Strategic Leader, Risk Assessment Department

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Heads of Risk Assessment Departments – EFSA/X/AD/2026/03

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), based in Parma, Italy, is looking for Heads of Risk Assessment Departments. The position is temporary, Grade AD12.

Head of Department: “B – Risk Assessment I (Plants, Animals, Biological Hazards and Pesticides)”

Head of Department: “C – Risk Assessment II (Food and Feed Products)”

Please send your application by 24 August 2026 at 23:59 (local time). Follow the instructions in the ANNEX.

EFSA is launching a selection procedure to fill two Head of Department positions for its two future Risk Assessment Departments, which are expected to become operational as of January 2027. The successful candidates will shape these departments and ensure the delivery of scientific risk assessments, in line with EFSA’s mission.

Is this job for you?

Are you an experienced leader with a strong track record of managing scientific functions, shaping strategic priorities, and guiding multidisciplinary teams in a complex and evolving environment? As a trusted leader, you embody EFSA’s values and foster a culture of efficiency, excellence and collaboration. You inspire others through your actions, creating an environment where people can thrive and perform at their best.

As Head of one of EFSA's Risk Assessment Departments, you will provide strategic leadership and direction, ensuring effective delivery of departmental activities within your areas of responsibility. You will contribute to EFSA’s mission to safeguard food and feed safety in Europe.

Department Missions

1. Department “B – Risk Assessment I (Plants, Animals, Biological Hazards and Pesticides)”

- Includes the units: B1 Biological Hazards, Animal Health and Welfare; B2 Pesticide Coordination and MRL; B3 Pesticide Review; and B4 Plant Health.
- Delivers high‑quality, independent and transparent scientific risk assessments across biological hazards, animal health and welfare, plant health, and plant protection products. It supports EU decision‑making and public trust, ensures a coherent integrated approach, and maintains readiness to respond to emerging risks.

2. Department “C – Risk Assessment II (Food and Feed Products)”

- Includes the units: C1 Biotechnology; C2 Feed; C3 Food Contact Materials and Contaminants; C4 Food Additives, Flavourings and Enzymes; and C5 Nutrition and Food Innovation.
- Delivers high‑quality, timely and independent scientific risk assessments across feed safety, chemical contaminants, food contact materials, GMOs and new genomic techniques, food additives and enzymes, and nutrition and novel foods. It supports innovation, aligns hazard and exposure assessments, and provides robust scientific advice to the European Commission and Member States.

Your Key Responsibilities

- Provide strategic leadership, vision and direction, translating EFSA’s priorities into departmental objectives and ensuring effective contribution to EFSA’s mission and strategic goals.
- Lead and oversee delivery of departmental activities, ensuring timely production of independent,



fit‑for‑purpose scientific outputs and methodological robustness.
- Drive continuous improvement and future development of departmental activities by fostering innovation, supporting digital and AI transformation, and enhancing methodologies, processes, tools, and services.
- Manage human, financial, and operational resources, ensuring effective planning, prioritisation, allocation of resources, sound financial management, and achievement of objectives and performance targets.
- Lead, motivate and develop managers and staff, fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high‑performing working environment and ensuring effective implementation of people‑management policies.
- Represent EFSA and the Department in interactions with EU institutions, Member States, scientific bodies, international organisations and other stakeholders.

Why EFSA?

EFSA plays a vital role in the lives of 450 million EU citizens. With around 600 staff members, EFSA’s Scientific Committee and Panels engage highly qualified and independent scientific experts. EFSA’s standards and values are driven by ethics, integrity, fairness, transparency and impartiality. EFSA is an equal‑opportunity employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, religion or belief. All staff are committed to creating an open and inclusive environment.

What We Offer You?

Life in Parma

Parma is a lively city of around 200 000 inhabitants in the Emilia‑Romagna region of Italy. The city is rich in art, architecture, parks and famed for its food. It is strategically located between major cities such as Milan and Bologna, and within easy reach of ski resorts, seaside and mountains.

Salary and Benefits

EFSA can offer the selected candidate a contract of 5 years, with the possibility of renewal. If renewed a second time, the contract will be for an indefinite period. The candidate will be recruited as Temporary Agent Grade AD12 with a basic monthly salary starting from € 14,603, subject to an annual remuneration review.

Benefits include:

- Allowances such as household, expatriation (16% of basic salary), dependent child and education.
- Wide range of leave, including annual, parental and public holidays.
- Flexible working hours and possibility of telework.
- Comprehensive welfare package: pension scheme, medical, accident and occupational disease insurance, unemployment and invalidity allowance, and travel insurance.

Eligibility Criteria

- Be a national of an EU Member State, Iceland or Norway.
- Enjoy full rights as a citizen.
- Have fulfilled any obligations imposed by laws concerning military service.
- Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.




- Have thorough knowledge of one EU official language and satisfactory knowledge of another EU language.
- Meet character requirements for the duties involved.

Qualifications

- Level of education corresponding to completed university studies of at least 4 years (or 3 years plus at least one year of professional experience).

Experience

- At least 15 years of proven professional experience in positions corresponding to the nature of duties of the vacant post, acquired after meeting the qualification requirements.
- At least 2 years of managerial experience within those 15 years.

In case you do not fulfil all the eligibility criteria, your application will not be considered.

Selection Criteria (Technical and Behavioural Competencies)

- Experience (at least 6 years) in leading, coaching and motivating teams and driving high performance.
- Experience in leading scientific activities relevant to EFSA’s remit, ensuring timely delivery based on robust methodologies.
- Experience in defining and implementing strategic objectives and driving innovation, including digital and AI solutions.
- Experience in managing operations and resources: planning, prioritisation, allocation of resources, financial oversight, monitoring performance.
- Experience in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with stakeholders and representing EFSA in high‑level external engagements.
- Deal with ambiguity: work constructively in unpredictable situations, show resilience and composure, make decisions with incomplete information, and accept constructive feedback.
- Demonstrate political savvy and strategic agility: visualise future opportunities, think creatively, and pursue them strategically.
- Focus on stakeholder needs: meet expectations of internal and external stakeholders and gain their trust and respect.
- Plan and measure for results: set ambitious goals, create actionable plans, and manage resources efficiently.
- Work with others: contribute to common goals, cooperate, listen actively, manage conflicts and motivate colleagues.
- Lead and develop a team: supervise and develop staff to meet expected results within timelines.
- Communication: clearly communicate complex subjects orally and in writing.

Steps of the Selection Procedure

- Applications are assessed against technical competencies.
- Top candidates are invited to a written test.
- Candidates achieving at least 60 % on the written test are invited to an interview with the Selection Board.
- The interview and assessment centre determine the final shortlist for interview with the Executive Director.
- A talent pool may be established, valid until 31 December 2027, extendable by the Executive Director.

Note

This vacancy is published externally at the grade AD12, internally at the grade bracket AD12‑AD14, and inter‑agency at the grade bracket AD12‑AD14, subject to the EFSA establishment plan availabilities. Candidates are invited to read the ANNEX that is an integral part of this vacancy and provides information on the application process, selection procedures, independence and appeal procedures.

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