Upcoming Scientific Competitions

Rumours are circulating about an upcoming AD Scientific Research Competition, and we feel it appropriate to provide some background.
We have strongly insisted on the need to organise scientific competitions over the last few years. Finally, the JRC has acknowledged that projected numbers of retirements over the next years make it necessary to recruit permanent staff in the near future.
In recent months the GT-CCR (Groupe Technique Coordination Concours Recherche), which has members from both administration and staff representatives, has been working on steering the process for an upcoming external (open to all EU citizens) competition for Scientific Research Administrators (AD7). The JRC, in collaboration with EPSO and DG.HR, is completing preparations for a new public competition to create a reserve list for subsequent recruitment of AD grade permanent staff.

The details of the competition are still being finalised and cannot be made public at this stage. In the meantime, we would like to reassure you that all details are being scrutinised to ensure a fair and successful competition for the future recruitment plans of the JRC and which will provide opportunities for talented scientists, also including those currently working as temporary staff.

We particularly welcome the fact that this competition is part of a new permanent plan for recruitment, aiming at launching ad-hoc competitions every year, with alternating AD and AST competitions. While we would have preferred to see an AST competition launched next year (in parallel with the AD one), we may comprehend the rationale to hold it in 2020 – provided that the recruitment plan will be implemented as promised, with a clear commitment to anticipate future retirements with full replacement by permanent staff, and no shift towards precariousness.

At a recent joint committee meeting, our DG has unambiguously confirmed to staff representatives that there are no plans to alter the current permanent vs temporary staff ratio, and that frequency of future competitions and numbers of laureates in each will be aimed at ensuring this ratio is maintained. He clarified that a previously advertised 30% permanent vs non-permanent ratio is intended as a minimum target for each Unit, intended to correct upwards units with a currently low ratio, and not as a downwards target for the JRC as a whole.

We will keep on monitoring that promises of today will not become the fake news of tomorrow.

Last but not least, internal competitions will soon be launched and the Head of DG.HR Mrs Souka recently agreed that the research field should be considered for these competitions, but it is unclear how this will actually be implemented.  Mrs Souka also agreed that internal competitions should be more regular so that ALL talented and dedicated temporary staff have a fair chance to benefit from these opportunities.