SCIENCE OFFICER Trans-Domain Proposals & Strategic Activities

COST is an inter-governmental system supporting European research networking. In order to accomplish its mission, the European Science Foundation provides administrative and scientific management to COST (European Co-operation in Science and Technology), its Domain Committees and its Actions through the COST Office in Brussels and corporate support services in Strasbourg. This is achieved through a support grant provided to ESF by the European Commission.

The ESF seeks a full-time Science Officer to handle COST Trans Domain Proposals (TDP) and provide support for additional strategic activities and projects in the COST Office in Brussels.

The position will imply the management of the entire evaluation process for Trans Domain Proposals, promoting inter-disciplinary research collaboration in a multi-disciplinary environment across Europe and beyond. The successful candidate will furthermore directly interact with the COST Management to explore further strategic projects (e.g. general impact analysis of COST Actions, structuring monitoring and impact assessment of COST Actions, raising visibility through showcasing COST Actions in collaboration with the COST Communication and Public Relation team).

Position responsibilities:

• Developing, implementing and supporting the administrative processes and scientific evaluation of the Trans Domain Proposals;
• Delivering and advancing specific and quality papers and reports, related to the TDP Actions;
• Organising and ensuring scientific quality control and responding to the COST Open Call, related to Trans Domain Proposals;
• Taking responsibility for the management of the relevant budgets;
• Liaising with all COST Domains and other external scientific bodies and networks, and providing administrative and scientific support;
• Carrying out initiatives and activities related to the strategic development of COST (e.g. managing impact analysis of past and current COST Actions, implementing new impact assessment and monitoring strategies, translating COST action results in to visibility showcases);
• Monitoring European and interdisciplinary and trans-disciplines scientific and technological developments on an international level;
• Representing the COST Office in external meetings in Brussels and abroad.

Profile and competencies:

Specific competencies

• Ph.D, or equivalent research experience, preferably with strong interdisciplinary components;
• Proven experience with grant assessment, review processes and general science management;
• Sound knowledge of European and national research structures and institutions as well as European and international science policy understanding;
• Excellent networking skills on international level;
• High standard of spoken and written English, with a working knowledge of another European language being an advantage but not a requirement;
• Good working knowledge of MS Office systems, databases and Web sites.

Inter-personal competencies

• Action-oriented, responsible and self-managed,
• Creative and willing to take initiatives with a continuous improvement mind;
• Strong inter-personal and communication skills within a multi-national context, including discretion, diplomacy and tolerance;
  • Assertiveness and capability to guide decision-making procedures and to represent COST in the scientific community;
  • Excellent organisational skills;
  • Transparency in working combined with a team-orientated work ethic;
  • Commitment and accountability to deliver on allocated administrative and scientific tasks and respond in a timely manner to deadlines.

The ESF offers:

• A contract of unlimited duration.
• An international working environment located in Brussels (Avenue Louise 149, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium)
  • Competitive salary;
  • Candidates must be eligible to work in Belgium and must have a Work Permit unless a national of the ‘EU and EEE’.

Electronic applications (motivation letter + CV) should be addressed to the COST Office Director and sent to job@cost.eu Reference code: SO-TDP 2011

Invitations will be communicated before March 16^th. Interviews will take place on March 22nd 2011. The selected person should ideally be available as soon as possible.

For general details see http://www.cost.eu

Closing date: March 11th 2011