Scientific Project Officer (AD 7)
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- Project Management
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- Jul 17, 2024 Post Date
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- 8530 Total Views
The Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU), based in Brussels, Belgium
is looking for a
Scientific Project Officer
(Temporary Agent, Grade AD7)
Please send us your application by no later than 16 September 2024 at 23:59 (Brussels time), following the instructions in the ANNEX.
The purpose of this call is to fill in one (1) vacant post 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 and Operations Unit, the Scientific Project Officer will be assigned duties and responsibilities within the Scientific Operations Unit related to the planning, management and implementation of research and development activities, 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).
The tasks of the Scientific Project Officer will include, amongst others, the following:
- providing leadership, within the Scientific Operations team, in a research domain important to the implementation of the IHI programme such as healthcare data, digital health, new technological advances in healthcare research etc. The role will involve staying abreast of developments within the research domain mentioned above, liaising with and building relationships with IHI members in these areas, as well as, representing and promoting IHI to relevant stakeholders;
- contributing to the call and evaluation process through assisting in the writing of call topics, the selection of evaluation panel experts, the preparation of the evaluation phase and moderation of assigned expert panels, as well as leading the grant agreement preparation phase (in close collaboration with the legal and financial officers) for proposals selected for funding on behalf of the IHI office;
- managing a portfolio of projects and activities related to the implementation of the IHI programme, as assigned by Head of Scientific Operations (HoSO). More specifically: monitoring projects; assessing their progress via reporting and their contribution against the programme objectives (including the eligibility of their declared expenditures, their regularity and their adherence to grant agreement provisions); preparing and conducting project reviews, ensuring adequate follow-up and resolving issues related to project implementation and contractual obligations with the consortia; participating in project meetings with project consortia to monitor progress and explain relevant IHI policies and procedures;
- Undertaking other relevant tasks and activities of the Scientific Operations Team, as requested by the Head of Scientific Operations or the IHI Executive Director, as they may evolve according to the development of IHI programme.
3. Eligibility 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:
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 attested by a diploma3 when the normal period of university education is four (4) years or more;
OR
- Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three (3) years attested by a diploma, and appropriate professional experience of at least one (1) year;
3.3 Experience
- In addition to the above, at least seven (7) of relevant and proven professional experience4 acquired from the time when the university degree giving access to the selection procedure was awarded on completion of a required minimum of four years of study.
Eligibility criteria must be fulfilled by the deadline for applications, and maintained throughout the selection procedure and appointment.
If candidates do not fulfil all the eligibility criteria, their application will not be taken into consideration.
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 job description;
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience 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, data analytics, 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;
- Demonstrated professional experience of at least four (4) years in project management in an area related to the work of IHI programme (acquired after the education referred to in section 3.2 education;
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the medicinal product and/or medical device development lifecyle, particularly the challenges experienced when developing innovative new products, devices or medicines etc, as well as those involved when trying to bring those innovations to market for the benefit of patients;
- 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;
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the generation, analysis and/or use of data related to health research and/or data related to health care;
- Professional experience in managing research programmes at EU level and/or knowledge of IT tools used in the European institutions such as Compass, Sygma etc.
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 ability and problem-solving skills;
- High level of organisational and planning skills;
- Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills: ability to work both independently and as a team player;
- 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. 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 2025 and may be extended at the discretion of the Appointing Authority of IHI JU.
6. Deadline for applications
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application by no later than 16 September 2024 at 23:59 (Central European Summer 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 7, 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 7, step 1 is EUR 7.261,98 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.