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Science Officer in the Social Sciences Unit

ESF - European Science Foundation - 03 July 2009

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Job Description

The European Science Foundation (ESF) provides a platform for its Member Organisations to advance European science and explore new directions for research at the European level. Established in 1974 as an independent non-governmental organisation, ESF currently serves 80 Member Organisations (Research Funding Agencies, Research Performing Organisations and Academies) across 30 countries.
 
The Social Sciences Unit is the implementing branch of the Standing Committee for Social Sciences (SCSS). The Standing Committee for Social Sciences’ mission is to foster the collaboration with Member Organisations and the research teams of ESF member countries, to provide a forum for discussions on strategic and science management issues among the Member Organisations through their representatives, and also to contribute to the policy -and decision-making of ESF as a whole.
 
Mission
The mission of the position is to promote and assist collaboration among scientists and among research teams in an inter- and multi-disciplinary environment across Europe, and to support strategic initiatives of ESF Member Organisations.
 
Position Responsibilities
 
This position will involve:
• Support to the Standing Committee for the Social Sciences in carrying out its mission;
• Management of, and support to, the following ESF scientific instruments in the area of social sciences: Research Networking Programmes, Exploratory Workshops, Research Conferences and Forward Looks (cf. www.esf.org);
• Organising scientific quality control, guaranteeing high quality through a peer review process of proposals, and evaluation of ongoing and completed activities;
• Management of specific activities and their budgets in compliance with ESF Financial Rules and Delegated Financial Authority;
• Liaising with ESF Member Organisations, COST and external scientific bodies;
• Publicising the ESF, the SCSS and their activities in cooperation with the ESF Communications Unit;
• Support to the Head of Unit in the management of the Social Sciences Unit.
 
Profile and Competences required
The successful applicant must demonstrate the following competences:
 
Specific competences:
• PhD or equivalent research experience with a further 5+ year work experience in the area of social sciences;
• Demonstrable experience in research project management and in project evaluation;
• Capability of independent work;
• Ability to promote networking of researchers;
• Good working knowledge of European and national research structures (especially ESF Member Organisations) and of European and international science policy;
• High standard of spoken and written English, with a working knowledge of another European language being an advantage;
• Ability to draft concise and clear scientific documents;
• Good working knowledge of MS Office software.
 
Inter-personal competences:
• Action-orientated, responsible  and self-managed, 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;
• Excellent presentational skills;
• Proven organisational skills;
• Experience/training in people management;
• Transparency in working and a team-orientated work ethic;
• Commitment to deliver on allocated tasks and respond in a timely manner to deadlines.
 
Employment conditions
• This full-time position is offered for a 3 year contract, preferably starting as soon as possible, with the possibility of an extension.
• The place of work is Strasbourg, France and the job will involve a significant amount of travel.
• The salary level will be based on experience and qualifications of the successful candidate and will follow ESF terms and conditions.
 
Please send your application by 27 August 2009 to jobs[at]esf.org quoting the following reference identifier SSCS-SO.
Interviews will be held in Strasbourg on 8 September 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
 
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