Euroseeds is recruiting a Technical Manager Plant Health and Seed Trade to work full time at the Euroseeds General Secretariat’s office in Brussels, Belgium.

Background

With continuously increasing international movement of plant breeding material and commercial seed, aligned and practical plant health and trade regulations are precondition for seed companies to work efficiently by fully exploiting the advantages of counter-seasonal breeding and seed production and supply markets worldwide.

Following the adoption of the EU Plant Health Regulation in 2016, a large number of delegated and implementing acts has been adopted and is currently being implemented to fully establish the new regulatory and administrative framework.

Both areas require constant monitoring and early intervention with high level expertise from the EU seed sector.

Job description

The Manager Plant Health and Trade will work closely with the Euroseeds membership and, as part of the Euroseeds Policy Team, under the guidance of the Secretary General to whom he/she will be reporting. The Manager shall represent Euroseeds as key interlocutor for all relevant plant health and trade administrations (EU Commission, EU Member States’ and international authorities), be the spokesperson of the EU seed sector on all phytosanitary and seed trade related matters, and assure multiplication of European activities at international level as required. Further tasks, specifically in relation to the management of Euroseeds internal bodies, will be assigned in line with the association’s needs and the individual expertise and experience of the Manager.

Specific tasks

• EU phytosanitary legislation: Plant Health Regulation incl. implementing and delegated acts
• Input to Pest Risk Analysis’ on seed-related pests done by EFSA, EPPO and NPPOs
• Euroseeds representative for EU Commission Market Access Working Group, Standing Committee on Plant Health and relevant other bodies
• Relations with non-EU seed sector organisations in the area of plant health and seed trade
• Management and lead of Euroseeds WG Plant Health and support to discussions in Euroseeds Sections

Qualifications

• Strong plant science/agricultural background (University degree), ideally phytosanitary expertise and experience
• Understanding of practicalities of plant breeding, variety development and seed marketing
• Able to explain technical phytosanitary and seed trade issues to laymen, but also able to communicate with authority to technical experts
• Work experience in an NPPO or in the seed sector (quality assurance / marketing) desired
• Strong EN (working language); good level of other languages (FR, ES, DE, IT, NL) an asset
• Computer literate

Personality and skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills, service oriented
• Tactful in dealing with people, also under pressure
• Discretion, good judgment ability, flexibility and versatility
• Organizational skills, management ability
• Team player with initiative and ability to work independently
• Curiosity and affinity to new technologies and tools
• Creative and innovative

Application

Interested candidates should send their CV, including salary expectations, to:secretariat@euroseeds.eu  with the reference “Manager Plant Health and Seed Trade”.

Process

Deadline for applications: Wednesday, 10.06.2020, c.o.b.

First round of interviews:  between 15. and 19.06.2020

Second round of interviews: between 22. and 26.06.2020

Starting date: earliest possible date, no later than 01.09.2020

Euroseeds represents the European seed sector towards EU institutions and bodies, other seed related public authorities on European and international level, media and relevant third parties. Its membership comprises more than 30 national seed associations and more than 60 individual companies. The Euroseeds Secretariat staff is 9 policy managers, supported by two assistants and led by the Secretary General.