With responsibility for construction projects, facility management as well as language services, Principal Directorate General Administration (PD 4.4) plays a leading role in the preservation of and investment in the Office's patrimony. It is entrusted with planning and overseeing building works, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards and reducing the Office's environmental footprint. It plays a key role in the success of the new ways of working concept by shaping the working environments for staff.

Within PD General Administration, occupational safety plays a key role in preventing injuries and hazards in all work environments. As a distributed organisation, it is very important for the EPO to foster a harmonised approach across all sites and to build consistency in safety service management in line with the recommendations of the recent ISO 45001 audit. This is particularly vital in the current climate where, thanks to the new ways of working, heightened attention is paid to safety aspects both on the premises and in the teleworking environment. As the importance of individual responsibility grows, those responsible for occupational safety will take a lead role in raising awareness and ensuring proper guidance and self-assessment training.

We are currently looking for a certified safety expert to join our occupational safety team. You will be tasked with ensuring the safety and well-being of all present on the EPO premises, contributing to the sustainability of the work environment, helping to minimise accidents and injuries while ensuring alignment with business goals. You will also be responsible for supporting the integrated management systems operating on the basis of ISO 45001 and EMAS, in particular.

Join us now!

With us you will

• be the central contact for safety matters at each location, performing the full spectrum of tasks of a certified occupational safety professional
• prepare advisory reports and safety-expert concepts for approval by senior management
• supervise and oversee external safety services in close collaboration with the relevant internal and external stakeholders
• drive the activities of external partners performing outsourced services
• co‑ordinate and contribute to the risk assessment of tasks and activities
• strengthen our safety awareness through promotional activities and intranet presence
• assist in the co‑ordination and implementation of workplace visits by analysing relevant data and actions
• advise on and support tender and final acceptance processes and property insurance assessments
• oversee progress of inspection reports established by external safety authorities
• regularly monitor and report on all occupational safety activities
• support ongoing projects and plan future projects in the area of occupational safety
• take the lead in the EPO-wide harmonisation of hazardous substance registration and manage substitutions in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders
   

Apply if you have

• a technical qualification at university level or equivalent experience in occupational safety
• a certificate as an occupational safety professional
• a passion for a continuous and sustainable improvement of occupational safety
• relevant experience in the area of occupational safety, preferably in an organisation with multiple sites
• relevant experience with the implementation of integrated management systems
• excellent team-working and interpersonal skills
• the ability to work independently as well as to plan and prioritise
• the ability to handle highly sensitive information with the utmost confidentiality and tact
• good communication skills, both written and oral
• a "can-do" attitude and the eagerness to continuously learn about new developments in occupational safety
• experience in project management

Our minimum requirements for this post

• Diploma of completed studies at master's level or – in exceptional cases – equivalent professional experience
• Generally, an excellent knowledge (at least C1) of one official language (English, French and German) and ability to understand the other two; alternatively, excellent knowledge (at least C1) of at least one official language (in such cases, the willingness to learn the missing language(s) and to reach level B2 within a set time frame would be required)
• Citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation

Process

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Key information

Job group: 4

Grade: G7 to G10 (net basic) monthly salary* for this vacancy: EUR 6 459 to 9 364, depending on experience and location)

Duration of appointment: five years

Career path: Technical 

Location: The Hague/Munich 

Application deadline: 09 June 2023

Interviews planned for: week commencing 19 June 2023

* after deduction of EPO-internal tax and before deduction of staff contributions to the social security and pension schemes.