Translation errors mean EMA top role will be re-advertised
This article was originally published in RAJ Devices
Translation errors in the original recruitment advertisement for a new executive director of the European Medicines Agency mean the post will have to be re-advertised.
This could happen as early as next week; the post may also be re-advertised at a higher grade than the grade specified in the original vacancy notice1.
"Physicist" vs "physician"
Candidates for the post should preferably be physicians, but the German version of the original vacancy notice called instead for physicists, Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, a German European Parliament member, told RAJ Devices at a London conference organised by the EMA on 30 June. "There was a similar problem in the translated version of the notice in another language because of which candidates from a large number of member states were not able to apply for the post because they thought they were not qualified," Ms Roth-Behrendt explained.
With regard to the grade attached to the post, Ms Roth-Behrendt said she had proposed that it should be re-advertised at level AD 15; the post was originally advertised at grade AD 14, with a possibility of "promotion" (ie re-grading) at a later stage2.
The European Commission could issue a revised vacancy notice" by next week", Ms Roth-Behrendt said.
Timelines
Ms Roth-Behrendt said she hoped the fact that the post was being re-advertised would not result in a delay in the selection of the new EMA executive director. The term of the current head, Thomas Lönngren, comes to an end at the end of this year, with his replacement due to take office on 1 January 2011.
Wrangling between the EMA management board and the commission over the grade at which the post would be advertised had already led to the start of the recruitment process being delayed. It is not clear what interim arrangements might be in put in place if the selection process is not completed in time.
As well as regulating human and veterinary medicines, the EMA regulates advanced therapies such as tissue engineering and gene-based treatments. Over the coming years, it may well take on an increasingly important role in the regulation of high-class medical technology products.
References
1. Personal communication, Dagmar Roth-Behrendt, Member of European Parliament, 30 June 2010
2. Search starts for next EMA executive director, RAJ Devices online, 18 January 2010