The YUFE Project manager at Maastricht University (UM) is one of the first points of contact for the university’s operational 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 Project Manager (PM) works closely with the YUFE Institutional Coordinator and the YUFE Project coordinator Research & Innovation and with other internal stakeholders at Maastricht University. Also, the YUFE Project Manager works with representatives of all partner organizations within the YUFE Alliance, based on the tasks and deliverables that the YUFE PM is responsible for. The ultimate aim of all activities is to ensure that Maastricht University fulfills their obligations as a partner in the YUFE Alliance.

The YUFE Project manager at UM:

• Functions as the first point of contact for questions about the YUFE Alliance and YUFE projects at UM for all staff and students;
• Represents UM as YUFE partner in various work packages and tasks in the YUFE 2030 initiative (topics a.o.: Life long learning, Staff Development, Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity, Civic engagement and Entrepreneurship) and in theYUFE4Postdocs programme and works together with representatives of all academic and non-academic partners of the YUFE Alliance;
• Monitors the UM contributions to the assigned YUFE work packages and projects and frequently reports on the progress of the implementation of UM’s activities and deliverables to the YUFE Institutional coordinator;
• Identifies UM staff who can be involved in the various work packages and supports them in the fulfillment of the relevant tasks at UM, thus building a YUFE network within our university and beyond;
• Reports on the progress of the assigned work packages and deliverables at UM to the stakeholders in the Alliance. Timely signals bottlenecks and proposes alternatives to internal and external stakeholders in a pro-active manner;
• Supports the YUFE Institutional coordinator in reporting and with presentations on the progress of all YUFE activities to relevant UM internal bodies and external stakeholders;
• Is part of a small and versatile team of 8 colleagues who pro-actively search for ways to integrate the innovative YUFE activities into the existing UM structures. Is the back-up for the YUFE Project coordinator R&I and the YUFE Institutional coordinator when needed;
• Works closely together with the other internal YUFE Project Managers;
• Chairs regular UM YUFE meetings held with all colleagues and students that are involved in the implementation of YUFE Alliance activities and projects.

Is this the job for you? You bring at least a few years of experience in (international) project management, preferably in an academic environment. You have a broad interest in the topics that the YUFE Alliance addresses in their ambition to be one of the first, multi-campus European Universities. Your natural curiosity makes you an easy networker in any new environment and a valued sparring partner in the European University’s context. You actively seek co-operation with staff, students and external stakeholders and you consider experiments and pilots a way to success, even if they fail.

The successful candidate brings:

• A relevant academic qualification (MA degree or equivalent)
• The ability to coordinate intercultural and interdisciplinary teams including (non-)academic staff, students and citizens;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills;
• Advanced project management skills;
• Ability to deal with a high level of complexity, analytical thinking and the ability to move forward without knowing all the details;
• An open and an inclusive approach to cooperation that allows to foster the YUFE (team) spirit across different (institutional) cultures;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (oral and written) skills in English and Dutch;
• Resilience and the ability to adapt to changing priorities;
• Ability to work in a small team and the required flexibility to support a wide range of activities.

Required compentencies:

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

As Project Manager at Maastricht University Office, you will be employed by the most international university in the Netherlands, located in the beautiful city of Maastricht. In addition, we offer you:

• Good employment conditions. The position is graded in scale 11 according to UFO profile Projectmanager, with corresponding salary based on experience ranging from €4332,00 and €5929,00 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 apply.
• An employment contract for a period of 12 months with a scope of 0,6 FTE. Upon proven suitability, the employment contract will be converted to an indefinite contract.
• At Maastricht University, the well-being of our employees is of utmost importance, 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 labor agreement of Dutch Universities. In addition, local provisions specific to UM apply. For more information, click here.

Maastricht University

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.

Maastricht University Office

The Maastricht University Office (MUO) is a network organisation to facilitate and promote UM activities both internally and externally. The MUO consists of seven departments and encompasses various initiatives and projects. It also works for and with the Executive Board, faculties and service centres.

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.