Scientific Project Officer (AD 5)
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- Project Management
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- Mar 05, 2025 Post Date
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- 3895 Total Views
The Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU), based in Brussels, Belgium
is looking for a
Scientific Project Officer
(Temporary Agent, Grade AD 5)
Please send us your application by no later than 03 April 2025 at 23:59 (Brussels time/CEST), following the instructions in the ANNEX.
The purpose of this call is to fill in two (2) vacant posts and to establish a reserve list.
1. About IHI JU
The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) aims to translate health research and innovation into real benefits for patients and society, and to ensure that Europe remains at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary, sustainable, patient-centric health research. Health research and healthcare increasingly involve diverse sectors. By supporting projects that bring these sectors together, IHI will pave the way for a more integrated approach to healthcare, covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and disease management.
IHI is a partnership between the European Union and European industry associations representing the pharmaceutical, medical technology, biotechnology, digital health and vaccine industries, namely COCIR, EFPIA, EuropaBio, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe.
IHI’s total budget is EUR 2.4 billion. Half of this comes from Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme. The IHI industry partners have committed EUR 1 billion to IHI, and a further EUR 200 million can be committed by other organisations that decide to support the objectives of IHI in specific areas of research by becoming contributing partners. IHI builds on the successes of the Innovative Medicines Initiative, and the IHI Programme Office continues to manage projects launched under IMI.
For more information, please visit the IHI JU website: www.ihi.europa.eu
2. Job description
As a member of the Scientific Operations Unit, the Scientific Project Officer will be assigned duties and responsibilities within the scientific operations team related to the planning, management and implementation of the IHI scientific priorities and the project portfolio, and the follow-up of the entire life cycle of projects. The Scientific Project Officer will report directly to the Head of Scientific Operations (HoSO).
- participate in the implementation of IHI scientific priorities and contribute to the implementation of the IHI Work Plan;
- manage a portfolio of projects and activities related to the implementation of the programme as assigned by Head of Scientific Operations (HoSO);
- interact with relevant stakeholders especially IHI JU private members and the European Commission to support the development of topics for calls for proposals;
- contribute to the planning and monitoring of calls for proposals/tenders, run the evaluation phase (selection of experts, eligibility checks of proposals, moderation) for assigned panels of experts, supporting the selection and final ranking of submitted proposals;
- lead the preparation of grant agreements in close collaboration with legal and financial officers;
- monitor a portfolio of IMI2/IHI projects, assess their progress and overall contribution against the programme objectives, monitor their reporting (including the eligibility of the expenditures, their regularity and their adherence to grant agreement provisions) and ensure adequate follow-up of issues identified with the consortia;
- prepare and execute project interim reviews;
- coordinate the networking aspects of IMI2 JU/IHI projects to foster collaborations and synergies between projects;
- identify project results and examples of impact that demonstrate the value of the IHI programme, prepare messages to disseminate those project results and examples of impact to the IHI JU Governance bodies, include those results and examples of impact in corporate documents including the Consolidated Annual Activity Report (CAAR), contribute to the work of the communication team and their dissemination activities;
- represent the IHI office at information days, workshops, seminars, conferences and other public events to promote the work of the programme and its projects’ results;
- provide statistical input for IMI2 JU/IHI papers, communications or other documents concerning IMI2 JU/IHI objectives and performance measurement;
- collaborate with the horizontal activities of the Scientific Operations team that span the work of the IHI programme office.
The successful candidate might be assigned other tasks and activities as deemed necessary under the responsibility of the Head of Scientific Operations, as tasks may evolve according to the development of IMI2 JU/IHI structure or activities.
3. Eligibility criteria
At the closing date of applications, candidates must:
3.1 General conditions
- be a national of a member state of the European Union;
- enjoy his/ her full rights as a citizen1
- have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws concerning military service;
- be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post2
- meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
- have a thorough knowledge of one of the official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge (at least B2 level) of another of these languages to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties (candidates are invited to specify in their CV possible language certificates they have obtained and which can demonstrate their language skills).
3.2 Education
- Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three (3) years attested by a diploma3;
In case you do not fulfil all the eligibility criteria, your application will not be taken into consideration. Eligibility criteria must be fulfilled by the deadline for applications, and maintained throughout the selection procedure and appointment.
4. Selection criteria
Candidates will be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following criteria, to be fulfilled by the closing date for applications:
4.1 Essential criteria
- Suitability to perform the tasks described under point 2;
- Demonstrated professional experience of at least three (3) years in project management (acquired after the education referred to in section 3.2 education);
- Sound knowledge in an area related to the work of the programme such as biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, medical technologies, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics, medical imaging, biotechnology, bio-engineering, digital technologies, data science and technology, high performance computing, artificial intelligence, real world data and real world evidence, health economics, health technology assessment and the regulation of medicines and medical devices;
- Fluent written and spoken English (native or near-native level).
4.2 Advantageous criteria
- A post graduate qualification or equivalent (e.g. Masters, Phd, MD, etc.) in a field relevant to the position (such as biomedical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, medical technologies, chemistry, data management, data analysis, biomedical engineering, digital technologies, etc);
- Experience of managing large multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder projects (applicants must state in their application how they have obtained such experience);
- Experience in managing research programmes at EU level;
- Good knowledge and professional experience in using IT tools for the evaluation of proposals and/or the management of subsequent projects;
- Knowledge and skills in the use of statistics and the presentation of data.
4.3 Behavioural competences
Throughout the different phases of the selection procedure candidates will also be assessed on the following criteria that are essential to the post:
- Good analytical abilities and problem-solving skills;
- High level of organisational and planning skills;
- Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills: ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
- Strong customer service-oriented approach;
- Very good communication skills;
- Ability to handle many tasks simultaneously while delivering high-quality work under tight deadlines in a highly dynamic environment.
In order to be evaluated in the best possible way, candidates are advised to give evidence of their knowledge with specific examples and/or detailed professional experience. Candidates are invited to be as detailed and as clear as possible when describing their professional experience and specific skills and competences in their application form.
Failure to comply with the eligibility and/or essential selection criteria will result in the disqualification of the applicant concerned.
5. Independence Declaration
The successful candidate will be required to make a declaration of their commitment to act independently in the public interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests that might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. Candidates must confirm their willingness to do so in their application.
6. Appointment and reserve list
The recruitment will take place upon a decision of the IHI JU Executive Director (the Appointing Authority).
The Executive Director of the IHI JU will select a successful candidate from the reserve list and offer them the post. A binding commitment can only be made after the verification of all conditions5 and will take the form of a contract signed by the Appointing Authority of the IHI JU.
The successful candidate will be required to make a declaration of their commitment to act independently in the public interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests that might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. Candidates must confirm their willingness to do so in their application.
The reserve list could be used to fulfil other positions within the IHI JU depending on the needs of the Joint Undertaking and will be valid until the date indicated in the relevant vacancy (the validity of the reserve list may be extended).
Candidates should note that inclusion on the reserve list does not guarantee recruitment. Recruitment will be based on the availability of posts and budget. The IHI JU may decide at any time during the procedure not to pursue the recruitment.
The reserve list for this post will be valid until 31 December 2026 and may be extended at the discretion of the Appointing Authority of IHI JU.
7. Deadline for applications
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application by no later than 03 April 2025 at 23:59 (Central European Time/Brussels time), following the instruction in the ANNEX.
7. Condition of employment
The place of employment will be Brussels, where the Joint Undertaking premises are located.
The successful candidate will be recruited as a Temporary Agent AD 5, pursuant to Article 2(f) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities, for a period of three (3) years. After an evaluation of the post holder's performance, and subject to budget availability, the term of office may be extended. The period of engagement will not in any case exceed the lifetime of IHI JU.
The basic monthly salary for AD 5, step 1 is EUR 5 905,36 subject to an annual review of remuneration provided for in Article 65(1) of the Staff Regulations, and to a Community tax deducted at source and staff members are exempt of national taxation. In addition to the basic salary, staff members may be entitled to various allowances, in particular expatriation allowance (16% of basic salary), household allowance, dependent child allowance and education allowance.
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, conditions of employment and benefits can be found at the following link:
Staff Regulations
IMPORTANT NOTE
Candidates are invited to read the ANNEX that represents an integral part of this vacancy and provides information on how to complete the application, the steps of the selection process and appeal procedures.
1. Prior to the appointment, the successful candidate will be asked to provide a certificate of good conduct, confirming the absence of any criminal record.
2. Before taking up his/her duties, the successful candidate will undergo a medical examination by one of the institutions’ medical officers in order that the IHI JU may be satisfied that he/she fulfils the requirement of article 28(e) of the Staff Regulations of the Officials of the European Communities.
3.Only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities and qualifications recognised as equivalent by the relevant EU Member State authorities will be accepted. Any academic qualification mentioned in the application form shall be duly supported by evidence (original or certified copies of e.g. diplomas, certification, etc.). In instances where diplomas are obtained from a non-EU Member State, IHI JU may request the candidate to provide a relevant document of comparability issued by a recognised authority.
4. Any professional experience mentioned in the application form shall be duly supported by evidence (original or certified copies of e.g. contracts, payslips etc.). Professional experience shall be taken into account from the date on which the person fulfils the minimum qualifications for engagement. In order for your professional experience to be taken into consideration, it must be supported by relevant documents attesting an actual work relationship defined by the following elements: real, genuine work; on a paid basis; as employee (any type of contract), or provider of a service. Any given period may be counted only once (in order to be calculated as eligible, years of studies or professional experience to be taken into account shall not overlap with other periods of studies or professional experience). Professional activities pursued part-time will be calculated pro-rata on the basis of the certified percentage of full-time hours worked. Remunerated PhDs acquired in a field relevant to the job description can be counted as professional experience up to 3 years. Paid traineeships are counted as working experience. Prior to contract signature, the successful candidate(s) will need to provide original versions of documents proving the candidate’s work experience.
5. Before the appointment, a successful candidate shall undergo a medical examination by the medical services of the Commission in order that the IHI JU may be satisfied that she/he fulfils the requirement of article 28(e) of the Staff Regulation of the Officials of the European Communitie