EU Research and Development Liaison Service Officer for Invest NI

Invest NI is recruiting an EU Research and Development Liaison Service Officer based in Brussels. This is a high profile role and represents an excellent opportunity for an ambitious and energetic individual with relevant business experience. The aim of the EU R&D Liaison is to facilitate Northern Ireland access to the European Commission, interact and exchange information with other national R&D liaison services and to provide a Brussels based service to Northern Ireland Framework Programme Seven (FP7) participants.

Duties and Responsibilities In the role you will work closely with Invest NI and other regional stakeholders to stimulate an increase in European collaborative research projects undertaken by NI researchers and enterprises. You will do this by:

 

• Facilitating and developing links to key individuals in the European Commission and in other EU institutions ensuring information is transferred to and from Northern Ireland;
• Providing a brokering service to help NI researchers and enterprises to identify potential partners in other member states;
• Manage the day to day operation of the NI EU R&D Liaison Service including a process of referrals to meet the needs of NI applicants to EU R&D programmes;
• Promoting the R&D strengths of NI organisations to other EU member states to increase the levels of trans-national collaborative R&D;
• Hosting events to bring NI researchers, companies and government officials together with the European Commission and potential European R&D partners;
• Arranging inward visits to NI to meet relevant stakeholders such as government officials, Invest NI, NI companies and universities as and when required;
• Preparation of monthly EU R&D newsletters for circulation to NI stakeholders;
• Providing information, briefings, reports and statistics as required by Invest NI Senior Management, the Invest NI Executive Board, DETI and Ministers as required;
• Occasional visits to NI.

Skills required: Essential skills

 

• Good knowledge of NI business and/or academic scene;
• Strong understanding of the roles, structure and procedures of the EU Institutions;
• Good knowledge of issues surrounding the EU Framework Programme;
• Strong interpersonal skills. Proven ability to form professional relationships and build trust with contacts at the most senior levels of decision making;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. The ability to present an argument clearly and persuasively, varying your style to suit the audience;
• Good IT literacy;
• Good organisational and managerial skills with an ability to manage conflicting priorities;
• Proven team player as well as ability to work autonomously on own initiative;
• Fluent in both spoken and written English.

Desirable

 

• Good knowledge of the Belgian and UK business scenes;
• In depth experience of dealing with business in an international context;
• Command of other EU languages particularly French and/or German.

Gross monthly salary: € 3246.18

Applications with a full CV in English should be sent to Recruitment Officer, JMO British Embassy, Avenue d’Auderghem 10, 1040 Brussels (brussels.recruitmentfco.gov.uk) by 18 February 2010.

Interviews will be held soon after the closing date with a view to the successful applicant starting work as soon as possible, subject to administrative processes. Only applicants called for interview will be contacted.
The British Missions in Brussels are an equal opportunities employer. Applications are welcome from all suitably qualified applicants regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or physical disability. We aim to reflect the diversity of society.