Scientific Officer – Toxicology, ECHA Helsinki, European Chemicals Agency, Helsinki

Scientific Officer – Toxicology (AD 6)

1.The job
We are looking for Scientific Officers with a human health toxicology profile.

In addition to the work related to the REACH, CLP and BPR regulations, Scientific Officers may also work on the implementation of the new tasks recently taken over by ECHA, such as the Drinking Water Directives (DWD) and Batteries Regulation. In addition, ECHA is likely to take on new tasks under several amended Directives and Regulations, e.g. the Water Framework, Environmental Quality Standards, and Groundwater Directives, the Industrial Emissions Directive, the End of-Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS) Directive and the Toys Safety Regulation, which will also need such expertise.

The ideal candidate is a highly motivated and experienced professional who has knowledge on how the OECD/EU tests are performed and is able to interpret and use them in a regulatory context (e.g. checking compliance with information requirements, assessment of hazards against classification criteria and generally performing or evaluating human health hazard or risk assessments), focusing on key elements and identifying inconsistencies, limitations and uncertainties.

2.Key responsibilities
Scientific Officers in the Agency work in one of the work areas covering scientific issues relating to the Evaluation, Authorisation, Restriction processes (REACH Regulation), the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR), the Classification, Labelling, and Packaging (CLP) Regulation and the new tasks (e.g. water protection tasks). The Scientific Officer will work in multidisciplinary teams including scientists, lawyers and administrative colleagues evaluating and developing scientific and technical information on different areas of toxicology, ecotoxicology, PBT and PMT assessment, exposure assessment, and risk assessment of chemical substances to human health and the environment.
Depending on organisational needs as well as the candidate’s background and interest, s/he will be responsible for some of the following tasks:
Evaluating registration dossiers (i.e., experimental studies and adaptations) against the information requirements in the REACH Regulation, examining testing proposals, preparing the corresponding draft decisions, and responding to comments received on draft decisions;
Application of methodologies alternative to animal testing, such as read-across, QSAR and grouping for the purpose of regulatory risk assessment;
Assessing and providing expert opinions on toxicology, the relevance and reliability of experimental studies, assessing and evaluating relevance and conclusions made in the toxicological effect, exposure and risk characterisation;
Assessing the toxicological hazard profile of chemical substances in relation to classification and labelling obligations (in particular reprotoxic, mutagenic, and endocrine disruptors’ criteria);
Preparing and/or supporting the development of the Agency’s decisions and opinions;
Preparing, managing, and follow-up of the meetings of ECHA’s Committees, relevant
working groups, and expert groups, including support to their Chairs, rapporteurs, and
dossier submitters;
Assessing reports prepared by the Member States competent authorities responsible
for CLP and BPR.
Working on the implementation of ECHA’s new tasks.

3.Eligibility criteria
Successful completion of a full course of university studies attested by a degree, where the normal duration of university education is three (3) years or more.

At the closing date for applications, a total professional experience of at least 3 (three) years acquired after achieving the minimum requirements stated above is required. Of the total professional experience, at least 1 (one) year must be in a field, or fields, relevant to the areas of work mentioned in section 2.

4.Selection criteria
If you meet the eligibility criteria set out in section 3, 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 a (remote) written test and/or interview. The selection committee will decide whether succeeding in the written test is a prerequisite to be invited to the interview.
Your academic and professional qualifications and their relevance to the main areas of work listed in section 2. Your university degree must be in toxicological sciences. Preference will be given to qualifications obtained in or covering the following fields: Toxicology; Pharmacology; or Biomedical sciences, covering human health risk assessment of chemical substances (e.g. industrial chemicals, pesticides, biocides).
Your professional experience: Preference will be given to candidates having experience in functions similar to those outlined in section 2. The Selection Committee will assess the range of fields covered, the type and level of work done and its relevance to the areas of work listed in section 2.
The following will be considered as assets:
Practical experience in conducting experimental studies relevant to toxicology and/or risk assessment;
Experience in conducting risk, exposure or hazard assessment of chemicals at national or European level;
Experience with either preparing regulatory dossiers for industry (e.g. REACH, CLP, BPR, POP) or industry support documents such as technical manuals, support and advice material relevant for regulatory purposes (in relation to chemical management systems); Development of models (and related IT tools) or tests for predicting toxicological hazards and risks;
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.

5.How to apply
You can submit your application and find more information (the complete vacancy notice and application form) on ECHA website http://echa.europa.eu/web/guest/about-us/jobs/open-positions. ECHA is an equal opportunity organisation committed to achieving diversity, as the diversity of ECHA’s staff is essential to the Agency’s success.