Scientific Officer - Plant Protection Products Residues

Scientific Officer - Plant Protection Products Residues

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), based in Parma, Italy is looking for a Scientific Officer - Plant Protection Products Residues (Temporary Agent, Grade AD7).

IS THIS JOB FOR YOU?

Are you a dedicated scientist with expertise in assessing the health risk of pesticides or related substances for consumers?

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 (primarily chemical) used in plant protection products (pesticides), with a strong focus on residues, dietary exposure and consumer risk assessment, and on the development and application of innovative methodologies.

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 and consumer risk assessment of pesticide residues, with the ability to interpret and use toxicological and environmental risk assessment outputs in an integrated assessment context;
• 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 exposure models, databases, and digital assessment workflows as well as different IT systems or workflow management tools used for dossiers of regulated products;
• Contribute to scientific statements and methodological development related to New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), including predictive tools for transformation, kinetics, property prediction, exposure modelling, including cumulative exposure, and their integration into regulatory workflows.

WHY EFSA?

You will play an active role in an organisation that makes a difference to the lives of 450 million EU citizens.

EFSA employs over 570 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.

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.

WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU?

Salary and benefits

EFSA can offer the selected candidate a contract of 5 years with the possibility of renewal. If renewed for a second time, the contract will be for an indefinite period.

The successful candidate will be recruited as Temporary Agent Grade AD7 with the basic salary starting from € 7.876,27 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 Union 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 headquarters 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.

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;
• 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) A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least four (4) years attested by a diploma in one of the following fields: chemical, biological and agricultural sciences, such as (food) chemistry, environmental sciences, food sciences or biochemistry, or any related area.

OR

b) 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: chemical, biological and agricultural sciences, such as (food) chemistry, environmental sciences, food sciences or biochemistry, or any related area, and in addition at least one (1) year of professional experience.

3. Experience

In addition to the above, at least six (6) years of proven professional experience acquired after having obtained the qualifications mentioned in point 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

1. At least five years (5) of experience in regulatory chemical risk assessment of plant protection products, with emphasis on pesticide residues, consumer dietary exposure and risk assessment, demonstrated either through work performed in the framework of the peer review under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 (e.g. metabolism of pesticides in plants and in livestock, setting of residue definitions, assessment of supervised residue field trials), or in the setting and evaluation of Maximum Residue Levels in the framework of Regulation (EC) No 396/2005;
2. Experience in generating, identifying, collecting and critically appraising data and evidence from diverse sources using appropriate methodological approaches, including the interpretation and integration of complex datasets relevant to dietary risk assessments;
3. Experience in the application of computational or data-driven approaches to risk assessment, including the use of exposure and cumulative risk models (e.g., MCRA) and the ability to contribute to the development, evaluation or implementation of novel methodologies and approaches in a regulatory risk assessment context;
4. Experience in drafting clear, concise and structured scientific reports, opinions, guidance documents using appropriate scientific terminology, and ability to communicate scientific outputs to different target audiences;
5. 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;
6. Experience in working with specific IT systems, databases, and workflow management tools used for dossiers of regulated products (e.g., IUCLID, MetaPath, QSAR Toolbox);
7. Experience in dietary exposure assessments for biocontrol pesticides under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009.

2. Behavioural competencies

1. 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;
2. 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;
3. 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;
4. 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;
5. 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.

[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 (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.

[3] Any professional experience mentioned in the application form shall be duly supported by evidence (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. 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.