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PROJECT LIAISON OFFICER

EuroHealthNet seeks a well organised and flexible full time project liaison officer, able to link specific
policy, communications and study work on projects co-funded by various EC programmes with policy
agendas in the EU institutions. Our work is set out on www.eurohealthnet.eu, where you will also
find the essential information you will need to apply successfully – CVs alone will NOT be accepted.
You will already have relevant experience and knowledge of social, food and/or health sectors, good
communications and analytical skills, and be able to work in a pressured environment in Brussels.
The closing date for applications is 26 April; the successful applicant will be needed to start by June
for an initial 12 month period, with possible contract extension subject to funding and performance.

JOB DESCRIPTION
PROJECT LIASION OFFICER

About us

EuroHealthNet is a leading not for profit network of bodies responsible for health promotion, public
health and social equity in EU states. We have a decade of experience and a Brussels office close to
the EU institutions, from where we coordinate research, policy and capacity building projects to help
improve health determinants and address health and social inequities. You can read about our work
at our main site www.eurohealthnet.eu, plus:

• Our PROGRESS social determinants network: the EQUITY CHANNEL:

www.equitychannel.net.
And on our project websites:

• Health Equity actions: www.health-inequalities.eu;

• Research: www.health-gradient.eu;
• Sustainable lifestyles: www.spread2050.ning.com;

Purpose of this post

A contract is offered for an initial period of one year for a Project Liaison Officer based at the
EuroHealthNet office in Brussels. The principal purpose is to undertake specified work on several
complementary projects co-funded by EuroHealthNet and EC work programmes, and to
communicate inputs and outputs between project partners, EU institutions and other stakeholders.

The priority tasks are:

1. To carry out communications tasks and support the Director on policy work on
EuroHealthNet’s role in a PROGRESS programme co-funded project on the links
between health inequalities and work, worklessness and employment.
2. To assist the Deputy Director in carrying out EuroHealthNet’s evaluation role in a
PROGRESS co-funded programme on addressing certain regional health inequalities
among defined groups of people.
 3. To support the Health Equity Coordinator in a study updating knowledge on the
situation concerning health equity policy implementation in EU states.
4. To support the Policy & Advocacy Coordinator in work on food and nutrition related
issues, firstly by supporting the EuroHealthNet role in the consortium EU Public
Health & Agriculture (EPHAC) by helping to gather and communicate evidence
contributing to current discussions on the Common Agricultural Policy; secondly by
supporting inputs to the meetings of the EU Platform on Diet, Physical Activity &
Health; thirdly by supporting a work strand in the Public Health Action Programme
co-funded project Crossing Bridges on a short term case study on implementation of
the EU School Fruit Scheme.
5. To support the Communications Co-ordinator in development of content for our
websites and materials, specifically the Equity Channel professional networking site
on social determinants of health and our new site on Healthy Ageing to be
introduced to coincide with the EU 2012 year on active ageing.

Working times

This is a full time post. Each of the above five task categories is anticipated to occupy approximately
one fifth of the working period, thus approximately one day per week on average. However, in each
case there will be specific periods where concentrated activity will be required, for example during
scheduled project meetings or to meet publication deadlines. The ability to self-organise, prioritise
work within teams and cope with workloads in a communicative way with colleagues is therefore
paramount. It will also be essential to have good project skills, including recording and accounting
for time spent on tasks, as funding is accessed from multiple public sources.

The need for flexibility

This schedule comprises an initial workload for the post, which is funded for an initial 12 month
period. The network is currently identifying areas of interest within Education and Youth,
Environment and Energies, Economic, Structural Funds and Transport aspects of EU work
programmes in the context of the overall EU 2020 strategic priority programme, with which the post
holder should be broadly familiar. As the above five time-specific tasks are gradually completed,
further work from within those areas or on other emerging co-funded projects may be allocated.

Conditions

This is a new post. The post will be sited within the Policy & Advocacy and Communications unit at
the Brussels office but will liaise closely with other teams responsible for networking, health equity
projects and research projects. It will bring our total employees to 13, plus two internships on
rotation. There is no supervisory responsibility and team co-ordinators will liaise on organisation of
tasks with the post holder.

The post is funded at Officer Level, with a salary range of 3000 – 3300 per month plus benefits
appropriate to a non-governmental organisation in Brussels, with details to be provided for
candidates invited to interview. Work is primarily in Brussels but will include some (funded) travel
for meetings in other EU states. Possible extension of the contracted period will be decided within
the context of the EuroHealthNet work programme 2012-13, and will be subject to as yet unknown
funding decisions plus an appraisal of performance at the end of 2011.
 Person specification
Essential skills:

1. Experience of work with organisations or institutions working on international policies

related to at least one of the following sectors in the EU context:
- social issues (employment, ageing, social inclusion, gender, equity etc.)
- health issues (health promotion, public health, equity and access to healthcare)
- food, nutrition and sustainable agriculture
- sustainable development and environments
2. Good analytical skills; ability to understand complex subjects, extract and communicate
relevant information from data and documents.
3. Diligence: sound numeracy and accuracy in accounting and reporting; ability to pay
attention to detail.
4. Flexibility: able to cope with multi-tasking and meet deadlines.
5. Strong communications skills, including experience of contributing content to online and
written formats (sound MS Office skills are essential).
6. Strong language skills; fluent written and spoken English, good standards of literacy.
7. Empathy with our values and strong ethical commitment.

Desirable skills

1. Good academic qualifications in fields related to the above sectors; knowledge or

experience of the academic aspects of the specific tasks.
2. Experience in an EU co-funded project or organisation, ideally in a similar network, or
with experience of EU institutional procedures.
3. Good understanding of relevant EU policy, programme and budget perspectives.
4. Experience of thriving in a multicultural environment; abilities in other EU languages
apart from English will be a positive advantage.
5. Additional IT skills, particularly professional use of online networking and innovative web
based tools.
6. Availability to begin work in Brussels from June (a slight delay to July may be possible
only for an exceptional candidate – please state in application if this is requested).

Please note: We are particularly keen to receive applications from people with knowledge or
experience of disadvantaged communities, or from people who may suffer discrimination, as
part of our efforts to be an employer promoting equitable opportunities in the EU context.
Evidence of relevant experience will count as much as academic achievements.

TO APPLY
To apply: No later than NOON CET on TUESDAY 26 April please send

- A copy of your CV in PDF or Word format only, headed YOUR NAME CV;
- A statement in no more than 1000 words headed YOUR NAME STATEMENT in which you
should set out how you feel you meet our specific criteria for this post (above).
Send as attachments to an email with the subject: APPLICATION FOR POLICY LIAISON OFFICER

Send to: Clive Needle (Director) at c.needle@eurohealthnet.eu . Interviews will be held in the week
starting 9 May; all properly submitted applications will receive a response after the closing date.