Emprego

Position announcement

ESF is inviting applications for the position of Head of the European Polar Board Unit

The European Science Foundation (ESF) is an independent, non-governmental organisation that promotes collaboration in scientific research, funding of research and science policy across Europe. Established in 1974, its members are 80 national funding bodies, research-performing agencies, academies and learned societies from 30 countries. Through its activities and influential membership the foundation has enabled cross-border cooperation in Europe and made major contributions to science globally. The ESF covers humanities, social sciences, life, earth and environmental sciences, medical sciences, physical and engineering sciences.

The European Polar Board (EPB) is the European Science Foundation’s expert committee on Science Policy in the Polar Regions, acts as a voice and facilitator of cooperation between European National Funding Agencies, National Polar Institutes and research organizations. The European Polar Board is concerned with major strategic priorities in the Arctic and Antarctic and has members from national operators and research institutes in 19 countries including pre-Accession countries to the EU and States outside the EU such as Russia. The European Polar Board forms a non-governmental body under the auspices of the European Science Foundation. It has an Executive Committee, consisting of a Chairperson and five Vice-Chairpersons. It is a ‘Strategic Board’ of the European Science Foundation.


Mission of the Position

The Head of Unit’s mission is to support the European Polar Board’s overall mission which is to facilitate cooperation and coordination between Directors and managers of national funded Polar Programmes in order to identify and prioritise issues of common European interest and add strategic value to the efforts of national programmes.

This position will involve:

• Taking responsibility for overseeing management of all its units’ projects, including current and future EC contracts (e.g. ERICON – AB);
• Contributing to the development of policy and its implementation;
• Participating in the impartial implementation of scientific quality control through the peer review process of proposals in the context of the European Polar Board (Memorandum of Understanding);
• Liaising with ESF Member Organisations and external scientific bodies, as well as with ongoing ESF-supported networks;
• Representing the Polar Board and ESF in external meetings, Publicising and informing the scientific community through publication, the web and liaising with the ESF Communications Unit;
• Taking responsibility for the management and achievement of budgets of specific activities;
• Ensuring compliance with external contract obligations, including European Commission contracts;
• Managing the performance of the Polar Board team in a professional manner and contributing to the senior management of the ESF.


Profile and Competencies required

The successful jobholder should demonstrate the following competencies:


Specific competencies

• Ph.D, or equivalent research experience in the field of geoscience, life science, physical science or other disciplines relevant to research in the polar regions, preferably with a further 10 years’ research experience in a relevant science area;
• Proven experience in national / international polar programmes/organisations or polar infrastructure coordination / management would be an advantage;
• Experience or significant involvement in European Commission Framework Programme projects;
• In-depth knowledge of European and national research structures and institutions (especially ESF Member Organisations) and of European and international science policy;
• Proven experience in implementing peer review processes;
• Proven experience in securing and coordinating external scientific contracts;
• Demonstrated people management skills and experience in a performance-based human resources environment ;
• High standard of spoken and written English, with a working knowledge of French or another European language being an advantage but not a requirement;
• Good working knowledge of MS Office systems and of electronic databases and Web sites.


Inter-personal competencies:

• Action-orientated, responsible and autonomous, creative and willing to take initiatives, and continuously improvement-minded;
• Strong inter-personal and excellent communication skills within a multi-national context, including discretion, diplomacy and tolerance;
• Assertive with capability of guiding decision-making procedures and to represent ESF in the scientific community;
• Leadership, motivational and staff management & development skills;
• Proven organisational skills;
• Excellent presentational skills;
• Transparency in working and a team-orientated work ethic;
• Commitment to deliver on allocated tasks and respond in a timely manner to deadlines;
• Positive and constructive attitude;
• Capable of demonstrating the ESF’s values: Excellence, Openness, Responsiveness, Pan-European approach, Ethical Awareness and Human Values.



Employment conditions

• This full time position is offered to a candidate looking for an extremely rich scientific and people management role in a European context.
• The contract (preferably starting January 2010) is initially set for a period until 28 February 2012 with the possibility of extension up to a total of 5 years.
• The place of work is Strasbourg and the job will involve regular travel.
• The salary level will be based on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate and will follow ESF terms and conditions.

Please send your application (CV and cover letter in English) by 12 November 2009 to Este endereço de e-mail está protegido contra spam bots, pelo que o JavaScript terá de estar activado para que possa visualizar o endereço de e-mail quoting the following reference identifier PB-HOU.

Interviews will be held in Rome on 9th December 2009.

ESF welcomes applications from disabled candidates. ESF premises are fully equipped for disabled access.

We encourage both men and women with relevant qualifications to apply.

Further details at www.esf.org.