Only complete applications will be considered.

As the Agency serves the health needs of everyone, at all stages of life, across the entire country, it seeks to ensure that its governing bodies, through their composition and the experience of their members, are capable of addressing all such situations.

Candidates will be selected by a jury convened by the Agency, based on the information provided in the cover letter, the candidates’ alignment with the required competencies, and an analysis of conflicts of interest. The jury will ensure that the essential skills required for the Scientific Council to fully carry out its missions are represented within its ranks, and that gender parity and diversity are taken into account during the selection of candidates.

Declarations of interest will be reviewed by Santé publique France’s Internal Ethics Committee.

Candidates will be notified of the outcome of their application via email from the Scientific Council secretariat following approval of the Scientific Council’s composition by the Board of Directors (during the first quarter of 2021).

Members will be appointed for a four-year term.

The National Public Health Agency, established by Ordinance No. 2016-462 of April 14, 2016, is a public administrative agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. Its missions are as follows:

1. epidemiological observation and monitoring of the health status of the population;

2. monitoring health risks threatening the population;

3. health promotion and the reduction of health risks;

4. the development of prevention and health education;

5. preparation for and response to health threats, alerts, and crises;

6. issuing health alerts.

For more information: Santé publique France: Who are we?

The Scientific Council has ^two main responsibilities:

1. To provide advice on the Agency’s research, expertise, and study priorities, as well as on its scientific partnership and programming policies;

2. Assist the Agency’s management in developing procedures for calls for proposals;

3. Validate and oversee the evaluation process for the Agency’s scientific activities, and issue recommendations to management based on the results obtained;

4. Provide advice on the need to establish expert committees.

It assists the Agency in its mission to contribute to the development and implementation of national and European public health policies. It may, on its own initiative, formulate observations and recommendations on any scientific and technical issue falling within the Agency’s scope of competence. These are forwarded to the Director General and the Chair of the Board of Directors.

It prepares an annual report on the scientific and technical aspects of the Agency’s activities. This report is submitted to the Board of Directors and the Directorate-General for Health.

The Scientific Council is called upon to issue opinions and recommendations on (non-exhaustive list):

• The objectives and performance agreement and its implementation;

• The annual work program and strategic guidelines;

• The various programs implemented in the areas of health emergency alert, preparedness, and response, surveillance, prevention, and health promotion, including communication;

• The Agency’s methods of interaction with research partners;

• The expert review process implemented by the Agency;

• Lessons learned by the Agency from external evaluations and audits where scientific quality and priorities are concerned;

• The Agency’s various strategies where a scientific component must be taken into account;

• Any topic it deems relevant, particularly regarding emerging issues (scientific, health-related, societal).

The Scientific Council may also, at the request of the Director General or the Board of Directors, conduct reviews of the Agency’s directorates or programs.

The Scientific Council consists ^of twenty-seven members, including its chair, at least four of whom are currently working or have previously worked abroad or within European or international organizations. The agency aims to significantly expand the international scope of its Scientific Council.

Members are appointed upon the recommendation of the Director General for a four-year term, renewable, by decision of the Chair of the Board of Directors, following approval by the Board of Directors of the list of members. They are selected from among scientific experts competent in the Agency’s areas of expertise and recruited following a call for applications, after review of their professional background and conflicts of interest, in accordance with the provisions of Article L. 1451-1.

The role of a member of the Scientific Council is incompatible with membership in any other body of the Agency and with any contractual relationship with it.

The Chair of the Scientific Council is appointed from among its members by order of the Minister of Health, following the Scientific Council’s recommendation.

In the event of a vacancy, for any reason whatsoever, a new member shall be appointed under the same conditions for the remainder of the term of the person they are replacing.
The Scientific Council may call upon the assistance of any qualified person.

Members are expected to conduct a comprehensive, collective analysis of the Agency’s science policy, to review the implementation of all its missions based on the best available scientific evidence, and to analyze its various programs in greater detail.

Given the Agency’s missions, members of the Scientific Council are expected to possess:

• Proven and recognized scientific expertise;

• The ability to grasp the scientific strategy of a public health agency dedicated to a population-based approach, as well as the scientific and operational challenges of the programs it develops in the fields of surveillance, early warning, prevention, health promotion, and preparedness and response to health crises;

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of the challenges and key players at the national, regional, and international levels in the fields of protecting and improving the health of populations, and strengthening public health systems and services.

The Agency’s multi-year program (2018–2022) currently comprises 28 programs and is structured around five priority areas:

1. Health Determinants

2. Populations

3. Diseases

4. Intervention and Territories

5. Infrastructure ⁴

The work program will evolve significantly in 2021 to reflect the agency’s priorities: climate change, social and territorial inequalities, digital development, economic and social evaluation of interventions to improve population health, and preparedness for responding to health threats.

Through this call for applications, Santé publique France is seeking a scientific expert in the field of environmental health for its Scientific Council; expertise on the impact of climate change on public health would be a significant asset.

Candidates are expected to have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• the production of indicators, knowledge, and evidence to inform the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions and public policies aimed at improving public health;

• the design, implementation, and evaluation of monitoring, early warning, and surveillance systems;

• providing scientific support for responses to health crises, as well as for the planning and evaluation of government responses;

• the translation and application of knowledge and evidence to support public decision-making.

Operating Procedures

The Scientific Council is convened by its chair, or at the request of the Executive Director, or at the reasoned request of at least one-third of its members, or at the request of the Board of Directors. It meets in plenary session at least three times a year, either in person or via web conference.

Agendas are prepared jointly by the Chair of the Scientific Council, the Deputy Scientific Director to the Executive Director, and the Secretariat of the Scientific Council.

The minutes of the Scientific Council’s meetings and the annual activity report are prepared by the Scientific Council Secretariat prior to approval by the Scientific Council.

The Scientific Council’s opinions and recommendations are drafted by the Scientific Council, without the involvement of the Scientific Council Secretariat. The same applies to the preparation of program or strategic direction reviews, or for evaluation reports requested by the Agency.

Working Language

The working language of the Scientific Council will be adapted to the composition of the Scientific Council (French and/or English).

Workload for members

To ensure optimal performance, the Scientific Council typically meets three times a year (two two-day meetings and one one-day meeting) in person. Ad hoc meetings via web conference are organized as needed.

The Scientific Council establishes working groups to carry out specific activities (program evaluation, review of the work program, etc.).

Role and Additional Responsibilities of the Chair of the Scientific Council

The Chair of the Scientific Council is a member of the Agency’s Board of Directors, in an advisory capacity. The Board of Directors meets three times a year.

The Chair presents the annual activity report to the Board of Directors. The Chair may be invited to meetings of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Committee or the Committee for Policy and Dialogue with Society to ensure a link with these bodies. The Chair is an ex officio member of the ANSES Scientific Council and may appoint a representative to it. The Chair’s workload is estimated at 10 to 12 days per year.

Travel and subsistence expenses are reimbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions applicable to civilian government employees.
Compensation for loss of income in the case of self-employed individuals, as well as compensation for time spent attending meetings and for work performed, will be paid in accordance with the schedule established by the Board of Directors of Santé publique France.