The YUFE Institutional Coordinator at Maastricht University (UM) is the main point of contact for the university’s strategic engagement in the Young Universities for the Future of Europe Alliance (YUFE), both for the UM community as well as for the other YUFE partners. The position is embedded in the YUFE UM team at Academic Affairs.

The YUFE Institutional Coordinator (IC) works closely with the Institutional Coordinators of the other YUFE partners in the YUFE Executive Committee.  This Committee ensures optimal exchange, synergy and alignment between YUFE partners. Alongside the UM President, the YUFE IC functions as the face of YUFE at the highest institutional levels and acts as an inspiring ambassador to local students, staff, and external stakeholders.

The YUFE Institutional Coordinator at UM:

• Advises the YUFE Strategic Council representative (UM President) and the UM Executive Board on matters relevant to UM’s role in the implementation of the Alliance’s projects as well as any YUFE-related matters that are connected to local/national policy developments;
• Represents YUFE in various internal UM bodies;
• In consultation with the UM President and the UM Executive Board, reports regularly on the progress in the Alliance to all relevant decision-making bodies within the university;
• In coordination with the institutional YUFE Strategic Council representative, maintains the relationship with local, regional and national government bodies relevant to the YUFE activities;
• Is a core team member of the YUFE UM team within Academic Affairs;
• Oversees and reports on UM’s activities in all YUFE-workpackages and projects, monitors the activities of the YUFE Project managers and the YUFE Project coordinator and the YUFE Student Forum members at UM;
• Is end-responsible for all projects (incl. budgets) at UM with a link to the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE, YUFERING, YUFE4Postdocs, Inno4YUFE);
• Is a core member of the YUFE Executive Committee that is composed by IC’s of all partners and headed by the YUFE Secretary-General;
• Provides the relevant reporting, on behalf of UM, to the YUFE Project Manager in the Central Office;
• Is the UM representative in the YUFE Workpackage on Dissemination and Impact of the Alliance.

The ideal candidate is an individual with proven experience in strategic international policy-development and implementation combined with strong diplomatic and intercultural skills.

You are, or are able to quickly adapt to become, well-connected within the institution and equipped with excellent social and communication skills. You are able to initiate and carry out strategic policy advising, development and implementation within UM in collaboration with other relevant experts.

We are looking for a motivated senior candidate equipped with excellent management and intercultural communication skills. The IC is able to forge new collaboration and strengthen the existing relationships on multiple levels within the institution, within the Alliance, within the community and within the national and European political arena.

The successful candidate has:

• A relevant academic qualification (MA degree or equivalent, PhD is a plus) combined with professional experience in international strategy development, preferably in the public sector;
• Experience in working with, and advising/influencing, senior university leadership at the Executive Board level or equivalent;
• Strong affinity with Higher Education in an international setting and awareness of current developments in European Higher Education and Research & Innovation policy;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills;
• An open and an inclusive approach to international cooperation that allows to foster the YUFE (team) spirit across different (institutional) cultures;
• Strong analytical thinking skills and is stress resilient;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills in English and Dutch;
• Resilience and ability to adapt to changing priorities.

Required compentencies:

• Conceptual: analytical, innovative and strategic thinking;
• Relational: organizational and political sensitivity, experienced in operating in a dynamic administrative-political environment. Cooperation, creating connections and flexibility are important compentencies in this field;
• Personal: independent, pro-active and accurate;
• Goal oriented.

As a Institutional Coordinator at Yufe, you will be employed by the most international university of the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is in grated in scale 13 according to the UFO profile Project Manager, with corresponding salary ranging from € 6,002 to
  € 7,305 gross per month (based on a full-time employment of 38 hours per week). In addition to the monthly salary, an 8.0% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus are applicable.
• An employment contract for a period of 1 year with a scope of 1.0 FTE, with the possibility for an extension, based on a positive assessment.
• We offer flexible working hours and the possibility to work partly from home if the nature of your position allows it. You will receive a monthly commuting and internet allowance for this. If you work full-time, you will be entitled to 29 vacation days and 4 additional public holidays per year, namely carnival Monday, carnival Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day. If you choose to accumulate compensation hours, an additional 12 days will be added. Furthermore, you can personalize your employment conditions through a collective labor agreement (CAO) choice model.
• As Maastricht University, we offer various other excellent secondary employment conditions. These include a good pension scheme with the ABP and the opportunity for UM employees to participate in company fitness and make use of the extensive sports facilities that we also offer to our students.
• Last but certainly not least, we provide the space and facilities for your personal and professional development. We facilitate this by offering a wide range of training programs and supporting various well-established initiatives such as 'acknowledge and appreciate'.

The terms of employment at Maastricht University are largely set out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, Click here

Universiteit Maastricht

Why work at Maastricht University?

At Maastricht University (UM), everything revolves around the future. The future of our students, as we work to equip them with a solid, broad-based foundation for the rest of their lives. And the future of society, as we seek solutions through our research to issues from all around the world. Our six faculties combined provide a comprehensive package of study programmes and research.  

In our teaching, we use the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method. Students work in small groups, looking for solutions to problems themselves. By discussing issues and working together to draw conclusions, formulate answers and present them to their peers, students develop essential skills for their future careers.

With over 22,300 students and more than 5,000 employees from all over the world, UM is home to a vibrant and inspiring international community.

Are you drawn to an international setting focused on education, science and scholarship? Are you keen to contribute however your skills and qualities allow? Our door is open to you! As a young European university, we value your talent and look forward to creating the future together.  

Click here for more information about UM.

YUFE

The YUFE Alliance (https://yufe.eu)

The Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) is the top-scoring European University alliance, selected in 2019 by the European Commission to develop and implement one of the first models of a European University. The YUFE Alliance is bringing a radical change by becoming the leading model of a student-centered, non-elitist, open and inclusive European University based on the cooperation between higher education institutions, public and private sector, and citizens.

In the past two years, the YUFE Alliance has started to build the foundations for its European University, and has developed pilots of truly European study programmes, enhancing European career perspectives for staff, and contributing to solving important European regional challenges. In doing so, the YUFE European University is pursuing its vision of strengthening European collective identity and contributing to a more cohesive European society.

In the coming years, the YUFE alliance will continue to build the foundation for its European University, and will develop truly European study programmes for students, enhance European career perspectives for staff, and contribute to solving important European regional challenges. In doing so, the YUFE European University will pursue its vision of strengthening European collective identity and contributing to a more cohesive European society.