Scientific Programme Manager - Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical care

The mission of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare (EDQM) is to contribute to public health protection by engaging with an international community of experts and stakeholders. We achieve this by promoting access to safe medicines and healthcare through the elaboration of quality standards, which are recognised as a scientific benchmark worldwide. The EDQM's standards for medicines and their ingredients, compiled in the European Pharmacopoeia, are legally binding in 39 member states of the Council of Europe and are also widely used across the globe in the human and animal health sectors. EDQM also plays a crucial role in the areas of blood transfusion, organ, tissue and cell transplantation and in developing and setting consumer health standards, such as for cosmetics and food contact materials.

The team within which you will work, the Pharmaceutical and Consumer Care (PCC) Section, is based in Strasbourg and is part of the Intergovernmental Committees and Networks Department (ICND). The PCC Section is an international team consisting of five Scientific Programme Managers and four Administrative Support Assistants. The PCC Section supports the work of six intergovernmental committees and subordinate bodies, which bring together experts from 39 European member states, as well as a number of ad hoc working groups. These committees develop standards, guidance and policies in two main areas:

• safe and optimal use of medicines, including the classification of medicines (prescription or non-prescription), pharmaceutical care and pharmacy practices, the fight against falsification of medicines and tackling medicine shortages;
• consumer health, including for materials in contact with food and cosmetics/tattoos.

As a Scientific Programme Manager in the field of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical care, you will:

• participate in implementing the work programme of the European Committee on Pharmaceutical and Pharmaceutical Care (CD-P-PH) and its subordinate bodies, such as in the fields of classification of medicines and medicine shortages, or in other relevant work programme activities and deliverables;
• support and co-ordinate the activities of the CD-P-PH, its subordinate bodies and any ad hoc working groups;
• carry out research on specific technical or scientific aspects of CD-P-PH activities, analyse data and draft working documents (technical reports), presentations and other types of documents;
• establish close working contacts with national, international, governmental and non-governmental bodies and organisations active in the area of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical care;
• contribute to external working groups and external events where appropriate.

You must:

• have the support of the member State seconding you to the Council of Europe;
• hold a higher education degree or qualification equivalent to a masters degree (2nd cycle of the Bologna process framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area), in pharmacy, biology, chemistry, or other relevant scientific discipline;
• have at least 3 years of professional experience in activities relevant to the role;
• have very good knowledge of English and a basic knowledge of French or the capacity to learn it on the job;
• be a citizen of one of the member States of the Council of Europe.

• Operational - Planning and work organisation
• Interpersonal - Teamwork and co-operation
• Interpersonal - Communication

• Professional and technical expertise:
  • professional experience in pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical care, clinical pharmacy, medicine shortages, or related activities supporting the safe and appropriate use of medicines;
  • proficiency in the use of current ICT tools.

• Operational - Analysis and problem solving
• Operational - Drafting skills
• Operational - Results orientation

This vacancy is for a secondment, ruled by Article 23 of Committee of Ministers’ Resolution CM/Res(2012)2. You can consult the conditions of secondment to the Council of Europe (days of leave, allowances etc.) on the webpage What we offer. This secondment foresees the relocation allowance and the travel expenses from the Organisation as indicated in Article 23 of the Resolution.

This secondment should start as soon as possible.

For more information on how we recruit, you can consult the page Our recruitment process of our Career's website. The deadline for applications is indicated in the General information section of this vacancy notice (see above) and is fixed at 23:59:59 (CET/CEST). Only applicants who meet the conditions of the Committee of Ministers’ Resolution CM/Res(2012)2) and who best meet the abovementioned criteria will be considered for selection and for the next stage.

As an equal opportunity employer, the Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified people, irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, disability, religion or belief. Under its equal opportunity policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve gender parity in staff employed in each category and grade. At the time of appointment, preference between suitable people shall be given to the person of the gender which is under-represented in the relevant grades within the category to which the vacancy belongs.

Applicants with specific needs are encouraged to request reasonable accommodations at any stage during the recruitment process. Please contact us at talents@coe.int, we will ensure that your request is handled.

The information published on the CoE’s careers website regarding working conditions is correct at the time of publication of the vacancy notice. Any changes to these conditions during the recruitment process will be updated on our Portal and will apply at the time of the job offer. Our career's website is not intended to be exhaustive and may not address all questions you would have. Should you have remaining questions, please contact us at talents@coe.int.