Function description

Leiden University stimulates interdisciplinary research and encourages researchers to collaborate with external partners and stakeholders, which materializes in thematic research networks and larger ecosystems for innovation. Your first priority as Grant Advisor will be to couple potentially high impact (interdisciplinary) research initiatives to concrete national funding opportunities for collaboration. You will have a crucial bridge function, and possess a natural ability to identify and connect to stakeholders, both in the public and private sector. You have a hands-on mentality and know the challenges of the playing field you are operating in to get the job done before the inevitable deadline. You will work closely with the other support staff of the Research Support Network to set up robust research projects that lead to the winning the funding bids. As such, you will play an important role in enabling exciting research that helps to solve major societal challenges.

You will be part of the active and lively (at least we think so) Research Funding Support Community, a community of first line and second line grant advisors who actively work together to cover all grant support in the university. Your role will be an expert grant advisor role in the Grant Development Team that fulfils the second line function, and you will need to make your own and visible contribution to the community. To complement the team we are looking for a grant advisor who is already well on their way of becoming an expert in collaborative funding opportunities and particularly up to speed with the national public private funding landscape. As expert you also fulfil an important function in the organisation of events related to collaborative funding and train, coach and work together with the first line support staff in the institutes and faculties. Never a dull day.

Key responsibilities:

• Support researchers in building relevant networks and building solid consortia with public and private stakeholders
• Support research networks in their bids for funding, specifically for larger scale research projects that aim for societal impact.

Your profile / selection criteria

• university degree;
• knowledge of the Dutch research funding landscape is a prerequisite;
• at least five years of working experience, of which at least one year working within a research & innovation or consultancy environment, with hands-on experience setting up inter-sectoral consortia and writing of proposals for collaborative projects, e.g. for Horizon Europe, Dutch National Science Agenda or Knowledge and Innovation Covenant;
• natural networker with great personal skills to motivate others, with contacts in academia and non-academic (e.g. cultural, industry, government, civil) circles;
• ability to quickly conceptualise;
• excellent oral and writing skills in both Dutch and English. English native speakers should have the ability to acquire good Dutch oral and writing skills within a year;
• enthusiastic, inventive, service- as well as results-oriented;
• functions well in multi-disciplinary teams. Likes the expert role, but possesses the flexibility to make other contributions when needed;
• ability to effectively manage a broad range of projects with competing deadlines.

Terms and conditions

We offer

• A challenging and inspiring international work environment with ample opportunities for personal and professional development;
• A one year position with a probation period of maximally two months. In case of satisfactory performance, renewal of the position can be considered for the remaining duration of the project.
• A competitive salary in the range of EUR 3974 - 6181 gross per month, based on a full time position (in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). We are looking for a junior to medior grant advisor in pay scale 11, only with five or more years experience of collaborative proposal development in an advisory position pay scale 12 will be considered.

Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8,3%), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. More information can be found on the website https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at.

Diversity

Leiden University is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Leiden University

Organisation

The grant advisor works from the Grant Development Office, which is part of the Strategy and Academics Affairs Directorate (SAZ) within the Administration and Central Services department. This department supports the Executive Board (CvB) and faculties in managing Leiden University. SAZ is responsible for strategy development and policy advice relating to teaching and research. It is the duty of SAZ to inform and advise the faculties. SAZ prepares for decision-making and applications for new degree programmes, translates legislation into educational practice, develops policy to promote and support student success, promotes the internationalization of the teaching, advises on developments in the research profiles, supports accreditation processes, develops PhD policy, drafts the strategic plan, develops policy on professors and is responsible for the academic integrity policy.

The Grant Development Team as part of the larger Research Funding Community focuses on expert support for the acquisition of research funding. This entails supporting researchers in their bids for funding, as well as supporting agenda setting in- and outside the university.