EFA – European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations

Health and Care Policy Officer

EFA – European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations

Brussels, Belgium

EFA European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations is looking for an energetic full time (38h/week) Health and Care Policy Officer to join our dynamic team.

Are you interested in improving health and access to care for people across Europe?

EFA is looking for a Health and Care Policy Officer to advocate change for people with chronic diseases throughout Europe and beyond. We are a federation of 45 national patients’ associations of people living with allergy, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Together with our community of members in 26 countries, we advocate for access to the best quality care, for policies that allow patients to live in a safe environment, and for patient participation in decisions influencing their health.

EFA Health and Care Policy Officer monitors, analyses and influences EU and WHO Europe policies and initiatives to structurally improve the health of people with allergy, asthma and COPD. In addition, the Policy Officer supports the development of EFA’s community knowledge and positions to inform policymaking on medicines and access to care, digital health and research, and supports developing policy deliverables.

The Health and Care Policy Officer reports directly to EFA Director of Policy and Communications and works closely with EFA Senior Policy Advisor on Prevention, the interesting and hugely important field of policies and measures to prevent an unhealthy environment and unhealthy conditions to occur at all. Furthermore, he/she/they cooperate with the other EFA teams in communication and projects. Depending on the profile, the candidate will have the opportunity to lead EFA’s policy on specific thematic areas.

The main tasks are:

• Coordinate EFA engagement on health policies with policymakers in the European Commission (DG SANTE and DG HERA) and the European Parliament (SANT, ITRE);
• Monitor, analyse and influence EU and WHO Europe policies and initiatives affecting patients’ care (e.g. shortages, Health Technology Assessment, the European Health Data Space);
• Collaborate with colleagues from the vast EFA Community in the development of policy tools and projects, conducting policy assessments and developing recommendations and campaigning strategies to advocate change for allergy, asthma and COPD in Europe;
• Facilitate EFA’s participation in the work of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) affecting allergy, asthma and COPD care (e.g. patient engagement in medicines authorisation, patient perspectives in the regulatory agenda for health data and artificial intelligence, pharmacovigilance and patient safety);
• Represent EFA at external policy events and stakeholder forums in Brussels and elsewhere in Europe;
• Assist in the organisation of health and care external and internal policy events;
• Facilitate the work of the European Lung Health Group (an advocacy group of respiratory civil society) and the European Parliament Interest Group on Allergy & Asthma, channelling allergy, asthma and COPD patient needs through these partnerships;
• Support the dissemination of EFA policy positions among European institutions and stakeholders through a variety of channels, including meetings and social media.

Interested in joining the EFA team? We are looking for the following experience and qualities:

Essential:

• Interest in allergy and respiratory diseases, patient-centred healthcare, health prevention and patient participation in policymaking;
• Masters’ Degree in European law, political science, public health, or a life science field;
• minimum of 2 years professional experience in EU public affairs and European policymaking);
• outstanding verbal and written communication skills in English; additional languages will be a considered a plus;
• good social and interpersonal skills, a keen sense of responsibility and initiative;
• team spirit as well as the ability to work autonomously and flexibly within a small international team;
• ability to prioritise and execute a complex and diverse workload and appetite to lead;
• high computer literacy (e.g., Microsoft 365, Monday.com);
• availability for occasional travel within Europe.

Desirable:

• Experience in civil society participation, within the NGO field or in membership organisations;
• track record in multi-stakeholder facilitation, engaging with members and sharing best practices for effective policy change;
• experience in political communication, civil society mobilisation and campaigning;
• prior experience in health and public health, environment, and research policies.

We offer a permanent Belgium standard contract, including benefits such as lunch and eco coupons, local travel support, pension scheme and hospitalisation insurance, with a competitive salary based on the candidate’s experience. The position is in-person, based in Brussels at our nice offices near metro Madou, with some flexibility to telework within the EU and with the opportunity to travel across Europe to represent EFA.

As a learning organisation, EFA offers in addition plenty of opportunities to develop professionally depending on the candidate strengths and interests. We are of course an equal opportunities employer; we embrace diversity and our office culture can be characterized as open and inclusive.

Please apply by sending your CV, together with a cover letter and reference ‘EFA Health and Care Policy Officer’ by Wednesday, 4^th September 2024, as a comprehensive .pdf to: policy@efanet.org. We will assess applications on a rolling basis. Successful pre-screening candidates will be invited for an interview on the week of the 9^th of September.

Find more information on www.efanet.org and follow us on social media. We look forward to receiving your application!