still considered suitable, you will be placed on a reserve list (see step 4 of How we hire), from which you might be considered for similar positions within the ECB.

The reserve list created for this campaign might also be used to fill lead expert positions in the same project team.

Find out how to apply for a position at the ECB.

Read more about how you can join us.