ESA European Seed Association (www.euroseeds.org) is the European top level organisation of the plant breeding and seed production sector, representing more than 30 national seed associations and more than 70 direct company members.

ESA is strengthening its team with a Manager for its European Seed Treatment Assurance (ESTA) Scheme

Job Description

The Manager ESTA will work as part of the ESA Policy Team and with ESA’s members under the guidance of the Secretary General to whom he/she reports and will focus on the implementation and future development of the association’s ESTA European Seed Treatment (Quality) Assurance scheme and support the relevant ESA Working Groups in the areas of seed treatment technologies and plant protection products.

This includes overall outreach, advocacy and lobbying related activities towards EU and national decision makers as well as collaboration with and coordination of related activities at the level of EU Member States.

More information on ESTA can be found on www.euroseeds.org/esta

Main tasks and responsibilities:

• Lead responsibility for implementation and further development of ESTA, in collaboration with the ESTA Board
• Manage relevant ESA Working Groups, including meeting preparation, minutes and follow-up, in close cooperation with the ESA membership
• Liaise closely with colleagues in national seed associations and company offices
• Develop and manage processes to ensure effective, coordinated implementation of ESTA, specifically in cooperation with relevant organisations on national levels
• Develop and maximise relations with key opinion formers and relevant decision-makers
• Ascertain documentation and data management, also via the ESA and ESTA website, and assure regular control of accepted certifying bodies, certified treatment facilities etc. in line with the ESTA Standard

Profile:

• Academic degree in engineering or natural sciences (university or technical college) or equivalent, preferably specializing in quality management/quality assurance; with background in agriculture / plant breeding or similar
  or
• Academic degree in agriculture or plant biology with knowledge of plant breeding; experience in seed marketing and sales and practical experience of quality management/quality assurance
• Expertise and practical experience with quality management, quality assurance concerning DIN/ISO 9001 or equivalent standards desirable
• High degree of cooperation, ability to work in a team and communicate as well as diplomacy
• Very good command of English, further languages an asset
• Good PC knowledge; experience with website CMS
• Readiness to travel
• Strong motivation to learn and perform; keen perception
• Structured and independent working as well as initiative and flexibility
• Analytical thinking and methodical approach
• Strong orientation towards membership satisfaction

Interested candidates should send their CV, highlighting the relevant experience to the job description, to:

secretariat@euroseeds.org 
and mark it with “Manager ESTA”

Application deadline: 2 December 2012

Interviews will be held as of December 2012 and the selection shall be concluded by end of January 2013.

Expected starting date: ASAP