Administrators at the European Commission and other EU institutions are placed in grades starting with AD 5 and ending with AD 16 reserved for Directors General.

AD 15 is a high-ranking grade within the Administrator (AD) function group of the European Union’s civil service. Occupants of the AD 15 level hold leadership positions that are critical to the management and strategic direction of the EU’s various institutions and bodies.

Individuals at the AD 15 level are typically appointed to senior roles such as Deputy Directors-General, Principal Advisers, or Heads of Service.

In the EU institutions’ hierarchy, AD 15 staff are positioned just below the highest executive level (AD 16, Directors-General). They are often involved in high-level decision-making processes and may represent their institutions in interactions with external stakeholders, including member states, international organizations, and the public.