Scientific Officer - Statistician

EFSA; Parma; In loco; EUR 50.000 - 70.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

A European food safety authority in Parma, Italy, is seeking a Scientific Officer – Statistician. This role involves providing statistical support for regulatory risk assessments and developing methodologies for uncertainty analysis. Candidates should possess a relevant degree and significant experience in statistical analysis related to food safety. The successful applicant will have opportunities for professional development in an international environment. The position offers a competitive salary and potential contracts lasting up to five years.

Servizi

Flexible working hours

Comprehensive welfare package

Telework options

Competenze

• University degree in a relevant scientific or quantitative discipline.
• At least six years of proven professional experience in related fields.

Mansioni

• Establish methodologies for structured expert judgments throughout the organization.
• Carry out and review statistical analysis and present results.
• Develop guidance and contribute to scientific outputs.

Conoscenze

Data Analysis and Statistical Modelling

Food Safety Risk Assessment

Uncertainty Analysis

Structured Expert Judgment Processes

Project Management

Formazione

University degree in Statistics, Mathematics, or relevant field

Descrizione del lavoro

Scientific Officer – Statistician

EFSA / X / AD / 2025 / 05

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) based in Parma Italy

is looking for a

Scientific Officer – Statistician for Uncertainty Analysis and Elicitation Methods (Temporary Agent Grade AD7)

Please send us your application by no later than 18 December 2025 at 23 : 59 (local time) following the instructions in the ANNEX.

The purpose of this call is to establish a talent pool that may be used for the recruitment of staff when a position becomes available and will be valid until 31/12/2026. The validity of the talent pool may be extended.

IS THIS JOB FOR YOU

Are you a dedicated statistician who wants to apply your knowledge in the context of regulatory risk assessments of food? Are you interested in discussing statistical methods and results with subject‑matter experts and supporting communication with risk managers at the European Commission Member States and the public?

You will work in the Methodology & Scientific Support Unit within the Risk Assessment Services Department. The team provides end‑to‑end methods development and support within the scientific assessment process. Therefore you will regularly collaborate with the risk assessment production units, EFSA panels and their working groups, as well as EFSA networks of member‑state experts. Your tasks will include both the implementation of existing guidance documents and the development of new methodologies. You will focus on the quantitative aspects of risk; this role you will analyse topics, propose quantitative questions, review evidence, suggest suitable methods, and perform or steer data analysis. A major part of your work will involve weighing heterogeneous sources of evidence, estimating uncertainties and eliciting expert knowledge, as well as describing the remaining uncertainties in the conclusions.

Your key responsibilities

We are looking for an enthusiastic and versatile statistician who will take a leading role in quantitative risk and uncertainty analysis of food safety risk assessments and in the development and implementation of methods for the structured elicitation of expert judgement.

• Establish and maintain practices and methodologies for the structured elicitation of expert judgements throughout the organisation;
• Establish and maintain practices and methodologies for uncertainty analysis throughout the organisation;
• Carry out and review statistical analysis and modelling and present the results to different target audiences;
• Develop guidance and methodology documents and contribute to scientific outputs;

WHY EFSA

You will play an active role in an organisation that makes a difference to the lives of 445 million EU citizens.

EFSA employs over 565 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 are 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 are 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 are implementing the EFSA Strategy 2027 aligned with the Transparency Regulation, which increased EFSA’s responsibilities towards EU citizens. The following are the objectives of the Strategy 2027:

• Deliver trustworthy scientific advice and communication of risks from farm to fork.
• Ensure preparedness for future risk analysis needs.
• Empower people and ensure organisational agility.

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 livable 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 AD7 with the basic salary starting from €7,646.86 monthly, subject to an annual review of remuneration provided for in Article 64 and Article 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.

WHAT ARE THE SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

I. Eligibility criteria

• 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.
• 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.

II. Qualifications

• Level of education corresponding to completed university studies of at least four (4) years, attested by a diploma 2 in a relevant scientific or quantitative discipline such as Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Epidemiology, Public Health, Economics or any related discipline.
• OR Level of education corresponding to completed university studies of at least three (3) years, attested by a diploma 2 in a relevant scientific or quantitative discipline such as Statistics, Mathematics, Data Science, Natural Sciences, Engineering, Epidemiology, Public Health, Economics or any related discipline and in addition at least one (1) year of professional experience.

III. Experience

In addition to the above at least six (6) years of proven professional experience acquired after having obtained the qualifications mentioned in point II.

In case you do not fulfil all the eligibility criteria your application will not be taken into consideration.

II. Selection criteria

1. Technical competencies

• Data Analysis and Statistical Modelling: at least 6 years of experience in statistical probabilistic or computational methods to analyse data, model uncertainty and support decision‑making under incomplete information.
• Food Safety Risk Assessment: at least 3 years of experience in quantitative food safety risk assessment including hazard identification, exposure assessment, dose–response evaluation and risk characterisation.
• Uncertainty Analysis: experience in identifying, quantifying and interpreting uncertainty in scientific data, models and risk assessments (e.g. developing confidence intervals, uncertainty distributions and sensitivity analyses).
• Structured Expert Judgment Processes: experience in designing and implementing structured processes to gather and integrate judgments, estimates or insights from subject‑matter experts where empirical data are limited or uncertain.
• Project Management: ability to plan, coordinate and manage complex scientific projects involving multidisciplinary teams, ensuring timely delivery of outputs, quality assurance and proper documentation.

2. Behavioural competencies

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

NOTE

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.

Selection steps applicable to this selection procedure: following the evaluation phase the best qualified candidates will be directly invited to the written test and interview with the selection board.

Candidates are particularly encouraged to take into consideration the information on pre and post‑occupational activities.

Grade bracket for interagency publication AD5 - AD7

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.

Any academic qualification mentioned in the application form shall be duly supported by evidence (copies of e.g. diplomas, certifications, etc.). Only qualifications issued by EU Member State authorities and qualifications recognised as equivalent by the relevant EU Member State authorities will be 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.

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 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 candidates work experience.

Required Experience: Unclear Seniority