Scientific Officer – Various Profiles
Chemistry, Food Technology, Human Nutrition; Nutritional Epidemiology; Human Medicines, Immunology, Toxicology; Clinical pharmacology; Microbiology; Biotechnology.
EFSA/F/4/2021/06
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), based in Parma, Italy
is looking for a
Scientific Officer
(Contract Agent, Function Group IV)
The purpose of this call is to establish a talent pool (reserve list) that may be used for the recruitment of staff when a position becomes available and will be valid until 31/12/2023. The validity of the talent pool may be extended.
IS THIS JOB FOR YOU?
Are you a passionate and motivated scientist to contribute to EFSA’s mission in ensuring food safety in Europe?
We are looking for motivated and talented scientists with a background in Chemistry, Food Technology, Human Nutrition; Nutritional Epidemiology; Human Medicines, Immunology, Toxicology; Clinical pharmacology; Microbiology; Biotechnology.
The successful candidate will contribute to the work of EFSA in one or more of the following areas:
• Questions related to human nutrition, dietary reference values, including upper tolerable intake levels of nutrients
• The safety of innovative food and feed (novel foods, GMOs) through the assessment of new food and feed sources, newly synthetised compounds and new production technologies.
• The safety of nutrient sources (e.g. sources of vitamins and minerals).
• The safety of other substances intentionally added to food (e.g. plants and herbal extracts), foods for special groups such as the safety and suitability of substances for use in infant formulae.
• The potential of certain food ingredients to cause allergic or intolerance reactions.
• The scientific substantiation of health claims (efficacy)
• The risk assessment on pesticide residues in food or feed
• The risk assessment of food ingredients and food contact materials
Your key responsibilities
• Contribute to the collection, collation, extraction, critical analysis and evaluation of data from various sources, evidence synthesis and integration for the scientific assessment;
• Contribute to drafting and reviewing scientific outputs through the provision of evidence-based assessment, in particular of foods and food ingredients;
• Provide administrative and scientific support to the activities of EFSA’s Panels and Working Groups (i.e. preparation of working documents, scientific opinions, etc.);
• Contribute to communicating and presenting scientific outputs by conveying the right messages and by making scientific concepts understandable to the public;
• Liaise with the relevant stakeholders within the remit of the relevant scientific activities;
• Keep abreast of scientific and regulatory developments and contribute to providing information on legislative, policy and scientific aspects, in particular in the area of foods and food ingredients.
WHY EFSA?
EFSA employs around 500 staff members, and its Scientific Committee and Panels engage highly qualified and independent scientific experts. Every position within EFSA plays an important part in creating an inspirational environment in which to work and develop.
EFSA’s standards and values are driven by ethics and integrity and all staff is expected to act in a manner consistent with its principles, including fairness, transparency and impartiality in work practices and conduct towards other people.
As an EFSA staff member, you will have the chance to make a difference to European food safety working in an international and dynamic environment. You will also be able to participate in several valuable networking opportunities across Europe.
Furthermore, you will be joining EFSA at an exciting time as we are implementing the Transparency Regulation: EFSA expanded its mandate and will grow considerably over the next few years.
To find out more about EFSA, visit us at www.efsa.europa.eu.
WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU?
Life in Parma
Parma is a lively city of around 200.000 inhabitants located in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna and ranked as one of the most liveable cities in Italy. Its centre is rich in art, with architecture from different periods and plenty of parks. Parma is famous for its food, surrounding picturesque countryside and medieval castles. It is strategically located between major cities like Milano and Bologna and within reachable distance from ski resorts, seaside and mountains.
Salary and benefits
The successful candidate will be recruited as Contract Agent Function Group IV with the basic salary starting from € 3.531 monthly, subject to an annual review of remuneration provided for in Article 65(1) of the Staff Regulations.
In addition to the basic salary, EFSA offers a range of benefits:
- Various allowances to which the successful jobholder may be entitled, 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 from national taxation.
- Wide range of leaves (e.g. annual leave, parental leave, public holidays) and flexible working hours. Besides working in EFSA’s modern headquarter located in the heart of Parma, staff members are also offered the possibility to telework up to 50% of working time.
- 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 links:
WHAT ARE THE SELECTION REQUIREMENTS?
You must satisfy the following requirements on the closing date for submission of your application:
I. Eligibility criteria
1. General requirements
• Be national of a Member State of the European Union, Iceland or Norway;
• Enjoy full rights as a citizen;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by laws concerning military service;
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post;[1]
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the EU official languages and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU language;
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved.
2. Qualifications
A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three (3) years attested by a diploma in one of the following fields:
– Chemistry
– Food technologies
– Human Nutrition
– Nutritional epidemiology
– Human medicines
– Toxicology
– Immunology
– Clinical pharmacology
– Microbiology
– Biotechnology[2]
In case you do not fulfil all the eligibility criteria, your application will not be taken into consideration.
II. Selection criteria
The following competencies will be assessed throughout the different phases of the selection procedure. Candidates are also expected to demonstrate effective communication in both spoken and written English as well as strong motivation for the position.
1. Technical competencies
i. Professional experience in areas related to the nutritional and/or risk assessment of food and food ingredients in at least one of the following competence areas:
- Chemistry;
- Food technology;
- Human Nutrition;
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Human Medicines
- Toxicology
- Immunology
- Clinical pharmacology;
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
ii. Experience in writing and reviewing scientific documents such as scientific articles, reports, opinions in one or more of the areas mentioned in the Vacancy Notice.
iii. Experience in at least one of the following areas: Perform generation, collection, collation, extraction, critical analysis and evaluation of data (e.g. food consumption data and/or data from human/animal studies, statistical analysis of studies).
iv. Communicate scientific outputs to different target audiences.
v. Following competencies are considered an asset:
- Perform evidence-based scientific assessments, including risk and/or benefit assessment and product characterisation, preferably in the area of foods/food ingredients; Experience in dietary exposure assessment;
- Manage scientific projects by selecting and using appropriate project management techniques and tools;
- Knowledge of the EU regulatory framework in the area of foods/food ingredients
2. Behavioural competencies
i. Deal with ambiguity: Able to work constructively within unexpected and unpredictable situations and show resilience and composure, even in difficult or adverse circumstances; able to decide and act without having the total picture; accept constructive feedback in a positive manner;
ii. Demonstrate political savvy and strategic agility: Look beyond the current situation and visualise what the future can bring with a keen sense for arising opportunities and good understanding of how and when to best pursue them; able to think in a creative and innovative way;
iii. Focus on stakeholder needs: Committed to meet the expectations and requirements of internal and external stakeholders; establish and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders and gain their trust and respect;
iv. Plan and measure for results: Set ambitious goals that exceed the targets and create plans to achieve them; ensure an efficient and responsible planning and management of resources;
v. Work with others: Work confidently within a group and contribute to achieve the common goals, understanding own role and how it supports the team and the organisation; able to cooperate, listen actively, manage conflicts and motivate colleagues.
NOTE
[1] Before appointment, a successful candidate shall be medically examined by an institution’s medical officer in order that the European Food Safety Authority may be satisfied that he/she fulfils the requirement of article 28(e) of the Staff Regulations of the Officials of the European Communities.
[2] Any academic qualification mentioned in the application form shall be duly supported by evidence (original or certified copies of e.g. diplomas, certification, etc.) Only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities and qualifications recognised as equivalent by the relevant EU Member State authorities will be accepted. In instances where diplomas are obtained from a non-EU Member State, EFSA may request the candidate to provide a relevant document of comparability issued by a recognised authority.
Source URL: https://careers.efsa.europa.eu/jobs/scientific-officer-various-profiles-283