Seconded National Expert - Research Ethics and Integrity (RTD-02)

Unit RTD.02 is part of the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation of the European Commission and forms an interface between the world of science and policymaking. Unit RTD.02 provides scientific advice to the European Commission, supports the functioning of the European Research Council for excellence in frontier research; advises the College on questions relating to ethics and values; puts ethics and integrity in practice to ensure excellence and trust and sets the scene for a European Science for Policy ecosystem. The Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM), coordinated by the unit, delivers transparent, high quality, timely and independent scientific advice for policy and/or legislation to the College of European Commissioners. This includes running the secretariate of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, contributing to the gathering and synthesis of evidence, organising expert elicitation and stakeholder meetings, supporting the writing of scientific opinions and organising outreach and communication.

The core activity of the Research Ethics and Integrity sector (RTD.02.001) is to:

• Develop a coherent EU research ethics and integrity framework. This notably includes:
  • Ensure a dialogue between the Member States research ethics and integrity bodies.
  • Design and manage the policy operations of the ERA specific programme for the part relating to Ethics and Integrity
  • Promote the use of European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity and whenever necessary initiate the update of the Code.
  • Enhance international cooperation in the context of the National Ethics Committees (NEC) Forum, UNESCO, WHO and National authorities.
  • Harvest the policy outputs of Research Ethics and Integrity projects to inform policy design and improve the Framework Programme Ethics Appraisal scheme.
• Ensure the highest ethics and integrity standards in the EU research Framework Programme (FP). This implies the development and implementation of the FP Ethics appraisal scheme:
  • The drafting of legal basis.
  • The design of the methodologies and procedures for all research family funding (including JUs), enhancing cooperation and transfer of best practice.
  • The conduct and/or supervision of the ethics screening, assessment and checks/reviews involving panels of ethics experts.
  • The organisation of trainings for EC staff, ethics experts and Member States ethics and integrity structures.
  • Maintain and further develop the EU web application SINAPSE that notably support the Ethics Appraisal Scheme and the NEC Forum.

An interesting position in a dynamic and stimulating environment for a person with policy and project management background in areas related to the Research Ethics and Integrity Sector’s activities. The successful candidate will contribute to the definition of policy initiatives and the implementation of the Ethics Appraisal process.

The SNE will work under the supervision of an administrator. Without prejudice to the principle of loyal cooperation between the national/regional and European administrations, the SNE will not work on individual cases with implications for files he/she had to deal with in his/her national administration in the two years preceding its entry into the Commission, or directly adjacent cases

In no case the SNE shall represent the Commission in order to make commitments, financial or otherwise, or to negotiate on behalf of the Commission.

The Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU points out that ONLY applications submitted by the Permanent Representation will be considered. Interested parties are therefore requested to send application documents (Europass CV, letter of motivation and declaration of approval of the employer) in English by May, 20, 2024 by email to sne.bruessel-ov@bmeia.gv.at.

Only the “Europass CV” form should be used to create the CV. Applicants must state the exact name of the position for which they are applying (e.g. JRC-B-5) in all documents submitted.

For more detailed information on the job profile, requirements and selection procedure, please refer to the detailed vacancy notice below.

Reference: RTD-02