Europese Beweging:
CORRIGENDUM - Junior Laboratory Technicians

Job Mission

CORRIGENDUM

The text of this vacancy notice replaces the previous text published on 16 January 2012

under the same number.

Fixed-term contracts[1]

Notice is hereby given of the above vacancy which will be filled by competition based on qualifications open to nationals of Council of Europe member states.

Job mission

Under the authority of the Director of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) and the Head of the Laboratory Department and direction and supervision of the Study Director, the incumbent will ensure reliable and accurate laboratory analytical determinations on samples of substances for pharmaceutical use / medicinal products, according to pre-approved protocols and in compliance with the quality assurance system, quality and safety standards and with a concern for quality, efficiency and accuracy.

[1] The total length of employment under fixed-term contracts will not exceed five years.

Key Activities

The incumbent performs all or a combination of the following duties:

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  assists in the day-to-day operation of the laboratory;
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  prepares, sets up, runs and monitors tests in accordance with pre-defined analytical procedures and protocols to control quality and conformity of substances for pharmaceutical use and medicinal products;
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  complies with laboratory safety standards through proper handling of potentially hazardous chemical and biological agents; operates within safety precautions to protect self and co-workers from hazardous materials;
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  checks and monitors through the application of appropriate analytical procedures and protocols the continuous quality of reference substances and preparations;
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  makes proper use of laboratory facilities, equipment and instrumentation according to the relevant standard operating procedures (SOPs);
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  completes laboratory test records and files; drafts reports;
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  orders components and supplies for the relevant section;
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  ensures the safe storage of solvents, reagents and chemical products;
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  ensures order, tidiness and security in work environment;
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  prepares reports of his/her analyses for inclusion in the respective files;
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  works in close contact with others to ensure the co-ordination of all these activities;
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  reports on test results, atypical results and all irregularities to the Study Director;
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  reports on safety issues, and makes suggestions to improve the work process to the Study Director / Study Supervisor;
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  promotes Council of Europe values internally and externally.

Competencies

· Professional and technical competencies:

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  qualifications: full course of general secondary education and an appropriate recognised national diploma for a laboratory technician;
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  professional experience: at least 12 months of practical experience in modern pharmaceutical analysis, knowledge of the relevant physico-chemical analytical techniques employed in the quality control of pharmaceuticals gained within a pharmaceutical analysis laboratory; familiarity with Quality Management System (GMP and/or ISO 17025) desirable;
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  ICT Skills: ability to use computer facilities; knowledge of specific analytical laboratory software including chromatographic data management software desirable;
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  planning and work organisation;
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  analytical and problem-solving skills.

· Interpersonal skills: service and client orientation, teamwork and co-operation.

· Communication and linguistic skills: listening and communication skills; ability to write clearly, accurately and concisely; good knowledge of one of the official languages (English or French) and passive knowledge of the other; if the latter is English, reading comprehension skills must be sufficient to fully understand protocols, instructions and procedures written in English; knowledge of other European languages would be an advantage.

· Personal attitudes: initiative and responsibility, adaptability, result-orientation and sense of continuous improvement, concern for quality, efficiency and accuracy, adaptability, self-management and development, organisational alignment.

· Personal values: integrity, loyalty and conscience, discretion, independence and confidence, respect for diversity.

Additional Information

The Organisation

The Council of Europe is a political organisation founded in 1949 in order to promote greater unity between its members. It now numbers 47 member States. The Organisation’s main aims are to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and to develop common responses to political, social, cultural and legal challenges in its member States. Since 1989 it has integrated most of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and supported them in their efforts to implement and consolidate their reforms. The Council of Europe has its permanent headquarters in Strasbourg (France). By Statute, it has two constituent organs: the Committee of Ministers, composed of the member States’ Ministers for Foreign Affairs, and the Parliamentary Assembly, comprising delegations from the national parliaments. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe represents the entities of local and regional self-government within the member States. The European Court of Human Rights is the judicial body competent to adjudicate complaints brought against a state by individuals, associations or other contracting states on grounds of violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The EDQM is a leading organisation that protects public health by enabling the development, supporting the implementation, and monitoring the application of quality standards for safe medicines and their safe use. Its standards are recognised as a scientific benchmark world-wide. The European Pharmacopoeia is legally binding in European member states. Similarly, the EDQM develops guidance and standards in the areas of blood transfusion, organ transplantations and consumer health issues. Its mission is to contribute to the basic human right of access to good quality medicines and healthcare and to promote and protect human and animal health.

Applications

Applications must be made in English or French using the Council of Europe on-line application system. By connecting to our website http://www.coe-recruitment.com you can create and submit your on-line application. Applications must be submitted by 13 February 2012 (midnight Central European Time) at the latest.

Additional Information

The recruitment procedure consists of the following stages: preliminary selection, if necessary job-related tests, and an interview (external recruitment procedure organised in accordance with Article 16 of the Regulations on Appointments).

Depending on the number of applicants, the length of the required professional experience may be increased.

The successful candidate will be appointed on an initial fixed term contract, at grade B3. The first year of employment will constitute a probationary period. Provided the staff members’ work is considered satisfactory, he/she may be offered contracts of fixed term duration. However, the total length of employment will not exceed five years. The staff member so recruited shall not be eligible for any subsequent internal competition, promotion or transfer to a post, nor for secondment. The compulsory retirement age is 65.

For the moment, this position is limited until 31 December 2012 and may be prolonged.

Following this competition, a list of eligible candidates, in order of merit, for posts or positions with identical duties and qualification requirements may be established. It will be notified to the applicants concerned. This list will be valid for two years with the possibility of extending it to a maximum of four years. During the period of validity of the list, candidates on the list may be offered employment of fixed term duration, should an identical permanent post or a fixed-term position become vacant. It should be noted that placement on this list does not give candidates the right to an appointment within the Council of Europe.

Details on conditions of employment including salaries, allowances, pension scheme and social insurance can be consulted on our recruitment website.

Under its equal opportunities policy, the Council of Europe is aiming to achieve parity in the number of women and men employed in each category and grade. In the event of equal merit, preference will therefore be given to the applicant belonging to the under-represented sex (at the time of the appointments Board making its recommendation).

The Council of Europe welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation.

During the different stages of the recruitment procedure, specific measures may be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities.