Legal Officer(Temporary Agent, Grade AD 5)
Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU)
1. About IHI JU
The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) aims to translate health research and innovation into real benefits for patients and society, and to ensure that Europe remains at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary, sustainable, patient-centric health research. Health research and healthcare increasingly involve diverse sectors. By supporting projects that bring these sectors together, IHI will pave the way for a more integrated approach to healthcare, covering prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and disease management.
IHI is a partnership between the European Union and European industry associations representing the pharmaceutical, medical technology, biotechnology, digital health and vaccine industries, namely COCIR, EFPIA, EuropaBio, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe.
IHI’s total budget is EUR 2.4 billion. Half of this comes from Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation programme. The IHI industry partners have committed EUR 1 billion to IHI, and a further EUR 200 million can be committed by other organisations that decide to support the objectives of IHI in specific areas of research by becoming contributing partners. IHI builds on the successes of the Innovative Medicines Initiative, and the IHI Programme Office continues to manage projects launched under IMI.
For more information, please visit the IHI JU website: www.ihi.europa.eu
2. Job description
As a member of the Administration and Finance Unit, the Legal Officer will be part of the IHI JU legal team, which ensures a sound legal environment for the IHI JU’s overall functioning. The Legal Officer will provide legal analysis and support for various legal aspects – regarding IHI JU operations dealing with grant management in particular – and will collaborate with a wider team of scientific officers and financial officers. The Legal Officer will report directly to the Head of Administration and Finance (‘HoAF’).
The Legal Officer will be responsabile for the following tasks in particular:
- providing advice and support on legal matters and documents related to the IHI JU Call for proposals process, as well as the evaluation, preparation, amendment, and execution of research grants –including settlement of disputes – in accordance with the relevant IHI JU legal and operational framework;
- providing accurate legal analysis and advice on grants procedures and the relevant IHI JU operational framework (e.g., termination, suspension, enforced recovery, waivers of claims, etc.);
- monitoring and assessing that the beneficiaries fulfil their contractual obligations, including those that are administrative or financial, in close cooperation with the financial and scientific officers;
- providing legal support and advice to the hierarchy and the JU colleagues that are involved in ex-post control relating to project beneficiaries;
- providing legal support and following up on insolvency / bankruptcy cases as well as advising on possible litigation risks and contributing to finding solutions to prevent litigation;
- liaising with representatives of constituent and affiliated entities of the IHI JU private members and contributing partners, and participating in relevant meetings on legal matters;
- contributing to internal and external information sessions, seminars, and trainings on legal and procedural issues in accordance with the relevant legal frameworks;
- contributing to the preparation and development of IHI JU internal rules and procedures;
- preparing draft replies on legal interpretation to requests from within the IHI JU, as well as those received via the IHI JU InfoDesk functional mailbox;
- preparing draft replies to questions, complaints and investigations made by the European Ombudsman, the European Court of Auditors, the Internal Audit Service, and the European Public Prosecutor’s office;
- contributing to the preparation of legal documents and procedures for the implementation of IHI JU activities, including manuals and guidance documents.
The successful candidate may be required to undertake other tasks and activities as necessary under the responsibility of the HoAF according to the evolution and development of the IHI JU’s structure or activities. Duties may evolve depending on the needs of the IHI JU.
3. Eligibility criteria
At the closing date of applications, candidates must:
3.1 General conditions
- be a national of a member state of the European Union;
- enjoy his/ her full rights as a citizen;
- have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws concerning military service;
- be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post;
- meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
- have a thorough knowledge of one of the official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge (at least B2 level) of another of these languages to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties (candidates are invited to specify in their CV possible language certificates they have obtained and which can demonstrate their language skills).
3.2 Education
- Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three (3) years attested by a diploma;
- Have a university degree in Law.
3.3 Experience
- In addition to the above, have at least 5 (five) years of relevant professional work experience acquired from the time the university degree necessary to be eligible for the selection procedure was awarded.
In case you do not fulfil all the eligibility criteria, your application will not be taken into consideration.
Eligibility criteria must be fulfilled by the deadline for applications, and maintained throughout the selection procedure and appointment.
4. Selection criteria
Candidates will be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following criteria, to be fulfilled by the closing date for applications:
4.1 Essential criteria
- Suitability to perform the tasks described under section 2 job description;
- Deep knowledge and demonstrated professional experience in the provision of legal advice, and in the drafting and interpretation of legal documents, particularly in relation to the application of the EU legal and financial framework;
- Demonstrated professional experience of at least three (3) years with EU-funded programmes and related legal and financial rules and procedures, e.g. Horizon Europe, H2020, or FP7 grant management;
- Fluent written and spoken English (native or near-native level).
4.2 Advantageous criteria
- Demonstrate professional experience in public-private partnerships, and/or in the field of health (life sciences, medical devices, health-related data issues, etc.);
- Demonstrated professional experience in EU public procurement rules and procedures;…
- Experience working in an international environment
4.3 Behavioural competences
Throughout the different phases of the selection procedure candidates will also be assessed on the following criteria that are essential to the post:
- Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines in a highly dynamic work environment;
- Excellent analytical capabilities and problem-solving skills;
- Composure under pressure in demanding situations and ability to handle many tasks simultaneously;
- Excellent communication, interpersonal and collaboration skills (e.g. the ability to establish and develop good interpersonal relationships with a broad range of stakeholders in cross-cultural environments as well as in the team).
In order to be evaluated in the best possible way, candidates are advised to give evidence of their knowledge with specific examples and/or detailed professional experience. Candidates are invited to be as detailed and as clear as possible when describing their professional experience and specific skills and competences in their application form.
Failure to comply with the eligibility and/or essential selection criteria will result in the disqualification of the applicant concerned.
5. Appointment and reserve list
The recruitment will take place upon a decision of the IHI JU Executive Director (the Appointing Authority).
The Executive Director of the IHI JU will select a successful candidate from the reserve list and offer them the post. A binding commitment can only be made after the verification of all conditions5 and will take the form of a contract signed by the Appointing Authority of the IHI JU.
The successful candidate will be required to make a declaration of their commitment to act independently in the public interest and to make a declaration in relation to interests that might be considered prejudicial to his/her independence. Candidates must confirm their willingness to do so in their application.
The reserve list could be used to fulfil other positions within the IHI JU depending on the needs of the Joint Undertaking and will be valid until the date indicated in the relevant vacancy (the validity of the reserve list may be extended).
Candidates should note that inclusion on the reserve list does not guarantee recruitment. Recruitment will be based on the availability of posts and budget. The IHI JU may decide at any time during the procedure not to pursue the recruitment.
The reserve list for this post will be valid until 31 December 2026 and may be extended at the discretion of the Appointing Authority of IHI JU.
6. Deadline for applications
Interested candidates are invited to submit their application by no later than 22 November 2024 at 23:59 (Central European Time/Brussels time), following the instruction in the ANNEX.
7. Condition of employment
The place of employment will be Brussels, where the Joint Undertaking premises are located.
The successful candidate will be recruited as a Temporary Agent AD 5, pursuant to Article 2(f) of the Conditions of Employment of Other Servants of the European Communities, for a period of three (3) years. After an evaluation of the post holder’s performance, and subject to budget availability, the term of office may be extended. The period of engagement will not in any case exceed the lifetime of IHI JU.
The basic monthly salary for AD 5, step 1 is EUR 5.672,78 subject to an annual review of remuneration provided for in Article 65(1) of the Staff Regulations, and to a Community tax deducted at source and staff members are exempt of national taxation. In addition to the basic salary, staff members may be entitled to various allowances, in particular expatriation allowance (16% of basic salary), household allowance, dependent child allowance and education allowance.
A comprehensive welfare package including pension scheme, medical, accident and occupational disease insurance coverage, unemployment and invalidity allowance, and travel insurance. Further information regarding rights, conditions of employment and benefits can be found at the following link:
Staff Regulations
IMPORTANT NOTE
Candidates are invited to read the ANNEX that represents an integral part of this vacancy and provides information on how to complete the application, the steps of the selection process and appeal procedures.
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