Heads of Risk Assessment Departments
EFSA/X/AD/2026/03
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), based in Parma, Italy
is looking for Heads of Risk Assessment Departments
Head of Department: "B - Risk Assessment I (Plants, Animals, Biological Hazards and Pesticides)"
Head of Department: "C - Risk Assessment II (Food and Feed Products)"
(Temporary Agent, Grade AD12)
Please send us your application by no later than 24 August 2026 at 23:59 (local time), following 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 play a key role in shaping these departments and ensuring 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 and role model, you embody EFSA’s values and foster a culture of efficiency, excellence and collaboration. You inspire others through your actions, creating an environment in which people can thrive, develop their potential and perform at their best.
In your role as Head of one of EFSA's Risk Assessment Department, you will provide strategic leadership and direction, ensuring the effective delivery of the Department's activities within your areas of responsibility, contributing to the achievement of EFSA’s mission to safeguard food and feed safety in Europe.
Departments' 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, supporting EU decision‑making and public trust. It ensures a coherent, integrated approach that aligns hazard identification, exposure and residues assessment, surveillance and monitoring, while maintaining readiness to respond rapidly to emerging risks and crises. By advancing scientific excellence and innovative methodologies, strengthening internal coordination across units, and working closely with the European Commission and Member States, the department underpins EFSA’s One Health vision, improves efficiency and digitalisation of workflows, and reinforces confidence in EFSA’s scientific outputs.
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, safeguarding consumer protection and public health. It ensures a coherent, substance‑based approach by harmonising hazard, exposure and risk characterisation across domains, while anticipating and supporting innovation and emerging technologies. Through advanced methodologies, EU‑wide harmonisation, and strong coordination across units, the department provides robust scientific advice to the European Commission and Member States, supports authorisation and policy processes, and strengthens EFSA’s efficiency, digital workflows, and trust in its scientific outcomes.
Your key responsibilities
The Heads of Departments "B – Risk Assessment I (Plants, Animals, Biological Hazards and Pesticides)” and “C – Risk Assessment II (Food and Feed Products)” will play key roles in leading and shaping their department’s strategic direction and operational excellence. The key responsibilities of the positions include:
Provide strategic leadership, vision and direction for the Department, translating EFSA’s priorities into department objectives and ensuring the effective contribution to EFSA’s mission and strategic goals.
Lead and oversee the delivery of the Department’s activities across its areas of responsibility, ensuring the timely production of independent and fit-for-purpose scientific outputs, as well as methodological robustness and preparedness for emerging and urgent risk assessment needs.
Drive the continuous improvement and future development of the Department’s activities by fostering innovation, supporting digital and artificial intelligence transformation, and enhancing methodologies, processes, tools and services in line with evolving scientific, regulatory and organisational needs.
Manage the Department’s human, financial and operational resources, ensuring effective planning, prioritisation and allocation of resources, sound financial management, and the achievement of agreed objectives and performance targets.
Lead, motivate and develop managers and staff, fostering an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing working environment and ensuring the effective implementation of people management policies and practices.
Represent EFSA and the Department in interactions with EU institutions, Member States, scientific bodies, international organisations and other stakeholders, strengthening cooperation, partnerships and trust in EFSA’s work.
WHY EFSA?
You will play an active role in an organisation that makes a difference to the lives of 450 million EU citizens.
EFSA employs around 600 staff members, and its Scientific Committee and Panels engage highly qualified and independent scientific experts. Every position within EFSA plays an important part in creating an inspirational environment in which to work and develop.
EFSA’s standards and values are driven by ethics and integrity and all staff is expected to act in a manner consistent with its principles, including fairness, transparency and impartiality in work practices and conduct towards other people.
EFSA is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates without any distinction on grounds of age, gender, sexual orientation, impairment and disability, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief. All EFSA staff is committed to creating an open and inclusive environment.
As an EFSA staff member, you will have the chance to make a difference to European food safety working in an international and dynamic environment. You will also be able to participate in several valuable networking opportunities across Europe.
You will be joining EFSA at an exciting time. As we continue to implement the EFSA Strategy 2027 and deliver on the commitments arising from Transparency Regulation, we are also looking ahead and preparing the organisation for the next strategy cycle beyond 2027.
The EFSA Strategy 2027 is built around three objectives:
1. Deliver trustworthy scientific advice and communication of risks from farm to fork.
2. Ensure preparedness for future risk analysis needs.
3. Empower people and ensure organisational agility.
To find out more about EFSA, have look at EFSA at a glance and on our website at www.efsa.europa.eu.
To promote diversity and ensure a geographically balanced pool of applicants, we strongly encourage candidates from Member States that are currently underrepresented in EFSA to apply. The geographical distribution of EFSA staff can be viewed in the EFSA programming document. Recruitment will, however, remain strictly merit-based, and no positions will be reserved for nationals of any specific Member State.
WHAT CAN WE OFFER YOU?
Life in Parma
Parma is a lively city of around 200.000 inhabitants located in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna and ranked as one of the most liveable cities in Italy. Its centre is rich in art, with architecture from different periods and plenty of parks. Parma is famous for its food, surrounding picturesque countryside and medieval castles. It is strategically located between major cities like Milano and Bologna and within reachable distance from 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 for a second time, the contract will be for an indefinite period. More information can be found in the Notice on policy on the duration of staff contracts at EFSA.
The successful candidate will be recruited as Temporary Agent Grade AD12 with the basic salary starting from € 14.603 monthly, subject to an annual review of remuneration provided for in Article 64 and 65(1) of the Staff Regulations.
In addition to the basic salary, EFSA offers a range of benefits:
Various allowances to which the successful jobholder may be entitled, such as a household allowance, expatriation allowance (16% of basic salary), dependent child allowance and education allowance. The salary is subject to a Union tax deducted at source and staff members are exempt from national taxation.
Wide range of leaves (e.g. annual leave, parental leave, public holidays) and flexible working hours. Besides working in EFSA’s modern headquarters located in the heart of Parma, staff members are also offered the possibility to telework.
A comprehensive welfare package including pension scheme, medical, accident and occupational disease insurance coverage, unemployment and invalidity allowance, and travel insurance. Further information regarding rights, benefits, obligations and conditions of employment can be found at the following links:
WHAT ARE THE SELECTION REQUIREMENTS?
You must satisfy the following requirements on the closing date for submission of your application:
I. Eligibility criteria
1. General requirements
• Be national of a Member State of the European Union, 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;[1]
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the EU official languages and a satisfactory knowledge of another EU language;
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved.
2. Qualifications
a) A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least four (4) years attested by a diploma[2];
OR
b) A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least three (3) years attested by a diploma[2] and in addition at least one (1) year of professional experience.
3. Experience
In addition to the above, at least fifteen (15) years of proven professional experience[3] acquired after having obtained the qualifications mentioned in point 2 in positions corresponding to the nature of duties of the vacant post. Out of these fifteen (15) years, at least two (2) years must have been acquired as a manager.
In case you do not fulfil all the eligibility criteria, your application will not be taken into consideration.
II. Selection criteria (Technical and behavioural competencies)
The following competencies will be assessed throughout the different phases of the selection procedure. Candidates are also expected to demonstrate effective communication in both spoken and written English as well as strong motivation for the position.
1. Technical competencies
i. Experience (at least 6 years) in leading, coaching and motivating teams and driving high performance, preferably gained in an international/multicultural environment.
ii. Experience in leading scientific activities relevant to the remit of EFSA, ensuring the timely delivery of outputs based on robust methodologies and quality standards. Sound knowledge of EFSA risk assessment principles, EU institutional and regulatory framework.
iii. Experience in defining and implementing strategic objectives, translating organisational priorities into operational plans, and driving innovation and continuous improvement, including through digital and AI solutions, to deliver measurable results and enhance organisational performance.
iv. Experience in managing operations and resources including planning, setting priorities, allocating resources, financial oversight, monitoring performance and ensuring the achievement of objectives in a complex organisational environment.
v. Experience in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including public authorities, scientific organisations, international bodies and/or regulatory institutions, and representing an organisation in high-level external engagements.
2. Behavioural competencies
i. Deal with ambiguity: Able to work constructively within unexpected and unpredictable situations and show resilience and composure, even in difficult or adverse circumstances; able to decide and act without having the total picture; accept constructive feedback in a positive manner;
ii. Demonstrate political savvy and strategic agility: Look beyond the current situation and visualise what the future can bring with a keen sense for arising opportunities and good understanding of how and when to best pursue them; able to think in a creative and innovative way;
iii. Focus on stakeholder needs: Committed to meet the expectations and requirements of internal and external stakeholders; establish and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders and gain their trust and respect;
iv. Plan and measure for results: Set ambitious goals that exceed the targets and create plans to achieve them; ensure an efficient and responsible planning and management of resources;
v. Work with others: Work confidently within a group and contribute to achieve the common goals, understanding own role and how it supports the team and the organisation; able to cooperate, listen actively, manage conflicts and motivate colleagues;
vi. Lead and develop a team: Lead, supervise and develop a group of people, in order to meet the expected results within a given timeline and considering the foreseen resources;
vii. Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and present complex subjects simply, both orally and in writing.
III. Steps of the selection procedure
Selection steps applicable to this selection procedure:
Eligible applications will be assessed against the technical competencies.
As a result of the comparative assessment of applications, the 15 top candidates (who obtain the highest scores, including any ex aequo) will be invited to take a written test.
Candidates who achieve a minimum score of 60% on the written test, will be invited to an interview with the Selection Board.
Following the interview with the Selection Board, the latter will shortlist the best candidates for the final stage of the selection procedure, which consists of an assessment center and an interview with the Executive Director.
As a result of this call, a talent pool (reserve list) of suitable candidates may be established and will be valid until 31/12/2027. The validity of the talent pool may be extended.
The Executive Director will decide on the appointment of the selected candidate(s) to one of the two departments.
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 represents an integral part of this vacancy and provides information on how to complete the application, the steps of the selection process, the rules on independence and appeal procedures.
Candidates are particularly encouraged to take into consideration the information on Pre and post-occupational activities.
[1] Before appointment, a successful candidate shall be medically examined by an institution’s medical officer in order that the European Food Safety Authority may be satisfied that the candidate fulfils the requirement of article 28(e) of the Staff Regulations of the Officials of the European Communities.
[2] Any academic qualification mentioned in the application form shall be duly supported by evidence (copies of e.g. diplomas, certification, etc.) Only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities and qualifications recognised as equivalent by the relevant EU Member State authorities will be accepted. In instances where diplomas are obtained from a non-EU Member State, EFSA may request the candidate to provide a relevant document of comparability issued by a recognised authority.
[3] Any professional experience mentioned in the application form shall be duly supported by evidence ( copies of e.g. contracts, payslips etc.). Professional experience shall be taken into account from the date on which the person fulfils the minimum qualifications for engagement. In order for your professional experience to be taken into consideration, it must be supported by relevant documents attesting an actual work relationship defined by the following elements: real, genuine work; on a paid basis; as employee (any type of contract), or provider of a service. Any given period may be counted only once (in order to be calculated as eligible, years of studies or professional experience to be taken into account shall not overlap with other periods of studies or professional experience). Professional activities pursued part-time will be calculated pro-rata on the basis of the certified percentage of full-time hours worked. PhDs acquired in a field relevant to the job description can be counted as professional experience up to 3 years. Paid traineeships are counted as working experience. Prior to contract signature, the successful candidate(s) will need to provide copies of documents proving the candidate’s work experience.