Chief Executive Officer
4 days ago
Seville
ppLifeWatch ERIC is Europe’s e‑Science and Technology Infrastructure for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research. It is seeking an outstanding Chief Executive Officer (CEO), through an international open competition, to lead the organisation into its next phase of development. The CEO will work with the General Assembly, Member States and partners to strengthen LifeWatch ERIC’s scientific excellence, technological capacity, organisational cohesion and contribution to open science, biodiversity knowledge and sustainability policy. /p h3About LifeWatch ERIC /h3 pLifeWatch ERIC is a distributed European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) composed of eight European Union Member States. It provides digital platforms, services and computational tools that empower scientists to explore and understand the complex relationships between biodiversity, ecosystems and human activities. Its mission is to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation through a state‑of‑the‑art eScience research infrastructure, helping society address environmental and sustainability challenges. /p pLifeWatch ERIC operates through a distributed architecture comprising three Common Facilities, coordinated and supported by the Statutory Seat Office (SSO) in Seville, Spain: /p ul liICT Core, Seville, Spain; /li liService Centre, Lecce, Italy; /li liVirtual Laboratories and Innovation Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. /li /ul pOur value proposition: LifeWatch ERIC provides scientists, policy‑makers and citizens with open access to biodiversity and ecosystem data, analytical tools and virtual laboratories. By integrating technology, data and knowledge, LifeWatch ERIC supports evidence‑based decisions, advances open and FAIR science, and strengthens Europe’s capacity to respond to the planetary biodiversity and climate crisis. /p h3The Position /h3 pThe CEO is the chief executive and legal representative of LifeWatch ERIC as Director General, responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction and operational management of the organisation. /p pThe successful candidate will be an exceptional leader with extensive experience across research, public administration and engagement with societal stakeholders, and a strong record of executive leadership in large‑scale research infrastructures or programmes operating in complex governance settings. /p pWorking closely with the General Assembly, Member States and European institutions, the CEO will lead the implementation of LifeWatch ERIC’s strategy and guide the organisation’s next phase of development. The role requires visionary guidance, collaborative engagement and a strong commitment to open science, biodiversity and ecosystem research, and sustainability. /p h3Main Duties and Responsibilities /h3 ul liProvide bstrategic leadership /b and ensure alignment with the General Assembly’s vision and objectives. /li liRepresent LifeWatch ERIC as its blegal and public representative /b in all external relations. /li liOversee the bscientific, technical, administrative, and financial /b operations of the organisation. /li liPromote the visibility and global impact of LifeWatch ERIC across the bEuropean Research Area /b and beyond. /li liStrengthen collaboration among bMember States /b, the bCommon facilities /b and binternational partners /b. /li liPromote bknowledge transfer to end users and policy‑makers /b, ensuring that LifeWatch ERIC’s services and outputs bsupport research, policy and societal needs /b. /li liEnsure bcompliance /b with legal, financial, and ethical frameworks applicable to ERICs. /li liLead the development of policies that reinforce LifeWatch ERIC’s contribution to European and global initiatives on biodiversity and sustainability. /li liInspire, manage, and support LifeWatch ERIC’s staff and research community to achieve organisational excellence. /li /ul h3Key Competences and Experience /h3 pThe ideal candidate will have: /p ul libOver 10 years of professional and leadership experience /b in similarly responsible roles at European or international level, preferably within research infrastructures, academia, or intergovernmental organisations. /li liA thorough bunderstanding of the scientific and societal challenges /b in data‑driven biodiversity and ecosystem research and be able to btranslate these challenges into concrete approaches /b for LifeWatch. /li liDemonstrated ability in bstrategic planning, governance, and financial management /b, with the capacity to bprioritise and translate strategic objectives into a concrete work plan /b for the organisation. /li liExcellent ability to connect across cultures, disciplines, and sectors. /li liStrongb communication /b and bnegotiation /b skills, with the capacity to binteract effectively /b with the bGeneral Assembly /b, bAdvisory and other Supporting Bodies /b, bunderstand their dynamics /b, and bbuild trust /b. /li liA deep commitment to bopen science /b and a bhealthy research culture /b. /li liHigh bethical standards /b and bintegrity /b bin science /b, btechnology /b, bgovernance /b, and bworking culture /b. /li libProficiency in English /b, the working language of LifeWatch ERIC. Knowledge of Spanish or other European languages is an asset. /li /ul h3Education and Qualifications /h3 ul libPhD degree /b or bequivalent qualification /b in a discipline relevant to biodiversity and ecosystem research or related fields. /li liEvidence of bcontinuing professional development /b, for example in bleadership or management /b (e.g., MBA), will be an asset. /li /ul h3Terms of Appointment /h3 ul libLocation: /b LifeWatch ERIC Statutory Seat, Seville, Spain; /li libContract: /b Full‑time under Spanish law; /li libDuration: /b Four (4) years, renewable once by decision of the General Assembly; /li libSalary: /b Competitive, commensurate with the position’s seniority and the candidate’s experience €). /li /ul h3Equal Opportunities /h3 pLifeWatch ERIC is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and gender balance. Applications are welcomed from qualified candidates of all backgrounds and nationalities. ( /p /p #J-18808-Ljbffr