Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) – Publication of a vacancy for the function of Executive Director of the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) (Temporary Agent — Grade AD 14) – COM/2022/20075

• Jurisdiction: European Union
• Published date: 31 January 2022
• Celex Number: C2022/048A/01

31.1.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union CA 48/1

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Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU)

Publication of a vacancy for the function of Executive Director of the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU)

(Temporary Agent — Grade AD 14)

COM/2022/20075

(2022/C 48 A/01)

We are

The Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU), established by Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 (1), is a public-private partnership between the EU and several health industry associations representing complementary sectors in life sciences industry, aiming to support pre-competitive, cross-sectoral research and innovation in health area, mainly through grants. IHI JU succeeds and replaces the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (IMI2 JU), the world’s largest public-private partnership in the life sciences, established by Council Regulation (EU) No 557/2014 (2).

IHI JU intends to:

— help create an EU-wide health research and innovation ecosystem that facilitates translation of scientific knowledge into innovation;

— foster the development of safe, effective, people-centred and cost-effective innovations that respond to strategic unmet public health needs;

— drive cross-sectoral health innovation for a globally competitive European health industry.

IHI JU will mobilise significant public and private sector resources needed to achieve its objectives as it will implement the budget of approx. EUR 2,4 billion and have a programme office of approximately 50 staff members. More information on IHI JU can be found in Regulation (EU) 2021/2085, notably in its Articles 115-125, as well as on the website of the IHI JU, available at https://www.ihi.europa.eu

We propose

The Executive Director will be the chief executive responsible for the day-to-day management of the Joint Undertaking as well as be its legal representative. He/she shall be independent in the performance of her/his duties and shall be accountable for her/his activities to the Governing Board composed of representatives of member industry associations and of the European Commission.

The Executive Director will have a central role in running the Joint Undertaking. He/she will be responsible for establishing and managing the administrative, operational and financial measures necessary for its proper operation.

The Executive Director will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Joint Undertaking, including in particular:

— participate at the strategic and policy debate about the Joint Undertaking as the world-leading public-private partnership in health research and innovation, ensuring the Joint Undertaking’s activities respond to the public health needs,

— establish efficient working mechanism with stakeholders involved in health care, notably citizens including patients, health care professionals, providers, payers and regulators, in particular through productive interaction with the Science and Innovation Panel and the States Representatives’ Group,

— communicate the achievements of IHI JU and attract applicants of the highest scientific calibre to IHI JU calls,

— provide support to the IHI JU Governing Board, the Science and Innovation Panel, the States Representatives’ Group and other bodies of the Joint Undertaking that may be created for its efficient and effective functioning,

— appoint and supervise the IHI JU staff, fostering a good team spirit and working environment,

— prepare and implement the annual work and budget plans, prepare and execute the budget ensuring its efficient management in conformity with IHI JU Financial Rules, elaborate the necessary annual reports on the activities of the IHI JU as well as its annual accounts and balance sheets,

— supervise the call and project management processes, in particular: the organisation and management of the calls for proposals and evaluation processes, the negotiation and conclusion of grant agreements for selected proposals, and the subsequent periodic monitoring and follow-up of funded projects.

A more detailed description of the envisaged tasks can be found in Regulation (EU) 2021/2085. IHI JU replaced and took over the activities of its predecessor IMI2 JU on 30 November 2021 and therefore, the tasks of IHI JU Executive Director will also cover the still ongoing activities of IMI2 JU.

Without prejudice to the respective competencies of the European Commission and of the Governing Board that includes representatives from the European Commission and industry associations, the Executive Director shall assume full responsibility for the tasks entrusted to the Joint Undertaking and shall be subject to the procedure for annual discharge by the European Parliament for the implementation of the budget.

We look for (selection criteria)

The ideal candidate will be an outstanding and dynamic professional who should fulfil the following selection criteria:

a) Management skills: — strong achievements as a leader, manager and communicator, involving management of teams and financial resources at a level commensurate with the nature of the JU, — capacity to develop a forward-looking vision, identify strategies, set priorities and implement the Joint Undertaking’s strategic objectives to meet the challenges faced by a body operating in the public-private sphere, — ability to lead, care for and motivate a multidisciplinary team of approximately 50 highly qualified professionals in a European multicultural and multilingual context, — very good decision-making skills, including the capacity to deliver impact within fixed budget and timing.

b) Specialist skills and experience: — excellent understanding of research and innovation in health sectors (e.g. pharma, medtech, biotech, digital), notably of industrial research and innovation and of challenges related to translating new discoveries and developments into innovative products or services accessible to end users, including patients, and of regulatory aspects, — a proven experience in collaboration between different stakeholders in health R&I, such as industry-academic collaboration, — experience in programme and project management and/or research funding processes at national, EU or international level, — a university degree in medical sciences, life sciences or in a related discipline, with hands-on experience in life science/medical research and innovation, — a good understanding of the EU Institutions and their functioning and interaction would be an asset.

c) Personal qualities: — excellent interpersonal skills and...