Senior Scientific Officer (Toxicologist) - Montesquieu Institute

WITHIN THE EUROPEAN FOOD SAFETY AUTHORITY (PARMA)

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is the keystone of European Union (EU) risk assessment regarding food and feed safety. In close collaboration with national authorities and in open consultation with its stakeholders, EFSA provides independent scientific advice and clear communication on existing and emerging risks.

The Authority has set up a selection procedure that aims to establish a reserve list for Temporary Agents (five-year contract renewable at the conditions set out in the Staff Regulations and in the Conditions of Employment for Other Servants) for:

Senior Scientific Officer

(Toxicologist)

Grade AD8

Ref.: EFSA/X/AD/2010/018

The Food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids Unit

The Panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids (CEF) deals with questions on the safety of use of materials in contact with food, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids, and also with questions related to the safety of processes.

Initial demand for this job profile comes from the CEF Unit but the successful candidate might be called to work in the Risk Assessment Directorate or in the Scientific Cooperation and Assistance Directorate where such a profile might become relevant.

The Risk Assessment Directorate EFSA's core activity is to provide independent scientific advice on food safety issues throughout the food chain.

The Risk Assessment Directorate is currently composed of ten Scientific Panel support Units, these being the Food Additives and Nutrient Sources (ANS), the Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings (CEF), the Animal Health and Welfare Unit (AHAW), the Biological Hazards Unit (BIOHAZ), the Contaminants Unit (CONTAM), the Feed Additives

Unit (FEEDAP), the Genetically Modified Organisms Unit (GMO), the Nutrition Unit (NDA), the Plant Protection Products Unit (PPR) and the Plant Health Unit (PLH).

The Scientific Cooperation and Assistance Directorate EFSA's core activity is to provide independent scientific advice on food safety issues throughout the food chain. The Scientific Cooperation and Assistance Directorate is involved in the collection and analysis of data in the fields within EFSA's mission, cooperation and networking with Member States, emerging risks, and the provision of scientific and technical assistance to the Commission and EFSA units. It consists of the Assessment Methodology (AMU) Unit, Scientific Cooperation Unit, the Emerging Risks Unit, the Pesticides Unit (PRAPeR), the Data Collection and Exposure (DATEX) Unit and the Zoonoses Data Collection Unit.

The job

Support to the relevant Panel and the relevant Unit through participation in the scientific evaluation of applications and co-ordination of the procedural aspects of applications for the evaluation of the safety of substances within the remit of the relevant Panel.

The tasks may include the following:

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  Draft opinions, scientific working documents and scientific reports within a given time frame to support the risk assessment, with a main focus on toxicological aspects;

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  Provide advice on specific and generic toxicological questions which fall within the remit of the unit;

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  Collect and evaluate scientific information and data in the remit of the Unit;

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  Monitor general scientific and regulatory developments within the relevant fields of the Unit;

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  Scientific, administrative and technical co-ordination support to the Panel and its working groups;

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  Assist to, organise and participate in working group and Panel meetings, including drafting of minutes;

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  Supervision of commissioned scientific work, such as literature search and pre- assessment work;

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  Assist the Head of Unit in managerial and administrative tasks;

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  Ensure that the Panel and its working groups operate in accordance with the administrative rules and procedures of the Authority;

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  Internal communication: contribute to the co-ordination, planning, development, harmonisation and implementation of activities and procedures of the Authority;

collaborate with other units and departments of the Authority on matters related to the work of the Panel;

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  Administrative and scientific co-ordination in handling applications including completeness check and scientific evaluation of application dossiers with main focus on toxicological aspects;

· External communication: handling external requests for information relevant to the work of the Panel, including requests from European Institutions, Member States, International Bodies and the general public in co-operation with the respective communication department within EFSA if appropriate.

The jobholder reports to the Head of the Unit.

The requirements

Qualifications and experience

A. Eligibility criteria

• i. 

  A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma in one of the following fields: biochemistry, chemistry, human medicine, food science and technology, biology, public health, life science or related areas when the normal period of university education is four (4) years or more;
• ii. 

  A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma in one of the following fields: biochemistry, chemistry, human medicine, food science and technology, biology, public health, life science or related areas and appropriate professional experience of at least one (1) year when the normal period of university education is at least three (3) years;
• iii. 

  In addition to the above, either in case A(i) or A(ii), at least nine (9) years of relevant and proven professional experience
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  gained after obtaining the diploma;
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  Thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the Communities and a satisfactory knowledge of another language of the Communities;
• v. 

  Candidates must be nationals of a Member State of the European Communities, Iceland or Norway;
• vi. 

  Candidates must have fulfilled any obligations imposed on them by laws concerning military service;
• vii. 

  Meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• viii. 

  Candidates must be entitled to his or her full rights as a citizen;
• ix. 

  Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.

B. Selection criteria

Essential criteria

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  Out of the nine (9) years of professional experience mentioned above, at least three (3) years of professional experience in the field of toxicological risk assessment or food safety advice in at least one of the areas within the remit of the relevant Unit (e.g.: safety of use of materials in contact with food, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids, and also with questions related to the safety of processes);

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  Excellent knowledge (by training or professional experience) of toxicological issues relevant to safety assessment of chemicals;

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  Experience in the safety evaluation of chemical substances in food;

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  Proven capacity to summarise complex scientific information and facts and to write scientific reports or publications (preferably for risk assessment);

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  Excellent knowledge of both written and spoken English;

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  Good organisational and problem-solving skills;

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  Ability to work under conditions that require considerable flexibility;

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  Ability to work within a team as well as autonomously;

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  Good communication skills, especially for the communication of complex information;

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  Good client service orientation;

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  Good interpersonal skills, preferably developed in a multicultural international environment;

· Practical knowledge of standard office software.

Assets

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  Experience acquired from working with advisory scientific bodies, preferably in an international environment;

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  Experience in project management acquired from international or national public administrations or research institutes;

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  Experience in managing or coordinating a team for the realisation of scientific projects;

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  Experience in managing working groups and writing minutes;

· A degree (MSc, PhD) in toxicology;

· The ability to work under conditions that require considerable flexibility including preparations and participations in meetings in locations other than the EFSA headquarter.

Selection procedure

The eligibility of candidates will be assessed only if the requirements requested in the vacancy notice are met by the closing date of the submission of applications. Depending on the needs of the Authority and its teams, a shortlist will be established. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview by the Selection Board and may be also interviewed by the Executive Director. The interview will mainly be held in English and during the selection process candidates may be required to undergo a competency assessment exercise. The interview will take place in Parma (Italy), where the Authority has its seat and where the place of employment is.

Candidates invited to an interview will be requested to submit, on the day of the interview, a non-certified copy of their diploma(s) and evidence of their professional experience, clearly indicating the starting and finishing dates, the function(s) and the exact nature of the duties carried out. However, prior to contract signature, the successful candidate/s will be requested to provide EFSA with original or certified copies of all relevant documents proving the eligibility requirements.

The Selection Board will establish a reserve list composed of at least three (3) candidates, provided that they meet the above mentioned essential criteria and assets. The Executive

Director will appoint the selected jobholder/s. This reserve list may be used for the recruitment of a similar post depending on the needs of the Authority, and will be valid until 31/12/2011 (the validity of the reserve list may be extended). Candidates should note that inclusion on a reserve list does not guarantee recruitment.

Please note that the Selection Board's internal proceedings are strictly confidential and that any contact with its members is strictly forbidden.

Appeal procedures

If a candidate considers that he/she has been adversely affected by a particular decision, he/she can lodge a complaint under Article 90(2) of the Staff Regulations of Officials of the European Communities and Conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities, at the following address:

The Executive Director EFSA Selection procedure Ref.: EFSA/X/AD/2010/018

Largo N. Palli, 5/A I-43121 PARMA

The complaint must be lodged within three (3) months. The time limit for initiating this type of procedure starts to run from the time the completion of the selection procedure is published on the Web-site at:

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/aboutefsa/jobs.htm.

Conditions of employment

Depending on the budgetary situation, selected candidate/s may be offered a five-year contract in accordance with the conditions of employment of other servants of the European Communities. Before signing the contract, the selected candidates will be asked to sign a declaration of interest. The successful candidates will be recruited in the grade AD8. The basic monthly salary for the grade AD8 (step 1) is 6,181.38. In addition to the basic salary, staff members may be entitled to various allowances, such as a household allowance, expatriation allowance (16% of basic salary), dependent child allowance and education allowance. The salary is subject to a Community tax deducted at source and staff members are exempt of national taxation.

Please note that recruitment is done in the first or second step of the indicated grade, depending on the duration of the acquired professional experience. EFSA offers a comprehensive welfare package including pension scheme, medical accident and occupational disease insurance coverage, unemployment and invalidity allowance and travel insurance. Further information regarding rights and conditions of employment can be found in the following document:

http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/docs/toc100_en.pdf The Authority is an equal opportunities employer and takes care to avoid any form of discrimination.

Submission of applications

Candidates are requested to submit their application online through the Authority's website:

www.efsa.europa.eu or download the forms from the EFSA website and send their application by registered mail to the following address: EFSA Human Resources Unit

Ref.: EFSA/X/AD/2010/018

Largo N. Palli, 5/A I-43121 PARMA

Candidates should note that the online application is the recommended method. Moreover, the online method will allow candidates to enter into their application until the deadline in order to make changes.

Applications delivered via email will not be accepted. An application will be deemed admissible only if it includes a duly completed application form. This vacancy notice and the form are only available in English. Candidates are kindly invited to fill in their application form in English, in order to facilitate the recruitment procedure. The Authority regrets that, due to the large volume of applications only candidates selected for interviews will be notified. Information concerning the status of the selection procedure can be found at the following address:

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/aboutefsa/jobs.htm

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Please note that EFSA will not return applications to candidates. The personal information EFSA requests from candidates will be processed in line with Regulation

(EC) N° 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data. The purpose of processing of the personal data candidates submit is to manage applications in view of a possible pre-selection and recruitment at EFSA.

More information on personal data protection in relation to selection and recruitment can be found on the EFSA website:

http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/legalnotice.htm

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Deadline

Applications must be sent no later than 15 September 2010 at midnight (Local time, GMT +1). For those sent by registered mail, the postmark date will serve as a proof. The Authority will disregard any applications received after that date.

Please note that, due to the extremely large number of applications we receive, when reaching the deadline for submission of applications, the system may have problems to process the large amounts of data. We therefore advise the applicants to send in their application well ahead of the deadline.

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