SNE/Liaison Specialist

Type of position: Seconded National Expert

The European Medicines Agency is a decentralized body of the European Union with all its offices and Headquarters based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its core responsibility is the protection and promotion of public health through the evaluation and supervision of medicines.

We are looking for National experts on secondment. This means staff from other European public-sector bodies can work at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for short periods of time through the national expert on secondment (SNE) programme. The aim of this programme is to enhance and develop the relationship between European public administrations.

SNEs serve a dual role: they bring their expertise to EMA and take back to their home administration the knowledge acquired during their period of secondment. SNEs remain in the service of their employer. Secondment is not equivalent to employment, nor does it lead to employment by EMA. Periods of secondment may last between six months and two years. This is renewable once or more, up to a total of four years.

About this position

The European Medicines Agency works extensively with international counterparts, covering both medicines for human and veterinary use. The breadth and depth of this international cooperation and collaboration has dramatically expanded in recent years due to the globalisation of the pharmaceutical sector, and more recently with the Agency’s increased role as a leading regulatory reliance partner.

A national expert position is available in the International Affairs Department, an Advisory Function reporting directly to the Executive Director. The position is offered for an initial period of up to two years, which may be renewed. You will join a high-impact team of senior regulatory affairs specialists, including staff seconded by MHLW/PMDA, Japan and FDA, US.

In this position you will

The role will focus on reinforcing alignment with Member State authorities and the European Commission in a range of international cooperation and global health areas, including:

• Develop and operate the International Cooperation Platform, a forum for coordinating EU common positions on international issues between EEA national competent authorities, the European Commission and EMA;
• Contribute to EMA and national competent authority actions to support the African Medicines Agency and other African medicines regulatory initiatives at continental, regional and national levels;
• Support the Agency’s engagement with EU candidate and potential candidate countries;
• Contribute to EMA bilateral and multilateral engagements, with responsibility for assigned regulatory partners or regional engagement;
• Contribute to the Agency’s international engagement framework and actions under relevant EU global health strategic initiatives;
• Support interactions with relevant stakeholders and preparation of meetings with external stakeholders, including the preparation of background documents and presentations;
• Contribute to increasing internal and external communications on the activities and impact of the work of the Agency’s international engagements;
• Other tasks as assigned.

Eligibility criteria

• Enjoy full rights as a citizen of an EU Member State, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, Republic of Moldova or Ukraine;
• Have a thorough knowledge of English (at least level C1) and a satisfactory knowledge of another official language of the European Union;
• Currently employed in the public sector, such as a university, research institute, public hospital or regulatory body, in a European Union Member State, the European Free Trade Area, candidate countries or public intergovernmental organisations.

You will also need to have

Education:

• A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three years attested by a diploma.

Field of study:

• Pharmacy, medicine, global health, public administration, a natural science, law, or similar related to the advertised position and tasks.

Experience:

• At least 3 years from the time when a university degree was awarded on completion of a minimum of three years of study;
• Relevant experience in a public intergovernmental organisation in regulatory affairs, global health, international affairs or a similar position;
• Proven experience of working with international partners, and especially of delivery of international projects.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience of pharmaceutical product development, approval and supervision in the European Union;
• Experience of communicating and building relationships at all levels of an organisation, including the ability to frame international and global health issues in a relatable and meaningful manner.

Nice to have

Education:

• Post-graduate or professional qualifications in regulatory affairs, global health, international relations, public policy development, or similar.

Experience:

• Practical experience of delivery of health-related projects outside of the European Union;
• Experience of working in a multicultural environment.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Project management experience;
• Grant management experience;
• Knowledge of the international global health framework.