JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title Head of Section Science and Public Health
Communication
Reference number ECDC/AD8/2025/SEC-HoSSPHC
Contract type Temporary Agent
AD 8
Contract length 5 years (renewable)
Location Stockholm
Deadline for applications 06/11/2025 at 11:59 (midday) Stockholm time Indicative number of
candidates to be employed

Is this job for you?
You will work in the Science and Public Health section in the Scientific Evident and Communication (SEC) unit. To find out more about what the unit does, visit https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/about-us/ecdcs-organisational-structure.
Reporting to the Chief Scientist, you will be part of a team of approximately 13 people. The Section contributes to the Centre’s mission of communicating ECDC science-based recommendations to the target audiences, promoting European public health and raising ECDC’s visibility through targeted science and corporate communication and adapted channels.
In this position, you will have a wide variety of tasks that will give you the opportunity to: • Lead the work of all ECDC communication activities (external, internal, corporate, risk communication);
• Line manage staff within the section and manage the implementation of the section´s work plan and budget;
• In close collaboration with operational units of the Centre and with the Policy Coordination and Strategic Affairs section in the Director’s Office, develop and implement ECDC’s overarching communication strategy, including external, corporate and internal communication, in line with ECDC’s strategy;

ECDC NORMAL
• Align communication priorities with ECDC’s scientific output, risk assessment, and public health goals, also during public health crisis;
• Lead on translation of scientific evidence into communication messages, e.g.
through European health campaigns (the annual European Antibiotic Awareness Days, etc.);
• Support the European Commission and the Member States in the area of risk and crisis communication in the context of the Regulation 2022/2371 on serious crossborder threats to health; • Lead on engagement initiatives with ECDC communication stakeholders and support the development of ‘communities of practice’ in the areas of communication;
• Represent ECDC in EU and international networks and meetings related to communication;
• Contribute to other activities of ECDC as required, within your field of competence.
Administrative and operational tasks in the job mostly relate to developing public procurement procedures for outsourcing tasks.

What are we looking for?
A. Formal requirements
For your application to be considered eligible you must fulfil all the following requirements by the application deadline:
• A level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma when the normal period of university education is 4 years or more, or a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies attested by a diploma and appropriate professional experience of at least 1 year when the normal period of university education is at least 3 years1
;
• At least 9 years of professional experience2 (following the award of the diploma); • Thorough knowledge of one of the official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge of another official EU language to the extent necessary for the performance of your duties3
;
1 Only diplomas and certificates that have been awarded in EU member states or that are the subject of equivalence certificates issued by authorities in the said Member States shall be taken into consideration 2 Compulsory military service is always taken into consideration.
3 Candidates with a non-official EU language or English as their mother tongue must provide proof of their level of a second language with a certificate (B1 or more).
In addition, in order to be eligible for a promotion through an annual promotion exercise the staff members have to have a working knowledge of a third EU language, as described in the applicable Staff Regulations and Implementing Rules.
• Nationality of one of the EU Member States or of Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and to be entitled to your full rights as a citizen;
• To have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws on military service; • Meet the character requirements for the duties involved4
; and
• Be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post.
You will need to provide appropriate documents to show that you meet all of the above criteria.
B. Selection criteria
For your application to be evaluated further, you will also need:
• At least 8 years of recent professional experience (following the award of the diploma) acquired in positions relevant to the job description, with at least 5 years of experience within the area of communication, preferably in the field of public health communication;
• Experience in developing and implementing communication plans, including to increase the visibility of an organisation;
• Excellent knowledge, understanding and experience of using a broad range of both traditional and new social media for effective and proactive communication; • Experience in management, including managing a team, assessing performance, work planning and responsibility for budget implementation;
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken.
Additionally, we will assess the following competencies:
• Excellent communication skills with a strong aptitude to engage and enthuse; • Proactive and goal-oriented;
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to deal with people effectively, respectfully and courteously; ability to build productive and cooperative working relationships internally and with external stakeholders;
• Excellent managerial skills, including coaching and managing performance and strong ability to lead and motivate others;
• High degree of political awareness, multicultural awareness and ability to work in an international setting;
• Strong organisational skills, a structured approach to tasks and ability to prioritise.
4 Prior to the appointment, the successful candidate will be asked to provide a certificate from the police file to the effect of non-existing criminal record.