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Vacancy Notice
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is launching this call for expressions of interest in
order to establish a reserve list for the following temporary agent profile:

Reference number ECHA/TA/2022/006

Job Title Chair of Biocidal Products Committee

Temporary Agent, AD 10 (see the Guide for Applicants for more
Function Group/Grade
information)
Location Helsinki, Finland

Publication Date 25 November 2022

Deadline for
16 January 2023, at noon, 12:00 Helsinki time (11:00 CET)
Applications

The initial closing date (9 January 2023) for submission of applications for this call
has been extended until 16 January 2023 at noon 12.00 Helsinki time (11.00 Central
European Time).

1. Who we are
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) aims to be the centre of knowledge on the
sustainable management of chemicals, serving a wide range of EU policies and global
initiatives, for the benefit of citizens and the environment. Together with our partners, we
work for the safe use of chemicals.

ECHA is an equal opportunity organisation which welcomes applications from qualified

professionals all over the European Union and the European Economic Area. We are
committed to achieving diversity, as the diversity of ECHA’s staff is essential to the Agency's
success. We do not discriminate on the grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin,
genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a
national minority, property, birth, disability, age or sexual orientation. Candidates who are
judged to be the most suitable, based on the assessment in the selection process, will be
placed on the reserve list.

ECHA achieved excellent results in the most recent staff survey (2021) and has been awarded
a recognition as one of Finland's most inspiring workplaces. This acknowledgement signals a
high employee engagement level and indicates that the agency develops the organisation,
staff wellbeing, operating culture and collaboration together with staff.
The recognition is given to Finnish organisations that achieve outstanding results in the
PeoplePower® employee survey carried out by Eezy Flow. You can read more about this
acknowledgement here: https://www.innostavimmat.fi/in-english.
P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 9 686180 | echa.europa.eu
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2. Is this job for you?

The Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) provides the European Commission with scientific
opinions to support regulatory decision-making in the context of the Biocidal Products
Regulation1 (BPR). The Chair’s job is to lead and organise the Committee to deliver fit-for-
purpose opinions. The BPC is supported by four permanent and four ad-hoc Working Groups
(https://echa.europa.eu/about-us/who-we-are/biocidal-products-committee/working-groups).

The ideal candidate is a highly motivated and experienced professional with a scientific
background and experience in regulatory processes in the field of chemicals management,
engaging the Committee members in the debate towards consensus outcomes delivered in a
timely manner. The person we are looking for understands the business of the Agency and
has broad experience relevant to chemicals management, which involves the use of science
in a regulatory context. The person communicates clearly, has strong editorial skills, is open
and listens to different points of view based on which the appropriate way forward is decided.

The Biocidal Products Committee prepares the opinions of ECHA related to several BPR
processes. The final decisions are taken by the European Commission. The processes are:

• Applications for approval and renewal of approval of active substances

• Review of approval of active substances
• Applications for inclusion in Annex I of active substances meeting the conditions laid
down in Article 28 and review of the inclusion of such active substances in Annex I
• Applications for Union authorisation of biocidal products and for renewal, cancellation
and amendments of Union authorisations, except where the applications are for
administrative changes
• Scientific and technical matters concerning mutual recognition in accordance with
Article 38
• At the request of the Commission or of the Member States, the BPC is also responsible
for preparing an opinion on any other questions that may arise from the operation of
the BPR relating to risks to human or animal health or the environment, or to technical
guidance.

The post of the Chair of Biocidal Products Committee is based at ECHA’s premises in Helsinki,
Finland and is located within the ECHA Directorate of Risk Management.

3. Key responsibilities
The Chair will be responsible for the efficient conduct of the work of the Committee and its
Working Groups, as well as the quality and consistency of its opinions.

In collaboration with the Heads of Units responsible for the relevant processes (above) and
the BPC Secretariat, the Chair will be responsible for coordinating the activities related to BPC

1
https://echa.europa.eu/regulations/biocidal-products-regulation/legislation

P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 9 686180 | echa.europa.eu
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within the overall planning framework of the Agency. The Chair reports to the Director of Risk
Management.

In particular, the Chair will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Lead BPC, ensuring timely preparation and adoption of scientific opinions that are fit
for purpose for the Commission’s decision making;
• Ensure consistency and quality of the opinions adopted by the BPC and, where
relevant, harmonise and/or coordinate with other ECHA committees and relevant
Community bodies;
• Plan the work of BPC and its working groups and ensure efficient organisation of the
meetings and that process deadlines are met;
• Chair the meetings of BPC and oversee and support the chairing of its working groups,
ensuring at all times that the rules of procedure and codes of conduct are respected;
• Be involved in the follow-up regulatory process for the adopted BPC opinions;
• Together with the ECHA secretariat, build the capacity of the BPC in methodologies
relevant to the work of the committee;
• Ensure that BPC follows the ECHA policy and rules regarding transparency and
openness, stakeholder participation, management of potential conflicts of interest, and
information security;
• Ensure coordination and cooperation between BPC, the Secretariat and other ECHA
Committees and with the relevant Enforcement group;
• Contribute to the preparation of the annual and multi-annual work programmes of the
Agency and relevant Units and their implementation;
• Together with the Heads of Units, coach and support the BPC Secretariat team to attain
their objectives and realise their potential;
• The Chair shall represent the ECHA committee externally as appropriate, e.g. towards
the EU institutions, stakeholders and media.

4. Eligibility criteria
The selection procedure is open to applicants who satisfy the following eligibility criteria, on
the closing date for application:

a. General requirements

The applicant must:

• Be a national of a Member State of the European Union, or a national of the European

Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) 2;
• Enjoy the full rights as a citizen;
• Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the laws concerning military service;

2
The Member States of the European Union are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 9 686180 | echa.europa.eu
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• Produce the appropriate character references as to the suitability for the performance
of the duties3;
• Be physically fit to perform the duties4;
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the official languages of the European Union 5
and a satisfactory knowledge of another such language to the extent necessary to
perform your duties;
• Be able to communicate well in English as this is the working language of ECHA;
• Be below the age at which staff of the EU is automatically retired, i.e. currently on the
last day of the month in which he/she reaches the age of 66 6.

b. Qualifications

a) Successful completion of a full course of university studies attested by a degree, where

the normal duration of university education is four (4) years or more.

Or

b) Successful completion of a full course of university studies attested by a degree, where

the normal duration of university education is three (3) years and at least one (1) year
of relevant professional experience.

Only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities or EEA authorities and

qualifications recognized as equivalent by the relevant EU or EEA Member State
authorities will be accepted.

c. Professional experience

To qualify for this profile, you must have at the closing date for applications a total
professional experience7 of at least twelve (12) years acquired after achieving the minimum
requirements stated out in section 4.b of this vacancy notice.

Of your total professional experience, at least five (5) years must be in a field, or fields,
relevant8 to the areas of work mentioned in section 3.

3
Before appointment, successful applicants will be required to produce an official document indicating that they do
not have a criminal record.
4
Before appointment, successful applicants will be required to undergo a medical examination to ensure that they
fulfil the requirements of Articles 12, 2 (c) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European
Communities.
5
The languages of the EU are: Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, Irish,
German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene,
Spanish, Swedish.
6
See Article 47(a) CEOS for Temporary Agents, applicable to Contract Agents by analogy, Article 119 CEOS.
7
Only relevant professional experience acquired after achieving the minimum qualification stated in 4.b. shall be
considered. Where additional periods of training and study are accompanied by periods of professional activity,
only the latter shall be considered as professional experience. Compulsory military service or equivalent civilian
service accomplished after the achieving the minimum qualification stated in 4.b. shall be taken into consideration.
Professional activities pursued part-time shall be calculated pro rata, on the basis of the percentage of full-time
hours worked. A given period may be counted only once.
8
Relevant experience should be described in your application.

P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 9 686180 | echa.europa.eu
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5. Selection criteria
If you meet the eligibility criteria set out in section 4, you will be assessed on the basis of the
following selection criteria. The candidates who are judged to be the most suitable on the
basis of the selection criteria will be invited to the next stage of the selection process.

• Your academic and professional qualifications and their relevance to the main
areas of work listed in section 3;
• Your professional experience: Preference will be given to candidates having
experience in functions similar to those outlined in section 3. The Selection Committee
will assess the range of fields covered, the type, length and level of work done and its
relevance to the areas of work listed in section 3.

The following will be considered as assets:

• Experience in participating in and leading scientific/regulatory committees at EU or

(inter)national level in the field of chemicals management;
• Demonstrated knowledge and any publications in the fields relevant to the tasks of
BPC, in particular relating to biocides, efficacy, in the field of hazard, exposure and
risk assessment of micro-organisms and/or chemical substances for human health and
environment, risk management;
• Experience in cooperation and negotiations with international organisations and
countries on the regulatory risk management of biocides, chemicals or analogous
regulatory systems;
• Work experience gained in a similar multicultural environment. Preference will be given
to work experience abroad.

Your academic and professional qualifications, professional experience and knowledge and
experience considered as an asset must be described as precisely as possible in your
application.

6. Assessment and interview

Candidates may be invited for a written test and interview(s) with ECHA’s selection
committee. Further selected candidates will undergo reference checks and will also be invited
for an assessment centre and aptitude and competence test by personnel selection
consultants serving in an advisory capacity to the selection committee.

During the different assessment stages, you will be assessed on the basis of the following
criteria:
6.1 Specific knowledge related to the post:

• Knowledge and understanding in your areas of experience that are most relevant to
the tasks set out in section 3;

P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 9 686180 | echa.europa.eu
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• Knowledge of assessing and managing the risks of substances to health and

environment in relation to regulating biocides, chemicals or similar regulatory fields,
and familiarity with the BPR Regulations and relevant guidance documents;
• Understanding of the role and tasks of ECHA, and BPC in particular;
• Aptitude to lead and coordinate the work of a scientific/technical regulatory committee
towards the delivery of coherent regulatory scientific opinions.

6.2 General competencies9 and conduct required for the job:

• Ability to collaborate and to coordinate multidisciplinary scientific teams;

• Interpersonal and negotiation skills and aptitude for consensus building;
• Ability to communicate effectively;
• Editorial skills;
• Aptitude for working in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment;
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.

Your ability to communicate in spoken/written English, and the knowledge, skills and
competencies related to the job will be assessed throughout the written tests and interviews.

For native English speakers, your ability to communicate in your second EU language will
be tested during the selection process. As this forms part of the general requirements stated
under section 4.a General Requirements from above, any failure in proving the satisfactory
level of your second EU language would lead to your exclusion from the selection.

Interviews, written tests and assessment centre participation may be organised remotely.

7. Placement on the reserve list

If you are judged to be among the most suitable candidates, on the basis of the criteria listed
in sections 4, 5 and 6, you will be placed on the reserve list. The reserve list will be valid for
a period of two years, with the possibility of extension.

It should be noted that inclusion on the reserve lists does not imply any entitlement of
employment in the Agency.

At ECHA, we believe in continuous learning and flexible work assignments to ensure the best
use of our human resources and to maintain a high level of staff motivation and expertise.
Hence, your career at ECHA, once recruited, may lead you to another role within ECHA in the
future.

8. What we offer

9
You can read more about the general competencies in place in ECHA through the following link:
https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/17100/echa_staff_competencies_en.pdf/81a7fbbf-730a-4bc2-9681-
24095900028c?t=1476375368217

P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 9 686180 | echa.europa.eu
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a. Engagement and conditions of employment

Successful applicants may be offered an employment contract for five years as a temporary
agent, in the grade AD 10. This contract may be renewed for a definite period. If renewed
for a second time, the contract becomes indefinite. If the successful applicant from the
external selection procedure is already a member of temporary staff 2(f) in the relevant
function group or another function group, the Agency shall offer the person, in writing, the
opportunity to be assigned to the post by means of mobility under the provisions of Article
6(2)10 or, subject to the establishment plan availabilities, Article 10 9 respectively, if the person
prefers to ensure continuity of contracts.

The successful applicant will be required to make a declaration of commitment to act

independently in the public interest and to make an annual declaration with respect to any
interests which might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. Moreover, before
recruiting a member of staff, ECHA’s Executive Director will examine whether the applicant
has any personal interest which may impair his/her independence or any other conflict of
interest. To that end, the applicant, using a specific form, shall inform the Executive Director
of any actual or potential conflict of interest. Applicants must confirm their willingness to do
so in their application.

b. Salary & benefits

The successful candidate will be recruited as a Temporary Agent Grade AD 10 with the basic
monthly salary starting from € 9.290,71, subject to an annual review of remuneration
provided for in Article 65(1) of the Staff Regulations.

In addition to the basic salary, ECHA offers a range of benefits which include allowances, such
as a household allowance, an expatriation allowance (16% of the basic salary) and a
dependent child allowance, as well as a welfare package including pension scheme, medical
and accident coverage.

For more information on the salary and on the allowances, please visit our website at:
http://www.echa.europa.eu/about-us/jobs/what-we-offer.

9. Other information
For more information on the selection process of temporary agents and on the contractual
and working conditions, please refer to:

• Guide for Applicants:

https://www.echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/17100/general_guide_for_applicants_en.pdf/c
d910e74-63ba-4cdd-b87f-29f0a77d0fea?t=1646396767190
• Implementing rules concerning temporary agents:
https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/17100/MB_DECISION_03_2018_4_MB49_FINAL.pd
f/7087cc5b-2dee-aade-0de0-bcdb47aa605d

10
Implementing rules on the procedure governing the engagement and use of temporary staff under Article 2(f) of
the CEOS:
https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/17100/MB_DECISION_03_2018_4_MB49_FINAL.pdf/7087cc5b-2dee-
aade-0de0-bcdb47aa605d

P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 9 686180 | echa.europa.eu
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• Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Union:

http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CONSLEG:1962R0031:20140101:EN:P
DF
• Protection of personal data: The European Chemicals Agency will ensure, on its
part, that your personal data is processed as required by Regulation (EU) 2018/1725
on the protection of personal data.
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32018R1725&from=EN

P.O. Box 400, FI-00121 Helsinki, Finland | Tel. +358 9 686180 | echa.europa.eu