ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE OPENING OF AN INTERNATIONAL SELECTION PROCEDURE FOR THE HIRING OF ONE (1) LEGAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

 

Reference: BIOPOLIS 2025-36 - LEGAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

The Executive Committee of Associação BIOPOLIS has decided to open an international call for a Legal Affairs Officer under a work contract for a non-fixed term. This announcement is intended to 1 (one) position for the LEGAL AFFAIRS OFFICER of Associação BIOPOLIS funded by the TEAMING project BIOPOLIS - Teaming to Upgrade to Excellence in Environmental Biology, Ecosystem Research and AgroBiodiversity (Grant Agreement nº 857251), awarded to CIBIO by the European Commission, with an overall budget of around 15M€. The 15 M€ awarded by the European Commission has been complemented up to 100 M€ by national and regional structural funds and private partners. The successful candidate will be involved in the upgrade of CIBIO into a Center of Excellence in Environmental Biology, Ecosystem Research, and AgroBiodiversity over the next years, through the Teaming project with the University of Montpellier (France).

 

1.       Admission requirements and Competencies

To be admitted to the competition, the candidates must hold a Portuguese university degree in Law, in combination with the required work experience plus an additional five years of professional work experience in national law. Candidates with pre-Bologna degree or integrated master's degrees, in Law, will be admitted. Candidates should have experience in at least Portuguese public law, applicable laws, and regulations of the national and international funding entities (e.g., European Commission, CCDRN, FCT).  

The candidates should be able to communicate orally and in written form in the English language. Proficiency in French is greatly appreciated. Candidates should speak and write clearly and effectively and demonstrate openness in sharing information and keeping the team informed. Should also work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve common organizational goals.

Candidates are also expected to possess: knowledge of various sources of legal information, including electronic, and the ability to analyze information on a wide range of legal issues. Ability to interpret and apply legislative instruments and make recommendations and opinions in a clear and concise manner to a number of internal and external stakeholders. Ability to adapt and work under pressure. Ability to apply sound legal judgment in the context of given tasks. Demonstrate professional competence and subject matter mastery; efficient in meeting commitments, meeting deadlines, and achieving results.

 

2.       Main Responsibilities

·         The Legal affairs officer will provide advice and support to the Supervisory Board, the Board of Directors, and other officers, such as the administrative office and Human Resources, Scientific and Executive Coordination, Project Management office, and Intellectual Property rights.

·         Responsible for the Legal Affairs Unit and Public Procurement Services.

·         Legal affairs officer will deal with legal consulting advisors, tax and financial consulting advisors, legal mediation, and arbitration officers.

·         Within the delegated authority, the Legal Officer serves as a recognized expert in one or more areas and will independently deal with a wide range of multidisciplinary legal issues, which may be complex and often sensitive and/or conflicting, and involving issues related to public procurement law.

·         Make recommendations regarding proactive actions to be taken.

·         Provide legal advice on a diverse range of highly complex or innovative substantive and procedural issues of law, and on the practice of national and international funding agencies.

·         Advise and oversee the review, negotiation, and drafting of key agreements, institutional and operational modalities, and other legal documents.

·         As needed, assist in various standing boards, committees, working groups, and task forces, and represent the BIOPOLIS Association at meetings, conferences, seminars, etc.

·         Contribute to the revision of internal policies, guidelines, systems, rules of scientific platforms, etc.

 

3.       Legislation and official rules

Employment contract for a non-fix term is expected to begin immediately upon the conclusion of the selection process, on an exclusive basis, under the legal terms in force (Código do Trabalho).

4.       Workplace

The workplace shall be at Associação BIOPOLIS/CIBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, n.º7, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal.

5.       Duration of the contract

Up to the duration of the project.

6.       Salary

An internationally competitive salary will be offered, corresponding to qualifications and experience.

7.       Selection methods:

The assessment of the applicants, their professional merit and legal experience, shall be based on the following criteria:

All applicants will initially be evaluated based on their Curriculum Vitae (60%) and motivation letter (10%).

A shortlist based on the evaluation of the written applications will be used to select candidates for interviews, which will allow a final evaluation (30%).

 

8.       Composition of the jury:

President of the jury: Nuno Ferrand, President of the Board, Associação BIOPOLIS

Other members of the jury:

Pedro Sá, Legal Counsel.

Pedro Beja, Member of the Board, Associação BIOPOLIS

Luís Folhadela, Member of the Board, Associação BIOPOLIS

Rita Araújo, Executive Coordinator, Associação BIOPOLIS

 

9.       Preliminary hearing and final decision deadline

Admitted and excluded candidates shall be notified by email.

After notification, all candidates have 10 working days to comment.

The jury reserves the right not to assign the work contract if none of the candidates meets all the requirements and matches the desired profile.

10.   Deadline for application and how to apply

The applications are formalized at the electronic address https://www.cibio.up.pt/en/jobs/ , with the following documents in PDF format:

·         Detailed Curriculum Vitae (max 5 pages) including the e-mail address and phone number of the candidate.

·         Motivation Letter (max 2 pages) that includes a short description of the professional accomplishments that the candidate considers relevant in the past 5 years, as well as two reference contacts (name, e-mail, and current position).

·         Qualification certificates.

The application period is from July 15^th to August 31^st 2025.

 

11.   Non-discrimination and equal access policy

Non-discrimination and equal access policy: Associação BIOPOLIS actively promotes a non-discrimination and equal access policy, wherefore no candidate can be privileged, benefited, impaired or deprived of any rights whatsoever, or be exempt of any duties based on their ancestry, age, sex, sexual preference, marital status, family and economic conditions, instruction, origin or social conditions, genetic heritage, reduced work capacity, disability, chronic illness, nationality, ethnic origin or race, origin territory, language, religion, political or ideological convictions and union membership.

12. According to Decree-Law no. 29/2001 of 3 February, disabled candidates shall be preferred in a situation of equal classification, and said preference supersedes any legal preferences. Candidates must declare, on their honor, their respective disability degree, type of disability and communication/expression means to be used during selection period on their application form, under the regulations above.