Scientific Officer – Plant Protection Products Residues
EFSA/F/4/2023/01
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), based in Parma, Italy
is looking for a
Scientific Officer – Plant Protection Products Residues
(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 31/12/2024. The validity of the talent pool may be extended.
IS THIS JOB FOR YOU?
Are you a dedicated scientist with expertise in assessing the health and/or environmental risk of pesticides or related substances?
Do you have the knowledge and determination to implement policies and processes in international scientifically-driven organisations such as EFSA?
You will assess and peer review the relevant parts of pesticides risk assessments of substances (chemical and microbiological) used in plant protection products (pesticides).
Your key responsibilities
- Search or obtain data and information, collect and collate them for preparing scientific materials.
- Analyse and evaluate data for preparing working documents related to the scientific assessment in the area of human dietary exposure, toxicology, ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment.
- Draft and review scientific outputs through the provision of evidence-based risk assessment.
- Provide administrative and scientific support to the activities of the respective Panel and Working Groups (i.e. preparation of working documents, scientific opinions, etc.).
- Participate to the development of guidance and methodology documents.
- Provide technical support to manage contracts and procurements, including monitoring procedures.
- Keep abreast of scientific and regulatory developments and provide information on legislative, policy and scientific aspects in the respective field.
- Ensure coordination with European, national and international stakeholders within the scientific activities of the organisation.
- Communicate and present scientific outputs by conveying the right messages and by making scientific concepts understandable to the public.
- Perform risk assessment in the area of pesticide residues demonstrating abilities with different IT systems or workflow management tools used for dossiers of regulated products.
WHY EFSA?
EFSA employs around 550 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.
You will be joining EFSA at an exciting time as we are implementing the EFSA Strategy 2027, aligned with the Transparency Regulation, which increased EFSA’s responsibilities towards EU citizens. The following are the objectives of the Strategy 2027.
1. Deliver trustworthy scientific advice and communication of risks from farm to fork.
2. Ensure preparedness for future risk analysis needs.
3. Empower people and ensure organisational agility.
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 basic salary of Contract Agent Function Group IV starts from €3.877 monthly, subject to an annual review of remuneration provided for in Article 64 and 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.
- 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
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
- Experience in pesticides residues: consumer dietary risk assessment performed in the framework of the peer review under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, e.g. metabolism of pesticides in plants and in livestock, assessment of the supervised residue field trials. Setting of Maximum Residue Levels in the framework of Regulation 396/2005.
- Experience in performing scientific risk assessment.
- Experience in drafting clear, concise and structured scientific reports, opinions, guidance documents using appropriate scientific terminology.
- Experience in managing scientific projects e.g. plan the time sequence of milestones and activities, as well as the work of project team members; monitor the project progress and results (on time and quality); ensure on-time delivering of the project outputs.
- Ability to generate, collect and collate evidence (data and information) from various sources, using relevant methodologies.
- Ability to communicate scientific outputs to different target audiences.
- Experience in working with different IT systems or workflow management tools used for dossiers of regulated products.
2. Behavioural competencies
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 the candidate 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-plant-protection-products-residues-340