18.6.2014

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CA 186/1

---

Publication of a vacancy notice for an Executive Director Position of the IMI Joint Undertaking, in Brussels

(Temporary Agent — Grade AD 14)

COM/2014/10357

2014/C 186 A/01

 

We are:

The Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking (IMI JU) is a public-private partnership between the European Union and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). The IMI JU is currently established in Brussels under European law (1) for a period up to 31 December 2017. The European Commission on 10 July 2013 has made a legislative proposal for the establishment of the IMI2 Joint Undertaking that will succeed and replace the current IMI JU. After adoption of this legislative proposal by the Council the IMI2 JU is to be established until 31 December 2024.

The objective of the IMI Joint Undertaking is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the drug development process with the long-term aim that the pharmaceutical sector produces more effective and safer innovative medicines.

The objectives of the IMI2 Joint Undertaking will be:

(a)

to contribute to the implementation of Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council (2) (the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme), in particular the part societal challenges of Council Decision (EU) No 2013/743/EU (3) (the Specific Programme implementing the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme), and in particular to improving European citizens’ health and wellbeing and to support the development and implementation of pre-competitive research and of innovation activities of strategic importance to the Union’s competitiveness and industrial leadership;

(b)

to contribute to the objectives of the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines, in particular to: (i) increase the success rate in clinical trials of priority medicines identified by the World Health Organisation; (ii) reduce the time to reach clinical proof of concept in medicine development, such as for immunological, respiratory, neurological and neurodegenerative diseases; (iii) develop new therapies for diseases for which there is a high unmet need, such as Alzheimer’s disease and limited market incentives, such as antimicrobial resistance; (iv) develop diagnostic and treatment biomarkers for diseases clearly linked to clinical relevance and approved by regulators; (v) reduce the failure rate of vaccine candidates in phase III clinical trials through new biomarkers for initial efficacy and safety checks; (vi) improve the current drug development process by providing support for the development of tools, standards and approaches to assess efficacy, safety and quality of regulated health products.

The IMI2 Joint Undertaking will mobilise the public and private sector resources needed to achieve the objectives of the IMI2 Joint Undertaking. It will support research and innovation in life sciences mainly through grants. Furthermore it will define and carry out the IMI2 Joint Undertaking annual work plans mainly through calls for proposals. The IMI2 Joint Undertaking will initiate calls for proposals and any other necessary procedure for funding, to evaluate proposals, to award funding to projects according to the applicable rules within the limits of available funds.

The IMI2 JU activities will engage EUR 3,276 billion for the period 2014-2024, including (i) a contribution from the European Union to the IMI Joint Undertaking not exceeding EUR 1,638 billion from the Horizon 2020 Research Framework Programme, and (ii) a contribution from EFPIA and research based pharmaceutical companies that are members of EFPIA as well as other private partners of at least EUR 1,638 billion.

For further information please consult the following website: http://imi.europa.eu/

We propose:

The Executive Director is the legal representative and public face of the IMI Joint Undertaking. He/she shall perform his/her tasks with independence and shall be accountable to the Governing Board.

The Executive Director will provide leadership for the Joint Undertaking at the strategic and operational level. He/she will manage the Joint Undertaking and take overall responsibility for its operations ensuring the achievement of the Joint Undertaking’s objectives. As such, he/she will play a key role for the implementation of the IMI Joint Technology Initiative. Furthermore the Executive Director will actively participate in the international discourse about the funding for life science and biopharmaceutical research.

The Executive Director will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the IMI Joint Undertaking, including in particular:

—	participate at the strategic and policy debate about IMI as the world-leading PPP in life science research and innovation by communicating the achievements of IMI and attracting applicants of the highest scientific calibre to IMI calls,

—	collect the input of stakeholders, in particular through productive interaction with the IMI States Representatives Group and through the IMI Stakeholder Forum,

—	provide support to the IMI Joint Undertaking Governing Board, the Scientific Committee and other bodies of the Joint Undertaking that are created for its efficient and effective functioning,

—	appoint and supervise the IMI Joint Undertaking staff, fostering a good team spirit and working environment,

—

prepare and implement the annual work and budget plans, prepare and execute the budget ensuring its efficient management in conformity with the IMI Joint Undertaking Financial Rules, elaborate the necessary annual reports on the activities of the IMI Joint Undertaking as well as its annual accounts and balance sheets,

—

supervise the call and project management processes, in particular: the organisation and management of the calls for proposals and evaluation processes, the negotiation and conclusion of grant agreements for selected proposals, and the subsequent periodic monitoring and follow-up of funded projects.

We look for:

The successful candidate should have:

—

Management experience, and in particular: — proven capacity to develop, communicate and execute a strategic vision, — strong leadership skills and proven success in a high-level management position, — a proven capacity to manage financial resources, ensure sound financial management and internal control in a national, European or international context, — ability to lead and motivate a multidisciplinary team in a European, multicultural and multilingual context,

—

Technical knowledge, and in particular: — excellent understanding of research and innovation in the biopharmaceutical sector, in particular of innovative medicines and/or vaccines discovery and development, as well as of challenges related to translating new sciences into innovative therapies and prevention accessible to patients, — a proven experience in collaboration between different stakeholders in the life sciences, such as industry-academic collaboration, — experience in project management and/or research funding processes at national, EU or international level, — preferably, a good understanding of the EU Institutions and their functioning and interaction,

—

Communication and negotiations skills, and in particular: — highly developed interpersonal skills and experience in networking between various partner organisations, including between the public and private sectors, — excellent sense of responsibility and initiative and ability to act with tact, political sensitivity and diplomacy, — capacity to communicate with the public and build good working relations with the stakeholders, — fluency in written and spoken English.

Candidates must (eligibility criteria):

Candidates will be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following formal criteria to be fulfilled by the deadline for applications:

—	Nationality: candidates must be a national of a Member State of the European Union or of Eurocontrol,

—

University degree or diploma: Candidates must have either: — a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is four years or more, or — a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least one year when the normal period of university education is at least three years (this one year professional experience cannot be included in the postgraduate professional experience required below),

—

Professional experience: candidates must have: — at least 15 years of postgraduate experience at a level to which the qualifications referred to above give admission, — of these 15 years of professional experience, 5 years must have been acquired in the fields covered by the scope of activities of the Joint Undertaking, entailing good understanding in medicines discovery and development,

—	Management experience: of the 15 years of professional experience, at least 5 years must have been gained in a high level management function (4),

—	Languages: have a thorough knowledge of one of the official Union languages (5) and a satisfactory knowledge of a second of these languages,

—	Age limit: be able to complete, at the deadline for application, the full three-year mandate before reaching retirement age. For temporary staff of the European Union, retirement age is defined as being the end of the month in which the person reaches the age of 66.

Independence and declaration of interest

The Executive Director will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act independently in the public interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests which might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. Candidates must confirm their willingness to do so in their application.

Selection and appointment

The recruitment of the Executive Director is subject to the establishment of the IMI2 JU, which is foreseen for the second half of 2014. Following the Commission Proposal for a Council Regulation setting up the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (COM(2013) 495 final), the Council Regulation which provides the legal basis for the Joint Undertaking is expected to be adopted before the end of 2014.

Until the adoption of the legal basis for the IMI2 Joint Undertaking, the ongoing IMI Joint Undertaking continues to exist until 31 December 2017.

The position here advertised is open as from 1 January 2015. It is expected that the successful candidate takes up his/her duties on that date.

The Executive Director will be appointed by the Governing Board of the IMI JU on a proposal from the European Commission.

The European Commission will set up a pre-selection panel, in which a representative of the Governing Board of the IMI JU, other than the European Commission, will participate as an observer. This panel will analyse all applications and identify a number of candidates who have the best profile with regard to the selection criteria mentioned above. These candidates will be invited for an interview with the pre-selection panel.

Following the interviews, the pre-selection panel will draw up its conclusions and propose a list of candidates for further interviews with the European Commission’s Consultative Committee on Appointments (CCA). Candidates called for an interview with the CCA will also be asked to participate in a full-day assessment centre run by external human resources experts. On the basis of the interview and results of the assessment centre report, the CCA establishes a shortlist of candidates it considers suitable to exercise the function of Executive Director.

This shortlist is submitted to the relevant Member of the European Commission who will interview these candidates.

The European Commission then adopts a shortlist of the most suitable candidates, which will be communicated to the Governing Board of the IMI JU. The latter may interview the shortlisted candidates and will subsequently nominate the Executive Director. Inclusion in the European Commission’s shortlist does not guarantee appointment.

Equal opportunities

The IMI2 JU applies a policy of equal opportunities and non-discrimination in accordance with Article 1d of the Staff Regulations (6).

Conditions of Employment

The Executive Director will be appointed at grade AD 14 as Temporary Agent, pursuant to Articles 2a and 10 of the Conditions of Employment of other servants of the European Union (7), for a period of three years. After an evaluation of the Executive Director’s performance, the Board may extend the term of office once for a further period of not more than four years.

Candidates should note the requirement under the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants for all new staff to successfully complete a probationary period.

The place of employment is Brussels, where the Joint Undertaking premises are located.

Application procedure

Before submitting your application, you should carefully check whether you meet all the conditions for eligibility criteria, in particular those regarding the required type of diplomas and professional experience.

If you want to apply, you must apply via the internet by going to the website

https://ec.europa.eu/dgs/human-resources/seniormanagementvacancies/

and follow the instructions there concerning the various stages of the procedure.

You have to complete your online registration in time (8). We strongly advise you not to wait until the last few days before applying, since heavy internet traffic or a fault with your internet connection could lead to the online registration being terminated before you complete it, thereby obliging you to repeat the whole process. Once the deadline for submission of applications has passed, you will not be able to apply. Late registrations via normal e-mail will not be accepted as a general rule.

You need a valid e-mail address. This will be used to confirm the creation of your account and to keep you informed about the outcome of the selection procedure. Please, inform the European Commission about any change in your e-mail address.

You will have to upload a CV in WORD or PDF format and to enter, online, a motivation letter (maximum 8 000 characters).

Both the CV and letter should be written in English, French or German.

On completion of your application, you will receive a registration number; please keep this number, since it will be used for further contacts during the selection procedure. When you receive this number, the application process is finished — it is the confirmation that you have registered your data correctly.

If you do not receive a registration number, your application has not been registered!

Please note that it is not possible to monitor progress of your application online. You will be contacted directly regarding the status of your application. The selection process, including correspondence with selection panels during this selection procedure will be carried out in English, French or German (9).

If you have a disability that prevents you from registering online, you may submit your application (CV and motivation letter) on paper by registered mail  (10) , postmarked no later than the closing date for registration. All subsequent communication between you and the Commission will be by post. In this case, you must enclose with your CV and motivation letter, a certificate attesting your disability, issued by a recognised body. You should also set out on a separate sheet of paper any special arrangements you think are needed to make it easier for you to take part in the selection process.

If you require additional information or if you encounter technical problems, please send an e-mail to HR-A2-MANAGEMENT-ONLINE@ec.europa.eu

Closing date

The closing date for registration is 16 July 2014. Online registration will not be possible after 12.00 noon Brussels time.

Important Information for Candidates

Candidates are reminded that the work of the different selections committees is confidential. It is forbidden for candidates to make direct or indirect contact with their members or to ask anybody else to do so, on their behalf.

Protection of personal data

The European Commission (during the preparatory phase) and later the IMI JU, will ensure that candidates’ personal data is processed as required by Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data (11).

---

(1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 73/2008 of 20 December 2007 setting up the Joint Undertaking for the implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines (OJ L 30, 4.2.2008, p. 38).

(2)  OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 104.

(3)  OJ L 347, 20.12.2013, p. 965.

(4)  In their CVs applicants should indicate at least for these 5 years during which high level management experience has been acquired: (1) title and role of management positions held, (2) numbers of staff overseen in these positions, (3) the size of budgets managed, and (4) numbers of hierarchical layers above and below and number of peers.

(5)  http://ec.europa.eu/languages/languages-of-europe/eu-languages_en.htm

(6)  OJ L 124, 27.4.2004, p. 1; http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/docs/toc100_en.pdf

(7)  See footnote 6.

(8)  No later than 12.00 noon, Brussels time, on 16 July 2014.

(9)  The selection panels will ensure that no undue advantage is given to native speakers of languages of the selection procedure.

(10)  European Commission, Directorate-General for Human Resources and Security, Unit for Executive Staff and CCA Secretariat, COM/2014/10357, SC11 8/59, 1049 Bruxelles/Brussel, BELGIQUE/BELGIË.

(11)  OJ L 8, 12.1.2001, p. 1.

---