Job offer at the Scientific Secretariat on Invasive Alien Species

The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is looking for an officer who will help implement the tasks of the National Scientific Secretariat on Invasive Alien Species

Context

The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is looking for an officer who will help implementing the tasks of the National Scientific Secretariat on Invasive Alien Species, a scientific body supporting the national implementation of the European Regulation Nr. 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/invasivealien/index_en.htm). This Secretariat is established within the Operational Directorate Natural Environment (OD Nature) of the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences.

The Secretariat is created and financed according to a cooperation agreement adopted by the Federal State, the Communities and the Regions in October 2016. This agreement also creates a National Scientific Council and a National Committee on invasive alien species.

The Secretariat is a scientific support body that compiles scientific information on invasive alien species through its expertise and networks. The Secretariat cooperates with scientists involved in the National Scientific Council to provide scientific advice on invasive alien species to the National Committee.

The National Committee has an administrative function and is composed by representatives of environmental administrations. Its mandate is to coordinate the implementation of the European Regulation at national level according to the cooperation agreement. The Secretariat thus also plays a key role as an interface between the Council and the Committee. His/her work will be essential to help Belgium implementing correctly its obligations on invasive alien species.

The selected candidate will be one of two staff members (MSc) of the National Scientific Secretariat.

Tasks

The selected candidate will be in charge of implementing the following tasks:

  • To draft and assess scientific reports concerning environmental risks, distribution and best management practices of invasive alien species of Union concern in Belgium;
  • To provide scientific advice on the relevance of inclusion of invasive alien species listed by the EU Regulation;
  • To contribute to the preparation of a national action plan on the pathways of unintentional introduction and spread of invasive alien species of Union concern in Belgium;
  • To support official inspection services with the identification of invasive alien species listed by the EU Regulation;
  • To manage a portal website on the coordinated implementation of the EU Regulation in Belgium;
  • To prepare and organize the meetings of the National Scientific Council on Invasive Alien Species.

DIPLOMA

Master of Science (MSc) in any field related to biodiversity: Ecology, Environmental or Social Sciences, Biology, Agronomy.

  • Minimum 3 years work experience related to the diplomas mentioned above.
  • Scientific experience in biological invasions is required.
  • Experience with European biodiversity or environmental research/policy is an advantage.

TECHNICAL COMPETENCE

  • Excellent skills in research, analyzing and summarizing scientific information.
  • Excellent writing skills.
  • Excellent skills in oral communication.
  • Excellent presentation skills.
  • Experience in scientific communication.

GENERIC COMPETENCE

  • You are a team player, who values the ideas and opinions of team members. You contribute to the resolutions of conflicts between colleagues.
  • You are able to build strategic alliances that are critical to the organization.
  • You provide advice to your interlocutors and build a trustworthy relation with them based on your expertise.
  • You have a proactive attitude, you are able to adapt quickly to new situations.

ASSETS

  • Mother tongue is Dutch.
  • A working knowledge of the second Belgian official language is required.
  • Excellent knowledge of English is absolutely necessary.

We offer

  • You will be employed by the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussels.
  • The contract will start on 01/05/2018 and will be of fixed duration, ending 30/04/2019, with the possibility of extension.
  • The salary is defined according to the standard scale for the scientific staff of the federal government as published in the Moniteur Belge / Belgisch Staatsblad (http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/welcome.pl) A.R./K.B. 2.6.2010 (publication 10.6.2010;  Master of Science, SW11) and will depend on the number of years of experience (e.g. 5 years experience: 3.852,79 euro indexed gross monthly).
  • Free commuting with public transport.
  • Possibility of a bicycle bonus.
  • You are one of two staff members (MSc) of the National Scientific Secretariat on Invasive Alien Species.
  • You are maximum 20 days a year abroad for workshops, conferences and meetings.

How to apply

You can apply until 04/03/2018, 23:59.

Your applications including a curriculum vitae should be addressed to Patrick Roose, Gulledelle 100, 1200 Brussels, or yolande.maes@naturalsciences.be with patrick.roose@naturalsciences.be in CC.

After a thorough screening of the CV’s, selected candidates will be invited to submit a presentation before Tuesday 20/03/2018. The five candidates with the best scores will be invited by the jury for an oral interview on Monday 26/03/2018.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send an email to dgosse@naturalsciences.be or phone 02/627.45.25.

More information: https://www.naturalsciences.be/en/about-us/organisation/jobs#anchor9402