Research Project Manager for an EU funded research project “FutureMARES”

This position is responsible for the day-to-day management of FutureMARES, a large project funded by the EU. NIOZ is the scientific coordinator and will take over full, administrative coordination in autumn 2021. The position runs for the full duration of FutureMARES plus 2 months (i.e. through November 30th, 2024).

The project
FutureMARES is an EU-funded research project examining the relations between climate change, marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. Our activities are designed around three Nature-based Solutions (NBS):

Effective Restoration (NBS1) 
Effective Conservation (NBS2)
Sustainable Harvesting of Marine Resources (NBS3)

The research
We are conducting our research and cooperating with marine organizations and the public in five Case Study Regions across the globe. Our goal is to provide science-based policy advice on how best to use NBS to protect future biodiversity and ecosystem services in a future climate. This includes provide socially and economically viable actions and strategies in support of NBS for climate change adaptation and mitigation. We develop these solutions with stakeholders to safeguard future biodiversity and ecosystem functions to maximize natural capital and its delivery of services from marine and transitional ecosystems.

The role

• Project progress and deadlines monitoring, detailed project planning and work organization hand-in-hand with the scientific coordinator and project scientific steering committee.
• Project controlling, budget monitoring and funds administration for the whole project consortium (consortium size - 33 organizations, total project budget -  8.56 million €).
• Reporting to the European Commission.
• Setup and oversee workflow and quality assurance measures for reports and results.
• Writing, compiling and submission of financial and technical /scientific reports.
• Organization, preparation, support and follow-up of the project reviews, evaluation and checks.
• Primary contact person for the European Commission and its agencies.
• Work at the interface between scientists and the administrative departments. (particularly, financial administration), external partners and the funding authority (European Commission).
• Contribute to communication and engagement strategies, writing of the communication, dissemination and exploitation plans and reports.
• Project-related outreach, presentations and briefings.
• Management of the research data generated by the project (data management plan).
• Networking activities, involvement and coordination of relevant external stakeholders and advisors from academia, policy and industry.
• Organization, supervision and documentation of project meetings and scientific and policy events (logistics and content, up to 100 participants, incl. travel arrangements).

• University degree, preferably in natural sciences or business administration;
• Training in project and research management;
• Strong organizational skills and in application of (project) management methods and tools;
• Solid IT skills (MS Office, etc.)
• Experience in research and innovation project management;
• Candidate must demonstrate high social and intercultural competence (consistent with the size, international level, and complexity of the project consortium);
• Good understanding of the national and international research funding landscape;
• Knowledge of funding programmes, rules of participation and administrative and financial project management provisions with strong focus on the funding programmes of the European Union (concrete: deep knowledge of the Grant Agreements of the EC);
• Good track record in successfully managing research projects and funding applications;
• Demonstrated competence in process management / strong process management skills and extensive experience of working at the interface between scientists and administration, external partners and international and national funding authorities
• Well organised and service oriented;
• Friendly and reliable way of working;
• Team player (collaborative spirit and ability to work on an highly international and interdisciplinary team);
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• English skills – no lower than C1 (working language is English);
• Experience in rapidly familiarizing oneself with new, interdisciplinary research projects;
• Preferably internationally well-networked with administrators and project managers large marine laboratories / institutions;
• Systematic, independent and highly efficient working approach joined with a talent for organisation and high commitment to a project.

Royal NIOZ COS is located on the beautiful island of Texel in the World Heritage Wadden Sea. Texel offers sun, wind and beach, and a diverse but moderate level of facilities, including a thriving tourist industry, shops, sports facilities, primary schools and a high school. It is connected to the main land by an hourly to half-hourly ferry service, with crossings taking 20 minutes. The Royal NIOZ is situated next to the ferry terminal.
Employment of this position at Royal NIOZ is by NWOI (The Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research).
The project is funded for 4 years and started in September 2020. We offer a temporary contract for three years (November 2021 until November 2024) starting with a standard, 1-year probationary contract. We offer a pension scheme, a yearly 8% vacation allowance, year-end bonus and flexible employment conditions and 42 days of holiday leave (fulltime position). Our labour policies are based on the Collective Labour Agreement of Research Centers (WVOI). The Royal NIOZ will provide cost of relocation and help with housing. The position is scale 11, max € 5269,- gross per month.

Royal NIOZ, the Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, is part of NWO-I, the institutes organisation of NWO (Dutch Research Council).

Excellent, world-leading
An independent, international committee of experts, evaluating NIOZ according to the Standard Evaluation Protocol (SEP), finds 'that NIOZ is a world leading marine research institute producing excellent science. The four marine research departments are all world leading as measured by the highest quality research output, award of major prizes, and an outstanding record of external research funding. This all makes it evident that NIOZ is one of the most influential oceanographic research institutes world wide.'