Director of North-North Cooperation
The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is a not-for-profit organisation with a European office in The Hague, The Netherlands and an African office in Cape Town, South Africa. EDCTP is a partnership between European and African countries and the European Union. Its main goal is to accelerate the development of new clinical interventions including drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against poverty-related diseases and neglected infections in Africa (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases). The organisation supports clinical trials, capacity development and networking in Africa and Europe. Visit www.edctp.org for more information.
The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) is a not-for-profit organisation with a European office in The Hague, The Netherlands and an African office in Cape Town, South Africa. EDCTP is a partnership between European and African countries and the European Union. Its main goal is to accelerate the development of new clinical interventions including drugs, vaccines, microbicides and diagnostics against poverty-related diseases and neglected infections in Africa (HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases). The organisation supports clinical trials, capacity development and networking in Africa and Europe. Visit www.edctp.org for more information.
EDCTP is preparing its second programme phase (EDCTP2), which is expected to start in 2014. EDCTP2 will be a significant extension on scope and scale compared to the EDCTP1 programme; the funding level of EDCTP2, when approved, is expected to be around €2 billion, which will be a significant increase on EDCTP1 funding of €500 million (for more information on the envisaged EDCTP2 programme please consulthttp://www.edctp.org/Towards_EDCTP2.799.0.html).
In anticipation of EDCTP2 with one of its objectives being the building of stronger partnerships and cooperation with European, African and other public and private funders, EDCTP plans to fill the position of Director of North-North Cooperation (DNNC). The incumbent will join two other directors in the Senior Management Team to give support to the Executive Director. The DNNC will be based at the EDCTP office in The Hague and will report to the Executive Director. He or she will have overall responsibility for coordination of European participating states’ joint activities and investments in the relevant disease areas and liaising with the European Union, implementation and monitoring of EDCTP, and building on partnership initiatives with pharmaceutical industry, product development partnerships (PDPs), like-minded funding agencies and foundations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
Duties and responsibilities:
The main duties and responsibilities will include:• Acting as line manager of the North-North Networking Manager and the Operations (Calls and Grants) Manager overseeing a growing team of currently 10 members of staff
• Contributing to the growth and organisational development of the EDCTP Secretariat in preparation for an effective and efficient implementation of EDCTP2
• Developing and adapting the EDCTP funding operations, processes and partnership activities to meet the goals of EDCTP2
• Contributing to the development and implementation of the EDCTP2 funding strategy and annual work plans
• Identifying and fostering collaboration between European participating states’ research funding agencies and institutions to achieve or exceed the cofunding targets set out in the EU decision on EDCTP2
• Putting in place strategies that promote further integration of participating EDCTP European states’ national and international programmes of research, particularly in clinical research on poverty-related and neglected infectious diseases in developing countries focusing on sub-Saharan Africa
• Working with EDCTP European partner states to put in place systems and processes that ensure timely and accurate preparation of annual and multi-annual work plans
• Liaising with the focal points of Participating European states to ensure they fulfil their cash and in-kind cofunding commitments to EDCTP
• Building strong and effective partnerships with other public and private sector funding bodies including industry, PDPs, like-minded funding agencies and foundations, and NGOs
• Preparing and presenting advocacy plans and reports to the General Assembly and the Steering Committee
• Working closely with the High Representative and Communications team to develop and implement an integrated strategy for promoting EDCTP and raising funding from European participating states, industry, NGOs, PDPs and like-minded organisations
• Raising the profile of EDCTP as an important funder of clinical trials research amongst the international funding/donor community and relevant stakeholders
• Representing EDCTP either individually or as part of a senior management delegation at major events and meetings
• Working closely with the Communications team to develop a communications toolbox and strategy to facilitate advocacy and promotional initiatives and events
• Assisting in organising EDCTP conferences, especially in Europe
• Planning of events, conferences and forums which are relevant for EDCTP to attend and/or co-sponsor
• Liaising with the European Commission
• Ensuring timely and accurate preparation of reports and information packages on North-North cooperation for submission to the European Commission and for sharing with EDCTP constituencies as appropriate
• Any other tasks, duties or specific assignments which may arise as directed by the Executive Director.
Person specification:• MD or PhD in Life Sciences
• Background in public health systems with a broad understanding of clinical trials in infectious diseases
• More than 15 years of experience in research or international cooperation in an internationally recognised research funding institution
• Experience of working with or in the pharmaceutical industry
• Excellent publication record, particularly in infectious diseases
• Experience in building research partnerships and collaborations, particularly with international research funding agencies or Product Development Partnerships (PDPs)
• Risk management experience, particularly in a health research setting, will be an advantage
• Experience in heading an operational management or international cooperation department of an internationally recognised research funding agency will be an advantage
• Excellent written and spoken English skills. Knowledge of French, Portuguese or any other European language will be an advantage
• Excellent presentation skills and experience speaking to relevant technical audiences; confident presenter and effective communicator
• Strong sense of diplomacy and an ability to take account of both personal and political sensitivities in an international environment
• Good IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office products.
Salary scaleEDCTP offers a highly competitive salary package commensurate with experience and qualifications.
The main duties and responsibilities will include:• Acting as line manager of the North-North Networking Manager and the Operations (Calls and Grants) Manager overseeing a growing team of currently 10 members of staff
• Contributing to the growth and organisational development of the EDCTP Secretariat in preparation for an effective and efficient implementation of EDCTP2
• Developing and adapting the EDCTP funding operations, processes and partnership activities to meet the goals of EDCTP2
• Contributing to the development and implementation of the EDCTP2 funding strategy and annual work plans
• Identifying and fostering collaboration between European participating states’ research funding agencies and institutions to achieve or exceed the cofunding targets set out in the EU decision on EDCTP2
• Putting in place strategies that promote further integration of participating EDCTP European states’ national and international programmes of research, particularly in clinical research on poverty-related and neglected infectious diseases in developing countries focusing on sub-Saharan Africa
• Working with EDCTP European partner states to put in place systems and processes that ensure timely and accurate preparation of annual and multi-annual work plans
• Liaising with the focal points of Participating European states to ensure they fulfil their cash and in-kind cofunding commitments to EDCTP
• Building strong and effective partnerships with other public and private sector funding bodies including industry, PDPs, like-minded funding agencies and foundations, and NGOs
• Preparing and presenting advocacy plans and reports to the General Assembly and the Steering Committee
• Working closely with the High Representative and Communications team to develop and implement an integrated strategy for promoting EDCTP and raising funding from European participating states, industry, NGOs, PDPs and like-minded organisations
• Raising the profile of EDCTP as an important funder of clinical trials research amongst the international funding/donor community and relevant stakeholders
• Representing EDCTP either individually or as part of a senior management delegation at major events and meetings
• Working closely with the Communications team to develop a communications toolbox and strategy to facilitate advocacy and promotional initiatives and events
• Assisting in organising EDCTP conferences, especially in Europe
• Planning of events, conferences and forums which are relevant for EDCTP to attend and/or co-sponsor
• Liaising with the European Commission
• Ensuring timely and accurate preparation of reports and information packages on North-North cooperation for submission to the European Commission and for sharing with EDCTP constituencies as appropriate
• Any other tasks, duties or specific assignments which may arise as directed by the Executive Director.
Person specification:• MD or PhD in Life Sciences
• Background in public health systems with a broad understanding of clinical trials in infectious diseases
• More than 15 years of experience in research or international cooperation in an internationally recognised research funding institution
• Experience of working with or in the pharmaceutical industry
• Excellent publication record, particularly in infectious diseases
• Experience in building research partnerships and collaborations, particularly with international research funding agencies or Product Development Partnerships (PDPs)
• Risk management experience, particularly in a health research setting, will be an advantage
• Experience in heading an operational management or international cooperation department of an internationally recognised research funding agency will be an advantage
• Excellent written and spoken English skills. Knowledge of French, Portuguese or any other European language will be an advantage
• Excellent presentation skills and experience speaking to relevant technical audiences; confident presenter and effective communicator
• Strong sense of diplomacy and an ability to take account of both personal and political sensitivities in an international environment
• Good IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office products.
Salary scaleEDCTP offers a highly competitive salary package commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Employment conditions The employee will be stationed at the EDCTP Secretariat in The Hague, The Netherlands on a full-time basis. The EDCTP Secretariat is a multicultural work environment with English as its official language.
Applications Applications, including a letter of motivation and CV, should be submitted to: recruitment@edctp.org by midnight 31 January 2013.
