The European Science Foundation (ESF) provides a platform for its Member Organisations to advance European research and explore new directions for research at the European level.
Established in 1974 as an independent non-governmental organisation, ESF currently serves 77 Member Organisations (Research Funding Agencies, Research Performing Organisations and Academies) across 30 countries.

The mission of the Chief Executive’s Unit is to support the Chief Executive and the President of the ESF in respect of ESF’s Governance, the development of ESF strategy and the delivery of policy objectives. In respect of delivery of ESF’s mission and policies, the Unit provides development and coordination of activities which span the various scientific domains of ESF, for example coordination and development of the Forward Look and EUROCORES instruments, in central calls for proposals, quality assurance and standards in peer review, and in Research Infrastructures and Member Organisation Fora. In addition to work with ESF’s Member Organisations, the Unit also provides the corporate interface with major external stakeholders such at the EuroHORCs grouping and the European Commission.

Mission of the Position

ESF’s Forward Looks are the principal strategy instrument of the ESF, seeking to identify key future directions and goals in research and research strategy at the European level and the means to achieve those goals. Recognising the high priority of this activity, the ESF’s Member Organisations have recently approved a significant increase in investment to ensure and enhance the impact of the Forward Look instrument. This position is a direct result of this new investment.

ESF’s first Forward Looks were launched in the early 2000s, and the strategy behind the instrument elaborated in the ESF Strategic Plan 2006-2010. A number of Forward Looks have been completed and a further group are in various phases of implementation. The implementation of a given Forward Look is the responsibility of the relevant ESF scientific Unit. Further information is available at http://www.esf.org/activities/forward-looks.html

The position’s mission is to further develop, promote and ensure delivery, within the strategy set by ESF’s Governance, of ESF’s Forward Look instrument. The Science Officer will report to the Head of the Chief Executive’s Unit, and will work in close collaboration with the Director Science and Strategy, and with ESF’s science units.

Position Responsibilities
This position will involve:

• Developing and managing the Forward Look instrument, including refining the protocols for initiating, selecting and implementing Forward Look projects;
• Managing calls and suggestions for FL proposals, and the subsequent assessment and selection procedures to ESF’s Quality Assurance standards;
• Coordinating the implementation of awarded projects and the dissemination of results;
• Working closely with ESF’s scientific units, their committees, and where appropriate research communities and external consultants, in the development and delivery of ESF’s Forward Look Strategy;
• Liaising with ESF Member Organisations, COST and external research supporting bodies;
• Publicity and information for ESF’s community on the Forward Look instrument (presentations, writing material for publications and the web) in liaison with the ESF Communications Unit;
• Management of specific activities and their budgets;
• Supporting the Head of Unit in the delivery of the Units mission.

Profile and Competences required

The successful applicant must demonstrate the following competences:

Specific competences:

• Ph.D, or equivalent research experience, with a further minimum of 5 years work experience in research funding or research management;
• Demonstrable experience in research foresight-type activities, preferably gained in a research funding or performing organisation;
• Good working knowledge of European and national research structures (especially ESF Member Organisations) and institutions, and of European and international science policy;
• Ability to work across a range of scientific disciplines;
• High standard of spoken and written English, with a working knowledge of another European language being an advantage;
• Good working knowledge of MS Office systems and of electronic databases and Web sites.

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;
• 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 three year period, starting 1 January 2009.
• 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 24 November 2008 to jobs[at]esf.org quoting the following reference identifier CE-FLSO or to ESF, Human Resources Unit - 1 quai Lezay-Marnésia, BP 90015, F-67080 Strasbourg France.

Interviews will be held in Strasbourg 3 December 2008.

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

Further details at www.esf.org