The research funding advisor inspires and supports academics to prepare high-quality grant applications by advising and offering a helping hand. You have a good overview of the ever-changing funding landscape, preferably in the area of social sciences and humanities, and can use this knowledge to advise researchers and faculty management. Specifically, you have the following tasks and responsibilities:

• keep up-to-date on the Dutch and European research funding field of social sciences and humanities;
• develop and maintain contacts at different levels within and outside the university;
• awareness of and sensitivity to both formal and informal processes within the UM;
• monitor funding opportunities and developments in programmes;
• provide early and proactive communication regarding research funding opportunities and policy;
• translate funding opportunities and knowledge into advice and policy for the faculty director, associate dean research and research programme directors;
• advise academic staff on preparing competitive funding proposals (e.g. finding a suitable opportunity, how to write a grant proposal, understanding and comply with the funding scheme and the faculty policy);
• develop and implement the faculty research funding policy;
• maintain an overview of ongoing funding applications;
• liaise with the financial manager and FASoS research panel on ongoing applications;
• participate in university and national meetings of research funding advisors;
• offer both faculty- and university wide information sessions, workshops and training on particular funding aspects and instruments in collaboration with UM colleagues.

Analytical skills, collegiality, and good communication skills are necessary for this job. You are someone who thinks along with others as they develop their research ideas. You can transcend the level of individual applications to advise the faculty management on the broader picture. You respond intuitively to the styles of work and expectations of those with whom you work. You do not shy away from your tasks and are supportive of others. You are / have:

• completed a Higher Education academic degree (master or PhD degree) preferably in social sciences and/or humanities;
• CEFR level C1 in Dutch and English (oral and written);
• hands-on experience with developing and writing proposals for Dutch and/or European funding agencies (e.g. NWO, Horizon Europe, KNAW, foundations) is a bonus;
• know-how on developing, writing and implementing policy;
• flexible and proactive work attitude, you like to take the initiative;
• proven affinity with research in social science and humanities;
• excellent organisational and time management skills;
• the ability to perform under pressure and prioritise;
• communication skills, tact and diplomacy;
• self-reflective with a desire to deliver high quality output;
• a good understanding of the dynamic research cultures and practices within the academic world;
• humour and creativity: our work is serious enough by itself!

Fixed-term contract: 1 year, with option to get a permanent contract.

What we have to offer
We offer a dynamic and challenging job in an internationally oriented organization where young people receive an advanced education and scholars conduct exciting research. This position provides you with the opportunity to collaborate closely with a variety of interesting people. In terms of our organization, you will be part of the small and dedicated cluster Research Support Office in the Faculty Office.

Conditions of employment

• 0.8 – 1.0 fte employment. The position of policy advisor Research is in the category UFO profile “Beleidsmedewerker 4 or 3”; salary scale 10 respectively salary scale 11 (€ 2960 - € 5439 gross per month based on full-time employment). Salary will be based on relevant education combined with relevant work experience;
• In addition to the salary, we offer an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• Maastricht University offers training possibilities and professional courses;
• Temporary contract for one year; contract can be made permanent based on good performance after this period;
• Start date: as soon as possible (to be discussed).

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > About UM > Working at UM.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 22,000 students and about 5,000 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience. 
For more information, visit www.maastrichtuniversity.nl.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) has a staff of about 250, and over 1,800 students. In our teaching and research we highlight major developments in societies and cultures as they have unfolded during the modern and contemporary eras. We seek to gain understanding of the interrelationships between Europeanisation, globalisation, scientific and technological development, political change and cultural innovation. We are interested in how today’s societies cope with these challenges through, amongst others, practices of remembrance, governance techniques, strategies for managing knowledge, technologies and risks, and ways of dealing with diversity and inequality. Understanding our present world is impossible without insight into its past, and thus historical research is a key element of our scholarly and educational identity.

FASoS is housed in several recently renovated 18th-century buildings in the historic city centre of Maastricht. Further information on the faculty is available on our website: www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/fasos.