AECID Announces 7 Senior Management Positions A1: Roles, Levels and Allowances

Key data

Seven senior management positions at the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) are being opened for competition through the free appointment system. The announcement, published on 6 November 2026, affects exclusively career civil servants of subgroup A1 of the General State Administration and covers positions at levels 29 and 30 at the central headquarters in Madrid.

The Resolution of 30 October 2026 from the AECID Management (BOE-A-2026-23293) exhausts the administrative remedy, which means that only administrative litigation may be filed before the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid within two months.

What does this regulation establish?

The announcement details the 7 jobs to be filled by free appointment, all located in Madrid. Below are the positions and characteristics published in the resolution:

The free appointment system allows the Administration to select the candidate with the best fit for the position profile, without needing to follow a strict order of preference as in merit-based competitions. This grants greater discretion to the convening body, although the appointment resolution must be justified.

Common requirements for all positions include:

• Being a career civil servant of subgroup A1 of the General State Administration.
• Proven experience in international cooperation and international relations.
• Advanced proficiency in English and French.
• Application submission mandatory through Portal Funciona with electronic certificate.

Economic and operational impact

For the civil servant who accesses one of these positions, the financial impact is significant. The specific allowance is the variable part of the salary linked to the specific position and can represent a notable difference compared to lower-level positions.

• Level 30 positions (Director of Technical Cabinet and Deputy Directors) receive €35,952.70 annually in specific allowance.
• Level 29 positions (Unit Heads) receive €24,549.84 annually in specific allowance.
• The difference between the minimum and maximum level announced is €11,402.86 annually in specific allowance.

From an operational perspective, filling these positions directly affects AECID's management capacity in strategic areas: alliances with international partners, innovation in cooperation, relations with the private sector, and institutional support functions. Failure to fill these positions may create leadership gaps in key agency units.

Who does it affect?

• Career civil servants of subgroup A1 of the General State Administration with a profile in international cooperation.
• Professionals with experience in international relations, public-private partnerships, or innovation in the development field.
• Civil servants with advanced proficiency in English and French seeking promotion to senior management positions at levels 29-30.
• Public employees currently in lower-level positions aspiring to a salary and responsibility increase.
• Human resources managers in GSA bodies who need to inform their teams about this announcement.

Practical example

An A1 civil servant from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with experience in bilateral cooperation projects and advanced English and French proficiency decides to apply for the Unit Head of Alliances position (level 29). If selected, they will receive a specific allowance of €24,549.84 annually, in addition to their base salary and destination allowance corresponding to level 29.

To do so, they must access Portal Funciona with their electronic certificate and submit the application within 10 calendar days from 6 November 2026, that is, before 16 November 2026. If they do not submit the application on time, they will be automatically excluded from the process, as late applications are not accepted in this system.

If the appointment does not satisfy them or they believe the process has not complied with the law, they may file administrative litigation before the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid within two months, as the resolution has exhausted the administrative remedy.

What should civil servants do now?

1. Verify compliance with requirements: Confirm that you belong to subgroup A1 of the GSA and that you have proven experience in international cooperation and languages (advanced English and French).
2. Access Portal Funciona: Prepare your electronic certificate and access the platform to locate the announcement BOE-A-2026-23293.
3. Submit the application before 16 November 2026: The deadline is 10 calendar days from 6 November. Applications submitted after the deadline are not accepted.
4. Prepare supporting documentation: Gather the merits and experience in international cooperation, international relations, and languages that you will claim.
5. Consult the complete resolution in the BOE: Review the specific requirements for each position in the official text (BOE-A-2026-23293) before formalizing your candidacy.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-23293