CSIC Free Appointment Positions 2026: Key Information for Civil Servants

Key data

Civil servants with interest in high-responsibility positions within the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) have a new opportunity available. The organization's Presidency has published in the BOE of April 28, 2026 a call for position provision through the system of free appointment (reference BOE-A-2026-9234).

This type of call is not routine: free appointment is reserved for positions of special responsibility or trust within the Public Administration, which implies conditions different from those of an ordinary merit competition, both in selection and in the subsequent stability of the position.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution convenes the provision of certain jobs at the CSIC through the free appointment system. This mechanism allows the Administration to select from civil servants who meet the requirements demanded for each position, without being obliged to follow the strict order of scoring or merit that governs ordinary competitions.

The key elements established by the resolution are as follows:

• Provision system: Free appointment, reserved for positions of special responsibility or trust.
• Eligible candidates: Exclusively civil servants who meet the specific requirements set for each advertised position.
• Deadline and form of application: Indicated in the resolution itself published in the BOE.
• Revocability: Positions obtained through free appointment may be revoked at any time by the Administration, without need for disciplinary cause.

This system contrasts with merit competition, where the candidate with the highest score has preferential rights and stability in the position is greater once awarded.

Economic and operational impact

From the civil servant's perspective, accessing a position through free appointment usually implies a higher remuneration level, associated with the greater responsibility of the position. However, the counterpart is lower stability: the Administration may revoke the appointment at any time, which requires the civil servant to maintain their original position as a safeguard.

For the CSIC as an organization, this system allows it to fill strategic or direct trust positions with agility without being bound by the result of a regulated competition process. This has relevant operational implications in the management of high-level research teams and projects.

Civil servants who access these positions must bear in mind that their administrative situation is subject to the organizational will of the organization, which may affect medium and long-term professional planning.

Who does it affect?

• CSIC civil servants who wish to apply for positions of greater responsibility within the organization.
• Civil servants from other bodies or scales of the General State Administration who meet the specific requirements of each advertised position.
• CSIC HR managers and executives, who must manage the selection process and possible subsequent revocations.
• Public function advisors who assist civil servants in making decisions about mobility and position provision.

The call does not affect labor personnel, temporary staff or citizens without civil servant status. Access is restricted exclusively to those who hold the status of career civil servant and meet the requirements of each position.

Practical example

A civil servant from the General Administrative Corps currently assigned to a management unit of the CSIC detects that one of the positions convened through free appointment corresponds to a service management position in the research project management area, with a higher remuneration level than the one currently held.

If they meet the specific requirements of the position, they can submit their application within the deadline indicated in the resolution. If selected, they would access the position with the remuneration conditions associated with it. However, they should know that the Administration may revoke their appointment at any time, so they would retain their original position as a guarantee of continuity in case of dismissal.

This scenario illustrates the dual nature of free appointment: opportunity for immediate promotion against lower security of permanence in the position obtained.

What should civil servants do now?

1. Consult the full text of the resolution in the BOE (BOE-A-2026-9234) to identify the specific positions convened and their specific requirements.
2. Verify that the requirements are met for each position of interest: body, scale, level, experience or other criteria listed in the call.
3. Prepare the application and documentation within the deadlines and forms indicated in the resolution, without waiting until the last moment since deadlines in free appointment are usually tight.
4. Evaluate the impact of revocability on your own professional planning: ensure that your original position is properly reserved before accepting the new assignment.
5. Consult with the HR service of your original organization to confirm the compatibility of the process with your current administrative situation and position reservation rights.

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-2026-9234