EuropaBio Communications and Association Liaison Officer

EuropaBio (www.europabio.org) is the political voice of the biotechnology industry in Europe. The association has 66 corporate members operating worldwide, 7 associates, 4 regions and 22 national biotechnology associations representing more than 1800 SMEs companies in Europe. The corporate members have a wide range of activities including Human and animal health care, diagnostics, bio-informatics, chemicals, crop protection, agriculture, food & environmental products & services. The White or Industrial Biotechnology (IB) unit of EuropaBio represents those members that have activities and interests in the area of the biobased economy including biobased products and biofuels.

Today EuropaBio invites highly motivated professionals (m/f) to join their team by applying for the position of:

EuropaBio Communications and Association Liaison Officer

Profile

EuropaBio is a dynamic, knowledgeable team and the selected candidate will have the opportunity to gain an all-round-insight into the topics dealt with from all perspectives. They will also work with supporting groups of industry experts, under the supervision of the EuropaBio Secretary General. In addition to handling internal and external communications you will help to coordinate the work of EuropaBio’s Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Platform as well as that of the National Associations Council.

About the SME Platform

To help biotech SMEs (small and medium sized enterprises) weather the economic storm, EuropaBio has established an SME Platform which works together with stakeholders to provide policy makers with recommendations on how to best tackle the issue of access to finance in the biotech industry. The Platform brings together SMEs, national biotech industry associations, venture capitalists and financing bodies and other stakeholders. It is dedicated to highlighting the concrete financial constraints that biotech SMEs face, and also offer suggestions on optimizing EU funding instruments for biotech SMEs.

About the National Associations Council (NAC)

The National Associations Council is a platform that brings together all EuropaBio's National Associations and helps to ensure coordination of EuropaBio actions throughout Europe. The NAC also gives a focus to developing Europe's biotech sector and strengthening its scope both in Europe and internationally. It currently consists of 22 national biotech associations from all over Europe.

The successful candidate should have the following characteristics:

• A minimum of 3 years Brussels-based public affairs and communications experience (preferably with significant time spent working for a public affairs and communications consultancy)
• Excellent organizational skills
• Excellent diplomatic and consensus building skills
• Able to structure a project, budget and work plan with guidance when needed from senior staff
• Strong writing and drafting skills, fluent written and spoken English (mother tongue or equivalent) a must, other EU languages a plus
• Passionate about communicating and open to learning more about the diverse and important healthcare, environmental and socioeconomic benefits of biotechnology
• Able to work in a team and to facilitate consensus within groups
• Equally able to take responsibility for a task and see it through to successful conclusion
• A strong interest and understanding of online campaigning and new media
• Media experience including ability to

Develop, maintain and strengthen media contacts
Monitor media coverage
Develop messages & supporting materials
Design media materials
Manage editorial production of communication documents
Handle press conferences and organize media trips

• Project leader able to

Carry out and develop strategy under the guidance of members and Europabio staff
Handle crisis response, rebuttals and risk management with support from other team members

Tasks

The successful candidate should be able to:

• Build consensus within the groups and ensure coordination of the priorities and activities with the EuropaBio sector groups and the overall strategy.
• Manage and execute the activities defined by multinational groups such as the National Associations Council and the SME Platform.
• Develop communications plans including:

Developing messages, speaking points & supporting materials
Research and map target groups
Monitor media coverage and direct media program
Develop online and offline communications networks and tools
Drive forward, develop and strengthen the organisations social media strategy
Design of materials
Assembly of information packs
Managing of editorial production of communication documents
Coordinate with conference organizers and handle partnership agreements
Press support

To apply both CV and cover letter should be sent by Friday 18 February 2011 to Nathalie Moll, Secretary General of EuropaBio n.moll@europabio.org.