Food Safety Auditor - Internal Market Affairs Directorate

The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) monitors compliance with the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement) in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, enabling those States to participate in the Internal Market of the European Union.

ESA is an international organisation, independent of the States, which safeguards the rights of individuals and undertakings under the EEA Agreement, ensuring free movement, fair competition and control of state aid.  ESA's work helps remove barriers to trade and open up new opportunities to over 500 million Europeans, creating jobs and growth and adding to the international competitiveness of the States.

ESA is based in Brussels and operates independently of the EFTA States. It currently employs 70 staff members of 16 nationalities. ESA is led by a College consisting of three members, each appointed for a period of four years by the three participating EFTA States.

Deadline for applications
19-11-2017
Job Reference
15/2017

Role Description

ESA is recruiting an officer in the Internal Market Affairs (IMA) Directorate to work as an auditor in the field of food and feed safety, animal health and welfare. The successful candidate will be assigned responsibilities related to the application of the relevant EEA legislation in Iceland and Norway. Depending on workload and other requirements, the responsibilities may also cover case handling relating to the same, or other, areas of EEA Law.

The successful candidate will join the IMA Directorate, which is responsible for monitoring the EEA EFTA States to ensure that they comply with their obligations in the field of internal market law.  This position sits within IMA’s Food Safety Unit.

We are looking for a well-qualified candidate with at least 5 years’ relevant experience from the public and/or private sector, and experience of leading audits in an international context. 

Additional qualified candidates may also be considered for vacancies foreseen in the Directorate over the next 12-18 months.  

Essential Skills

  • Master’s degree in veterinary science or other sciences related to the field of food and feed safety, animal health and animal welfare
  • Minimum 5 years’ relevant professional experience
  • Substantial experience in preparing and conducting audits, drafting of audit reports and follow-up of the results of such audits
  • Experience of project management and leading audit teams in an international context
  • Knowledge of EEA legislation related to food and feed safety, animal health and welfare
  • Excellent command of written and spoken English (the working language of the Authority)
  • Excellent analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
  • Initiative and the ability to work both independently and in a team in an international environment
  • Ability to travel, primarily to the EEA EFTA States, depending on the tasks assigned

Ideal Skills

  • Knowledge of and familiarity with the functioning of the EEA and the EEA EFTA States
  • Relevant professional experience involving the institutions of the EU and the EEA

Other information

The position is placed at grade A4 of the ESA’s salary scale, the precise step being determined depending on the relevant experience of the successful candidate, with a likely starting salary of between €90 000 and €97 000 per annum.  Depending on personal situation and family status, additional allowances and benefits may apply.  Tax conditions are favourable. Overview of conditions at: https://jobs.eftasurv.int.

Type and duration of appointment: fixed-term contract of three years, renewable for a further three years if desirable and in the interest of ESA. 

The Authority actively seeks to promote a healthy work/life balance and a working environment allowing its staff members to develop their individual skills and interests, both in a professional and personal context. 

This recruitment will be carried out in accordance with ESA’s Policy & Procedure on Recruitment, Appointment, Renewal and Prolongation, which will be adopted in due course.  Applicants must be nationals of the States party to the EEA Agreement (EU 28 + EEA EFTA 3).  

Application process:

-          All applications must be made online at: https://jobs.eftasurv.int

-          Deadline for applications: 19 November 2017

-          Interviews: November/December 2017

-          Start date: April 2018 or earlier

Questions regarding the post may be addressed to Karl Karlsson, IMA Deputy Director, Food Safety Unit on +32 (0)2 286 1881 / kka@eftasurv.int.

Questions regarding the recruitment process may be addressed to Emma Thomas, HR Officer on +32 (0)2 286 1832 / eth@eftasurv.int.