Utrecht University seeks to appoint a highly motivated Project Coordinator (0.5-0.7 FTE) who holds a Master in Social Sciences with knowledge of migration and revitalisation of shrinking areas.

The Project Coordinator will contribute to two new EU-funded research projects, both led by the International Development Studies research group at the Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning.

1. The Horizon 2020 project "Welcoming Spaces' in Europe: Revitalising shrinking areas by hosting non-EU migrants" (2020-2024) investigates innovative ways to merge two policy challenges:  (i) how to contribute to the revitalisation of shrinking areas in Europe, while also
(ii) offering space for the successful integration of non-EU migrants.
'Welcoming Spaces' is at the crossroads of two of its Strategic Themes at Utrecht University: Institutions for Open Societies and Pathways to Sustainability. It examines the role of non-EU migrants in the revitalization of shrinking areas in Spain, Italy, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. The research will be carried out by a multidisciplinary team of academic and non-academic partners from these countries. 
2. The Erasmus Plus project 'Development of a Master Degree programme: Democratic Governance and Human Rights (MsDemos&Rights)' (2020-2023) develops an interdisciplinary two-year accredited Master Degree in Democratic Governance and Human Rights. It will include distance and on-the-campus learning is proposed in order to give relevant professionals, activists, social workers and young graduates from different disciplines the knowledge, understanding, operational skills and attitudes needed to play an effective role in the community and build capacities to build more democratic institutions in their countries. The research will be carried out by a multidisciplinary team of Greece, Lebanon, Morocco, Spain, Tunisia and the Netherlands.
The Project Coordinator will work predominantly on the Horizon 2020 'Welcoming Spaces' project.

The position offers a diverse and challenging job for qualified graduates with a flexible, independent mindset and accurate coordinating skills. You will be the central contact and communication point for both projects.

In collaboration with project partners you will take care of administrative tasks (and being liaison with UU and H2020 officers), offer support in the organization of events (seminars, conferences, round table discussions and other multi-stakeholder meetings), while playing an important role in the communication with external parties and the website management.

Tasks and responsibilities include:

• the network facilitation, communicating and liaising with the management team, the partners and everyone interested in migration and the H2020 project;  
• supervising communications, including managing the website and social media accounts, e-mail correspondence and other written communication;  
• preparing and facilitating Board meetings and other migration-related activities;
• preparing annual plans and annual reports (both activities and financial);
• ensuring the preparation of draft reports and final activity reports;
• co-organizing (international) conferences and events, and offering support in the preparation of midterm and end evaluations;
• facilitating knowledge brokering.

If you

• have relevant coordination experience and are used to working in multi-stakeholder settings;
• have expertise on migration governance and revitalisation of shrinking areas, preferably with field experience;
• have an organized and efficient working style, with an eye for detail;
• have excellent communication skills, written and spoken in English (and preferably Dutch): networking, connecting people;
• show leadership and initiative, are self-motivated, pro-active and enthusiastic, and take responsibility;
• are capable of organizing conferences and other events which involve policy-makers, practitioners and academics;
• have affinity with social media: Twitter, LinkedIn, websites, blogging etc.

we encourage you to apply and are looking forward to meeting you.

We offer a position (0.5-0.7 FTE) for the duration of two years. The gross salary - depending on previous qualifications, experience and available funding - ranges between €2,579 and €3,327 (scale 8 according to the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities) per month for a full-time employment. 

Salaries are supplemented with a holiday bonus of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3% per year. In addition, Utrecht University offers excellent secondary conditions, including an attractive retirement scheme, (partly paid) parental leave and flexible employment conditions (multiple choice model). More information about working at Utrecht University can be found here.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major societal themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Sustainability.

Utrecht University's Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth's core to its surface, including man's spatial and material utilisation of the Earth and always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the Faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning focuses on the enhancement of long-term economic developments of cities, how to cope with social inequalities, and how to accelerate sustainability transitions of cities and infrastructures. Research on these topics takes place within our research program Urban Futures: Transitions Towards Economic and Social Sustainability for Cities.