Scientific officer - One Health & biodiversity
The Belgian Biodiversity Platform
The Belgian Biodiversity Platform (BBPF) is a science-policy interface body funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO) and is supported by a Cooperation Agreement between the federal and concerned federated authorities. Within the field of biodiversity, it acts as a broker between policy, science and practice.
SCIENSANO
Sciensano is a public institution performing public and animal health assignments. Sciensano’s strength and uniqueness lie within the holistic and multidisciplinary approach to health. More particularly it focuses on the close interconnection between human and animal health and their environment (the “One health” concept). By combining different research perspectives within this framework, Sciensano contributes in its unique way to everybody’s health.
Science Officer - One Health and Biodiversity
The BBPF and Sciensano are jointly looking for 1 FTE science officer with an expertise in One Health, particularly with its relation to Biodiversity. The One Health approach aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, ecosystems and the wider environment. It mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems. And it addresses the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development
The Science Officer will provide expertise, skills and knowledge to facilitate transversal science-policy-practice projects and activities related to One Health. It will build on previous activities of the BBPF on biodiversity and health/OneHealth (read more here), and further reinforce interlinkages across relevant disciplines, research communities, stakeholders and (policy) actors.
The BBPF position is a contractual position of 24 months (starting as soon as possible) based at Sciensano.
She/He will be engaged in the following tasks:
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Mapping of Belgian One Health landscape, including in terms of policy/governance actors, research communities, and knowledge gaps and research needs
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Coordinate the PREZODE project in the framework of a science policy interface, integrating biodiversity and One Health
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Coordinating and drafting a One Health strategy on Zoonoses for Belgium
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Supporting and facilitating the Belgian One Health Network , including updating the content of the website, organising network activities, coordinating working groups across the different dimensions of One Health, and strengthening the science-policy-practice dialogue;
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Horizon scanning/foresight activities to detect emerging issues that are of interest to the One Health community;
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Developing best practices toolkits, demonstrating successful One Health approaches in Belgium;
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Keeping up to date with National (including Regional), European and International Research Agendas on the One Health topic, including exploring of funding opportunities;
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Supporting the development of One Health science policy guidelines, tools/products;
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Support capacity development activities at national and regional levels, and related projects (e.g. PREZODE: on preventing zoonotic disease emergence)
Selection Criteria:
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Hold a university degree (MSc) in any field related to One Health (biodiversity, animal health, environmental health/environmental sciences) ;
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Up to 3 years of working experience within the field of One Health related matters
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Excellent level of written and spoken English and good knowledge of french or dutch;
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Excellent knowledge of current One Health and biodiversity science policy issues
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Interest in and ability to detect emerging issues that are of interest to the One Health/Biodiversity science policy community and to develop initiatives promoting capacity building for those issues
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Knowledge and experience with communities of practice or likewise networking engagement and capacity building initiatives
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Knowledge of and experience with inter- and transdisciplinary approaches
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Flexibility, ability to adapt quickly to new issues with a proactive attitude
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Ability to multitask and work within a team with proficient communication and transparency.
- A stimulating position in a renowned scientific institute
- Fixed-term contract Salary scale: SW11
- Benefits: free subscription or 100% reimbursement for home-to-work journeys by public transport; hospitalization/group insurance; meal vouchers; miscellaneous benefits via FED+ ( www.fedplus.be ) ; benefits
- Other: flexible working hours of 38 hours/week; possibility of teleworking and training
