Trainee – Restrictions and Risk Assessment (M1)

The Restrictions and Risk Assessment Unit is responsible for the overall management of the restrictions process under the REACH Regulation. This includes preparing investigation reports and/or preparing restriction proposals at the request of the European Commission and providing supports to Member States preparing restriction proposals. The unit also supports the European Commission in the listing of new Persistent Organic Pollutants and review processes under the Stockholm Convention. The unit provides expert support on chemicals risk and exposure assessment and leads the Agency’s work on Chemical Safety Assessment. The unit manages the IT tools facilitating Authority interactions involved in ECHA’s regulatory processes, as well as the Chesar tool.

About the work of the unit

We prepare restriction proposals for (groups of) substances and support the corresponding opinion-making process on restriction proposals in ECHA’s scientific committees for risk assessment (RAC) and socio-economic analysis (SEAC). An overarching goal of the restriction processes is to manage uses of (groups of) substances that pose an unacceptable risk to the environment and human health, either by prohibiting their manufacture or use or by requiring specific conditions of use or risk management measures to ensure that risks are adequately controlled. Recent restriction proposals under REACH developed by the unit include those on per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams and chromium VI. The unit is also handling the RAC and SEAC opinion making on the universal PFAS restriction proposal developed by five national authorities. We work on the risk and exposure components of applications for authorisations (AfA), a process under the responsibility of our sister Authorisations and Socio Economics Analysis Unit as well as for other processes (e.g. Substance Evaluation, Occupational Exposure Limits). We prepare technical and scientific input to the European Commission and the Member States on substances that may meet the criteria for listing as Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Stockholm Convention and in the preparation and review of the risk profile and the risk management evaluation of a substance considered under the Convention. We provide expert support on chemical safety assessment, including use and exposure, and safety data sheets. In addition, we are responsible for managing IT tools for Authority users and for developing the Chesar Platform to support industry in performing chemical risk assessments and meeting related reporting obligations under the REACH and Biocidal Products regulations.

Assignment for the traineeship

Depending on their profile, the successful candidate would contribute to one/some of the above work areas as a scientific/technical assistant:

• Contribute to ECHA’s development of restriction proposals or to other restriction-related activities;

• Contribute to the support activities under the POPs Regulation and Stockholm Convention;

• Testing of Chesar Platform (and its link to IUCLID6) and providing support to ongoing projects in relation to this tool’s development, exposure estimation models, information on safe use for substances, mixtures, articles and waste.

• Assisting in the co-ordination of our activities with Stakeholder platforms (e.g. for Chesar Platform).

• Summarising and reporting data/information related to the tasks covered by the traineeship.

For these assignments, the successful trainee will work closely with ECHA staff members in and outside the unit and may be required to liaise with ECHA’s stakeholders, in particular industry associations, NGOs and Member State authorities to obtain relevant information for assessments.

Profile of the trainee

• University degree (minimum B.Sc.) in chemistry, chemical or process engineering, environmental sciences or health sciences (e.g. ecotoxicology or toxicology);

• Ability to communicate clearly in written and spoken English;

• Good interpersonal skills, with a service-oriented approach; and team spirit;

• Good analytical and research skills (e.g. capacity to analyse, problem solve);

• Good organisational and administrative skills (e.g. capacity in planning and execution of activities) and confidence with IT tools, such as those in MS Office.

Starting Date: 1 March 2027

Duration: 6 months

Deadline for applications: 2 November 2026 at 12:00 noon Helsinki time (11:00 am CET)