France: Chargé(e) de mission (BSE), Status Department

Position Title: Chargé(e) de mission, Status Department of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Duration: Two (2) year – Renewable subject to funding

Context :

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is an intergovernmental organisation recognised by the World Trade Organization as a reference Organisation for intergovernmental standards concerning the sanitary safety of international trade of animals and products of animal origin and zoonoses, and is in charge of improving animal health, veterinary public health and animal welfare worldwide, as well as transparency of the global animal disease situation.

The OIE maintains permanent relations with over 70 international and regional Organisations and has 12 regional offices around the globe.

Job purpose

The Chargé(e) de Mission contributes to a transparent and secured animal health situation in Member Countries. He/she supports the scientific excellence of the OIE activities by contributing to the implementation of the OIE work plan for the full revision of the OIE international standards for BSE, and to the continuous improvement of the procedure for official recognition of disease status. With a specific focus on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), he/she supports the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases’ mission to ensure the delivery of high-quality and scientifically-based assessments of applications (and maintenance of) official disease status recognition, based on compliance with OIE standards.

Positioning and reporting

Under the authority of the Deputy Director General, International Standards and Science and the direct supervision of the Head of the Status Department, and in close cooperation with other officers in the Department or in other departments.

Responsibilities:

· Perform scientific secretariat functions for the ad hoc Groups in charge of the revision of Chapter 11.4. of the Terrestrial Code on BSE and in particular:

o Draft the ToR for each ad hoc Group meeting;

o Prepare the working documents supporting the ToR in coordination with relevant departments;

o Manage the ad hoc Group meetings insuring compliance with OIE procedures;

o Prepare the report of the ad hoc Group meetings and any supporting documents or analyses;

o Liaise with the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases and Terrestrial Animal Health Standard Commission on this topic.

· Once the revision of the BSE Chapter has progressed, perform secretariat functions for possible subsequent discussions on the continuation of the official recognition by the OIE of Member Countries’ BSE risk status.

· Contribute to the implementation and follow-up of the procedure for official recognition of disease status, with focus on BSE and in particular:

o Assist Member Countries in the correct procedures for the preparation and submission of dossiers for the evaluation of official disease status or national control programmes for specified diseases;

o Support the refinement and continuous improvement of the OIE procedures for official disease status recognition (administrative, science/technical aspects).

· Contribute to the evaluation process of the dossiers for official recognition of BSE risk status and in particular:

o Screen and process the applications of Member Countries wishing to be evaluated and recognised as having a controlled or negligible BSE risk status in accordance with the provisions of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code, the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals and the applicable OIE guidelines, including through coordination with relevant departments to ensure the compilation of relevant cross-cutting data;

o Perform scientific secretariat functions for the ad hoc Group for the evaluation of Member Countries BSE risk status;

o Follow up the result from these deliberations.

· Contribute to the monitoring of the compliance of Member Countries having obtained official disease status or endorsement of control programme with requirements for the maintenance of their status.

· With specific focus on BSE, provide technical advice on the disease status process and Member Country situation:

o Provide topic-specific advice and prepare correspondence, in response to enquiries from diverse sources, including colleagues, Member Countries, other organisations and external parties;

o Perform analyses of collected data in close cooperation with other officers in the Department or in other departments, as required;

o Provide background documents, meeting reports and other working documents as required.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine;

• An additional degree in epidemiology, risk assessment or public health will be considered an asset;

• Work experience with the Veterinary Services on the development or implementation of disease control programme is required;

• Experience in BSE surveillance or in risk assessment is an asset.

Technical skills:

• Excellent command of English (oral and written) is required;

• Knowledge of Spanish or French is an asset;

• Strong analytical skills;

• Good computer skills.

Interpersonal skills:

• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, interpersonal);

• Proactivity, and a results-oriented approach;

• Organisational awareness: strong ability to establish priorities, work within tight timelines and multi-task, even under pressure;

• Keen sense of observation, attention to detail and accuracy;

• Courtesy, tact and ability to establish and maintain good working relations in a multinational and multicultural environment.

Working conditions

The post is a full-time sedentary position and requires the availability of the agent at the OIE Headquarters in Paris. The post may entail missions abroad resulting in irregular work hours.

General information

The OIE places high value on a multicultural and positive work environment.

The OIE is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications of all qualified candidates, irrespective of their ethnic origin, gender, opinions or beliefs.

This is a full-time position as an international civil servant based at the OIE Headquarters in Paris (France) that is available immediately.

If you are interested in the position, please complete your application online by 11 December 2017 at the latest by clicking on the following link: http://urlz.fr/69nw.

Should you have any questions, please contact Human Resources at hr.dept@oie.int.