Job Announcement

 

 

Invites applications for a   Science Officer in the Medical Sciences (EMRC) Unit

 

 

The European Science Foundation (ESF) provides a platform for its Member Organisations to advance European research and explore new directions for research at the European level.

Established in 1974 as an independent non-governmental organisation, ESF currently serves 77 Member Organisations (Research Funding Agencies, Research Performing Organisations and Academies) across 30 countries.

 

The ESF covers all scientific fields via five Standing Committees, which deal with a wide ranging portfolio of strategic activities (Forward Looks, Science Policy Briefings) and their implementation (Research Networking Programmes, EUROCORES, etc.).

The European Medical Research Councils (EMRC) is the membership organisation for all the medical research councils in Europe under the ESF. The mission of the EMRC is to promote innovative medical research and its clinical application towards improved human health. The EMRC offers authoritative strategic advice for policy making, research management, ethics, and better health services. In its activities, the EMRC serves as a voice of its Member Organisations and the European scientific community through its science policy. The EMRC has an important role in the future development of medical research in Europe and it invites the European Commission, the European Research Council, learned societies, universities and academic medical centres for debate and action to bring its recommendations to fruition. (More at www.esf.org/emrc)

 

 

Mission of the Position

 

The mission of the position is to assist the Head of Unit in promoting ESF research strategy in a dedicated field of research, in this specific case Medical Sciences. This implies supporting initiatives of ESF Member Organisations in an inter- and multi-disciplinary environment across Europe.

Tasks include supporting the development of a pan-European science policy, producing strategic documents, running ESF peer review processes, and promoting the visibility of these initiatives in the European Research Area.

 

 

Position Responsibilities

This position will involve:

 

·          Supporting the relevant ESF scientific committees within the overall ESF Mission and its strategic activities (Forward Looks, Exploratory Workshops, Science Policy Briefings, Research Networking Programmes, EUROCORES, etc). This includes providing quality papers and reports.

·          Implementing the ESF scientific instruments, and other approved ESF activities.

·          Organising scientific quality control, guaranteeing high quality through a peer review process of proposals, and evaluation ongoing and completed activities.

·          Scientific management of ESF instruments according to corporate procedures.

·          Management of specific activities and their budgets in compliance with ESF Financial Rules and Delegated Financial Authority.

·          Liaising with ESF Member Organisations, COST and external scientific bodies.

·          Publicising and informing the research community (writing material for publications and the web) and liaising with the ESF Communications Unit.

·          Supporting the Head of Unit in the management of his/her direct staff.

 

 

Profile and Competences required

 

The successful applicant must demonstrate the following competences:

 

Specific competences

·          Ph.D in Biomedical sciences with 5-year + experience in related fields;

·          A Degree in  Medicine or Pharmaceutical Science would be an advantage;

·          Ability to work independently within the context of objectives set by the Head of Unit, and to create links and promote networking of researchers;

·          Knowledge of European and national research funding and research performing organisations (especially ESF Member Organisations), and of European and international science policy;

·          Demonstrable experience with project evaluation processes and experience in managing research projects;

·          High standard of spoken and written English, with a working knowledge of another European language being an advantage;

·          Ability to draft concise and clear scientific documents;

·          Good working knowledge of MS Office systems and of electronic databases and Web sites;

 

 

Inter-personal competences:

·          Action-orientated, responsible and self-managed, creative and willing to take initiative, and continuously improvement-minded;

·          Strong inter-personal and excellent communication skills within a multi-national context, including discretion, diplomacy and tolerance;

·          Assertive with capability of guiding decision-making procedures and to represent ESF in the scientific community;

·          Excellent presentational skills;

·          Proven organisational skills;

·          Basic experience/training in people management;

·          Transparency in working and a team-orientated work ethic;

·          Commitment to deliver on allocated tasks and respond in a timely manner to deadlines;

·          Positive and constructive attitude;

·          Capable of demonstrating the ESF’s values: Excellence, Openness, Responsiveness, Pan-European approach, Ethical Awareness and Human Values.

 

 

 

Employment conditions

 

·          This full-time position is offered for a short term contract of two years, preferably starting as soon as possible, with the possibility of an extension.

·          The place of work is Strasbourg, France and the job will involve a significant amount of travel.

·          The salary level will be based on experience and qualifications of the successful candidate and will follow ESF terms and conditions.

 

Please send your application by 19 January 2009 to jobs@esf.org quoting the following reference identifier

EMRC-SO  or to ESF, Human Resources Unit - 1 quai Lezay-Marnésia, BP 90015, F-67080 Strasbourg France.

Interviews will be held in Strasbourg on 27 January 2009.

 

Further details at www.esf.org