Scientific Officer (P2) at EPPO working on Information Services including Horizon Scanning

Ref: P2INFO
Grade: P2/1 (UN classification)
Location: Paris, France
Estimated net salary: 62K eur / year
Type of contract: Fixed Term
Full time: 100%
Duration of contract: 3 years, starting 6th of January 2025, with possibility of extension and a permanent contract after 5 years of satisfactory service.
Deadline: 2024-06-10 23:59:59 (Paris time)

Introduction to EPPO

The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) is an intergovernmental organization responsible for international cooperation in plant protection in the European and Mediterranean region. In the sense of the article IX of the FAO International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), it is the Regional Plant Protection Organization for Europe. Founded in 1951 with 15 member governments, it now has 52 member governments including nearly every country of Western and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean region. The organization work on two main areas, Plant Protection Products and Phytosanitary Regulations. EPPO is also hosting two networks: Euphresco (research coordination) and the European Minor Uses Coordination Facility.
EPPO is financed directly by annual contributions from its member governments and activities are administered by the EPPO Secretariat. The EPPO Secretariat is based in Paris and consists of an international team of 22 staff members, including Scientific Officers, IT Officers and Administrative staff headed by a Director-General and an Assistant Director. Its official languages are English, French and for certain purposes Russian and the working language is English.
In the field of information services, EPPO maintains databases, websites, newsletters, and develops Standards. In particular, it actively searches and collects information (horizon scanning) on emerging pests and pests that are of regulatory interest to the EPPO region. The EPPO Secretariat also participates in social media and communication campaigns promoting the importance of plant health.

Main tasks of the Scientific Officer in Information Services work area

• To contribute to EPPO’s work on Information Services including horizon scanning in collaboration with the Information Manager and under the responsibility of the EPPO Director-General.
• To prepare articles for the EPPO Reporting Service based on selected scientific papers and official pest reports.
• To prepare pest descriptions for the EPPO Alert List.
• To support the Scientific Officer, who is the Information Manager, in preparing and running the meetings of the EPPO Panel on Plant Protection Information.
  • Help preparing agendas, documents, and presentations before the meetings.
  • Follow discussions and take notes during meetings, produce detailed reports of meetings, as required.
• To contribute to the organization of webinars, workshops and conferences related to EPPO’s work on Information.
• To provide support in managing the various EPPO mailing lists.
• To prepare communication material (e.g. posters, leaflets) and posts for social media.
• To contribute to the maintenance of EPPO Global Databases and the EPPO website and other websites and databases, as required.
• To maintain the EPPO Platform on PRAs and the EPPO Platform on Communication Material.
• To provide support in the maintenance of the EPPO Codes system
• To manage the EPPO library in collaboration with the Administrative team.
• To perform other duties as required.

Essential skills and qualifications:

• University degree in plant health (e.g. plant protection, entomology, plant pathology) or a closely related discipline.
• At least two years of experience in plant health.
• Interest in data collection, data management, communication and social media.
• Ability to read, digest and summarize complex information on a large number of pests.
• Highly organized, rigorous, paying attention to detail, able to work on different activities in parallel and manage deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively with experts.
• Open-minded and able to work with a wide variety of people from different backgrounds and countries.
• Ability to work in a team.
• Excellent in English, speaking and writing skills.

The Scientific Officer will be based in the EPPO Headquarter in Paris. Some flexibility for working from home is available.
This post is intended to be made permanent (subject to satisfactory service).

Salary and benefits

Terms and conditions are based on those of UNESCO adapted to the needs of EPPO. The salary paid will be based on the UNESCO P2 salary scale. Net of tax and deductions this will be at least 62 000 EUR per annum. EPPO participates in the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, the French Social Security system and a supplementary health insurance scheme.

For staff recruited outside France, removal costs and a settling-in grant are payable. Based on the agreement between EPPO and the French government, EPPO will arrange a work permit for the post, if needed, and a permit allowing dependents to reside in France, if applicable, and needed.

Application procedure

Please register by following the link below and provide a cover letter, a Curriculum Vitae and referee names. Applications should be submitted by 2024-06-10 23:59:59 (Paris time).
All application documents should be written in English and provided as separate files. As a first step, interviews will be organized by videoconference in June 2024. Then shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview in Paris, which will include written and oral exercises probably in the last week of August 2024.

Contact for further information

If you would like an informal discussion on the nature or conditions of the post before considering whether to apply, please use the online contact form https://jobs.eppo.int/contact to arrange a conversation with Muriel Suffert, EPPO Scientific Officer who will be leading the work of EPPO in the area of Information Services.