Vacancies in the FESSH Council for the term 2026-2029
Join the leading body of FESSH!

  1. Clinical Practice Committee chair
  2. Congress Committee chair
  3. Communication Committee chair
  4. Journal & Publications Committee chair
  5. Relationship Committee chair
  6. Research & Grants Committee chair
  7. YEHS Committee chair

All applicants must be current full members of their national hand society and be held in good standing.
FESSH is committed to principles of equality, diversity and inclusion.

Please, see the job descriptions below.

 

Process 

Interested applicants should apply via the online application form through the below button.

Application deadline: 15 January 2026 (23:00 CET)

Prospective applicants can discuss for further information with the FESSH President and President elect via applications@fessh.com

 

Application form

Job descriptions for each position

1. Clinical Practice Committee Chair

(including Special Interest Groups – SIGs)

Role Purpose
Lead the coordination of FESSH’s clinical standards, trauma networks, and guideline development across Europe.
Support all internal Special Interest Groups (SIGs) under FESSH’s umbrella.

Key Responsibilities

      • Coordinate the FESSH Trauma Hand networks, ensuring alignment with national societies.
      • Ensure regular communication with HTC national representatives and SIGs leads to share best practice.
      • Coordinate the FESSH Green Hand networks, ensuring alignment with national societies.
      • Provide governance and structure for all Special Interest Groups (SIGs) within FESSH.
      • Collaborate with Relations Committee to align external partnerships with internal standards.

Time Commitment: ≈ 3 hrs per week.
Reports To: President via Council.

2. Communication Committee Chair

(*including History of FESSH & Hand Surgery)

Role Purpose
Lead FESSH’s communication, branding, and digital visibility strategy.
Oversee social media, website, newsletters, merchandise, and historical archiving, ensuring that FESSH’s message is clear, inclusive, and professional.

Key Responsibilities

      • Lead the communication and media strategy across all FESSH platforms.
      • Manage website and social media content with the Office and digital team.
      • Support other committees in promoting their initiatives.
      • Oversee FESSH’s historical archive and liaise with the appointed Historian (who becomes a committee member instead of observer at the Council meetings).
      • Ensure visual coherence of the FESSH brand (templates, logos, congress collateral).

Time Commitment: ≈ 4 hrs per week.
Reports To: President via Council.

3. Congress Committee Chair

Role Purpose
Oversee the academic and logistical coordination of the annual FESSH Congress in partnership with the host society and FESSH Office.
Ensure the scientific and educational programme aligns with the Federation’s strategic aims.

Key Responsibilities

      • Oversee Congress planning, programme design, and speaker selection with the local host.
      • Evaluate bids for future FESSH Congresses and recommend to Council.
      • Ensure Congress scientific content complements FESSH education and research strategy.
      • Provide continuity and oversight between annual host societies.
      • Collaborate with Education and Communication Committees to enhance the Congress experience.

Time Commitment: ≈ 4 hrs per week (variable; higher near Congress).
Reports To: President via Council.

4. Relationship Committee Chair

(*including Community & Outreach functions)

Role Purpose
A. Strengthen FESSH’s external partnerships and represent the Federation to European and global organisations (IFSSH, EFORT, EFSHT, etc.).
B. Coordinate FESSH Exchange network, global outreach missions, and digital community projects.

Key Responsibilities

  • Maintain strategic relations with partner societies and federations.
  • Develop and manage FESSH Exchange and Community platform initiatives.
  • Oversee and liaise with existing outreach and humanitarian activities (“Global Engagement” projects).
  • White Book review in cooperation with Exam and Education Committees
  • ETR in cooperation with Exam and Education Committees
  • Report annually to Council on partnership activities and international representation.

Time Commitment: ≈ 3–4 hrs per week.
Reports To: President via Council.

5. Research & Grants Committee Chair

Role Purpose
Provide strategic direction and leadership in research and innovation within FESSH, overseeing grants and the FESSH Research fellowships.
Encourage collaboration and strengthen Europe-wide research impact in hand surgery.

Key Responsibilities

      • Define and implement the annual research strategy aligned with FESSH priorities.
      • Oversee research grants, Research fellowships, and the “Shark Tank” innovation competition.
      • Organise webinars on research.
      • Lead international multi-centre studies guided by FESSH
      • Facilitate collaborative studies, registries, and standardised data processes (PROMS).
      • Build relationships with academic institutions.

Time Commitment: ≈ 4 hrs per week + 1–2 research meetings per year.
Reports To: President via Council.

6. Journal & Publications Committee Chair

Role Purpose
Provide editorial oversight and governance (from a FESSH perspective) for the Journal of Hand Surgery (European Volume), the FESSH Casebook, and all future educational publications.
Ensure scientific quality, transparency, and collaboration with authors, reviewers, and editors.

Key Responsibilities

      • Oversee strategy and performance of FESSH publications.
      • Organise Journal Clubs 2-5 times/year
      • Coordinate with Research, Exam and Education Committees on publishing outputs.
      • Supervise the FESSH Casebook and Textbook projects to maintain editorial standards.
      • Support the Editor-in-Chief role of JHS (E).
      • Promote open-access principles and ethical publishing practices.

Time Commitment: ≈ 4 hrs per week + editorial and Council meetings.
Reports To: President via Council.

7. YEHS (Young European Hand Surgeons) Committee Chair

Role Purpose
Represent the next generation of European hand surgeons, fostering mentorship, education, and collaboration.
Coordinate the Congress fellowships, the Travel Award and resident and undergraduate engagement within FESSH.

Key Responsibilities

      • Lead mentorship and leadership development initiatives.
      • Manage the Congress Fellowship programme in cooperation with the Education Committee and the Congress chair
      • Manage Travel Awards in cooperation with the Education Committee
      • Updating the training centres list at the FESSH webpage
      • Consider Undergraduate initiatives
      • Support resident networking, webinars, and collaborative projects.
      • Liaise with Research Committee to support young investigator grants.
      • Represent YEHS in Council and report on progress annually.

Time Commitment: ≈ 3 hrs per week.
Reports To: President via Council.