Science Officer to develop a Scientific Implementation Plan for the AURORA BOREALIS project

The European Science Foundation (ESF) provides a platform for its Member Organizations to advance European research and explore new directions for research at the European level.

Established in 1974 as an independent non-governmental organisation, the ESF currently serves 77 Member Organisations including Research Funding Agencies, Research Performing Organisations and Academies, across 30 countries.

The European Polar Board (EPB) is the European Science Foundation’s expert committee on Science Policy in the Polar Regions, acts as a voice and facilitator of cooperation between European National Funding Agencies, National Polar Institutes and research organizations. The European Polar Board is concerned with major strategic priorities in the Arctic and Antarctic and has members from national operators and research Institutes in 19 countries including pre-Accession countries to the EU and States outside the EU such as Russia.

The ERICON project (European Polar research Icebreaker Consortium) financed by the European Commission in Framework Programme 7 will generate the strategic, legal, financial and organizational frameworks required from National Governments and the European Commission to commit financial resources to the construction and running of the European Polar Research Icebreaker AURORA BOREALIS.

Mission

The position primarily focus on organization and delivery of  a 15 year+  scientific implementation plan for the AURORA BOREALIS Polar research vessel produced in close connection with the Polar Scientific research communities (Arctic and Antarctic) and the major scientific institutes in Europe and stakeholder partners of the ERICON Consortium. Scientific and strategic linkages with the European Polar Board and European Polar Consortium activities will be involved. This position will be based inside the European Polar Board unit.

Position Responsibilities

This position will involve:

• Responsibility for the development of an Arctic-Antarctic scientific implementation plan for research Vessel AURORA BOREALIS by substantial interaction with the Arctic and Antarctic scientific research community and with outputs from German BMBF funded consultation workshops in European and third countries;
• Ensuring compliance with the ERICON AB European Commission contract for through full and timely reporting to the political director of ERICON AB and Head of Unit European Polar Board, liaising, in coordination with Administration and Finance and other team members including the executive manager of the ERICON AB Project;
• Liaising, at the request of the ERICON Political Director, with ESF Member Organizations, ERICON partners and other outside organizations;
• Publicizing and informing the research community by taking responsibility for science communication and liaising with the ESF Communications Unit;
• Taking responsibility for the management and achievement of budgets of activities related to the ERICON AB Arctic-Antarctic Implementation plan in compliance with ESF Financial Rules and Delegated Financial Authority and providing necessary information to Administration and Finance allowing the regular presentation of financial reports;
• Contributing to promoting a climate of positive, trustful and respectful staff relations by encouraging communication and information-sharing, by resolving staff issues in a timely manner in order to help the team members achieve.

Profile and Competences required

The successful jobholder should demonstrate the following competences:

Specific competences

• Ph.D, or equivalent Polar-Marine research experience, preferably with a further 5 years work experience in a relevant institution. Particular relevant science areas ere Polar Marine sciences,Geosciences and Climate science;
• Ability to work without supervision and with substantial delegation within the context of objectives set by the Head of Unit of European Polar Board/Director of the ERICON AB project and to create links and promote networking of researchers through knowledge of European and national research structures (especially ESF Member Organisations) and institutions and European and international science policy;
• Demonstrable experience in developing scientific planning documents in the Polar and/or Marine area;
• Demonstrable experience in managing projects;
• Demonstrable experinece in particpating in multinational research projects;
• Demonstrable research/publication record;
• Good working knowledge of European and national research structures (especially ESF Member Organisations) and institutions, and of European and international science policy;
• High standard of spoken and written English, with a working knowledge of another European language (German , Russian) being an advantage;
• Ability to draft concise and clear scientific documents;
• Good working knowledge of MS Office systems and of electronic databases and Web sites.

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;
• Creative and willing to take initiatives and continuous improvement minded;
• Excellent presentational skills;
• Proven organisational skills;
• Basic 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;
• Positive and constructive attitude;
• Capable of demonstrating the ESF’s values: Excellence, Openness, Responsiveness, Pan-European approach, Ethical Awareness and Human Values.

Employment conditions

• This full time position is offered for a minimum period of 24 months with a further 24 months possible extension (subject to continued financing by the project) preferably starting September 2008.
• 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 30 June 2008 to jobs[at]esf.org quoting the following reference identifier SO ERICON2 or to ESF, Human Resources Unit - 1 quai Lezay-Marnésia, BP 90015, F-67080 Strasbourg France.

Interviews will be held in Strasbourg on 17 July 2008.

ESF welcomes applications from disabled candidates. ESF premises are fully equiped for disabled access.

Further details at www.esf.org