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 in central calls for proposals, standards in peer review, coordination of the Forward Look and EUROCORES instruments and in Research Infrastructures. In addition to work with ESF’s Member Organisations, the Unit also provides the corporate interface with major external stakeholders such as the EuroHORCs grouping and the European Commission.

Mission of the Position

MO Fora are a strategic instrument of ESF which provide a mechanism for ESF Member Organisations, and other important key stakeholders, to discuss and coordinate strategic and operation matters of joint interest. The Fora provide the opportunity to increase coordination of national activities, to develop transnational strategies and policies, to promote synergy and to exchange best practice. MO Fora are a crucial element in the work of the ESF and its Member Organisations in developing the future of the European Research Area (ERA).
See http://www.esf.org/activities/mo-fora.html for further details.

The primary mission of the position is to take responsibility, under the direction of the Head of the Chief Executive’s Unit, for supporting existing MO Fora, for instance in Research Integrity and Research Infrastructures, so that they succeed in delivery their specific objectives. The position will also take an important role in the identification development and delivery of new topics.

Position Responsibilities
This position will involve:

• Implementing and broadening the ESF MO Fora instrument;
• Facilitating the progress of individual MO Fora by initiating and coordinating meetings and activities, writing reports etc;
• Liaising closely with colleagues in ESF Member Organisations, and other research supporting bodies;
• Working within the Chief Executive’s Unit on related policy and strategy activities in relation to Member Organisations, and other ERA stakeholders, for example on research infrastructures issues;
• Publicising and informing ESF’s community (presentations, writing material for publications and the web) and liaising 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;
• Knowledge of European and national research  structures (especially ESF Member Organisations) and institutions, and European and international science policy;
• Good working knowledge of European and national research structures (especially ESF Member Organisations) and institutions, and of European and international science policy;
• Organisational ability to manage a range of simultaneous tasks;
• Ability to work across a range of scientific disciplines;
• Ability to work independently within the context of objectives set by the Head of Unit and Senior Management;
• 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.

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;
• 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 February 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 15 December 2008 to jobs[at]esf.org quoting the following reference identifier CEMOF-SO  or to ESF, Human Resources Unit - 1 quai Lezay-Marnésia, BP 90015, F-67080 Strasbourg France.
Interviews will be held in Strasbourg on 15 January 2009.

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

Further details at www.esf.org