Head of Sector Operations team
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- Project Management
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- 1 day ago Post Date
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The Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU), based in Brussels, Belgium
is looking for a
Head of Sector Operations Team
(Temporary Agent, Grade AD 8)
Please send us your application by no later than 15 September 2025 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
Reporting directly to the Head of Scientific Operations (HoSO), the Head of Sector for the operations team will support the HoSO by coordinating and leading unit activities and managing team members, thereby contributing to the effective implementation of the IHI JU’s work programmes.
The tasks of the Head of Sector of the operations team will include, amongst others, the following:
Operations activities
- Liaising with Scientific Project Officers, Financial Officers and Legal Officers as well as the call coordination team to lead and oversee the planning, execution, and monitoring of call evaluations, grant preparations, and project launches. This includes coordinating the Operations Unit’s work plan contributions, managing the inclusion of draft topic texts in the IHI work programme, and ensuring that regular updates are provided to the Head of Scientific Operations (HoSO) and the Management Team (MT).
- Supporting the HoSO in shaping the unit’s strategy and policies in line with the Programme Office’s work programme, while contributing to the development of strategic documents, work programmes, and innovative approaches to organisational challenges.
- Defining and supervising the accurate and timely execution of processes and procedures to ensure adherence to corporate policies, standards and data protection regulations.
- Acting as Verifying Agent in relevant process steps of operational workflows, particularly cross cutting activities such as IKAA, ex-post audit, etc; when needed act as back-up Authorising Officer by sub-delegation (AOSD).
- Representing the Operations team and leading technical discussions on implementation of the IHI legislation with the EC services.
- Promoting awareness of the IHI programme through information days, workshops and other public meetings, disseminating information on the call and evaluation processes, rules and procedures, explaining the benefits of participating in the programme, as well as highlighting key project results and the benefit of IHI projects for stakeholders and society at large.
- Providing support to the Scientific Operations team, through a broad understanding of research and innovation activities important to the implementation of the IHI, liaising with and building relationships with IHI members in these areas.
- Supporting the Executive Director (ED) and HoSO in their interaction with decision making bodies.
- Overseeing the daily activities and performance of approximately 12 team members, including task allocation, quality control of their work, and serving as the primary point of contact for resolving questions and issues related to their responsibilities.
- Monitoring and reporting on a regular basis to HoSO the performance of the team and progress against unit and organisational KPIs, and contributing to the objectives and appraisal dialogues of team members.
- Leading the structured onboarding, training, and mentoring of new staff, guiding them through operational and organisational workflows, and providing ongoing support as they adapt to processes and resolve related queries.
Undertaking other relevant tasks and activities of the Head of Sector 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
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;
- as a predominant working language of IHI JU is English, candidates must have an excellent command of spoken and written English (note: native English speakers will be required to demonstrate the ability to work in a second EU language at interview stage).Candidates must also have a satisfactory knowledge (at least B2 level) of another of the official EU 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 which can demonstrate their language skills).
3.2 Education
- Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least four (4) years or more attested by a diploma3;
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, have at least nine (9) years of relevant professional work 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.
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 section 2 job description.
- Demonstrated professional experience coordinating or leading teams in a multicultural environment (please indicate the size of the team and the types of activities coordinated).
- 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.
- Professional experience in project management.
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 this experience).
- Good knowledge and professional experience in running calls, evaluations, and grant agreement preparation.
- Demonstrated experience in mentorship and team development.
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:
- excellent leadership skills;
- excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills;
- excellent planning, organization and problem-solving skills;
- excellent oral and written communication skills;
- diplomacy, discretion and confidentiality;
- a good ability to handle many tasks simultaneously while delivering high-quality work under tight deadlines in a highly dynamic environment.
- strong customer service- orientation
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)
All applicants invited to an interview with the Executive Director will take part in an assessment centre, which will evaluate the applicants' potential and provide an in-depth analysis of their leadership skills, adaptability and other core competencies. The assessment centre may comprise individual and/or group exercises as well as in-depth interviews focussed on management skills. The result of the assessment centre will be taken into consideration by 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
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.
6. Deadline for applications
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application by no later than 15 September 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 8, 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 8, step 1 is EUR 8.651,98 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
