Are you interested in helping to develop a communication-strategy for a complex, multidisciplinary research center? Are you interested in how to most effectively use this strategy to create impact to the benefit of society? The Research Center for Quantum Software (QuSoft) is looking for an enthusiastic Coordinator Communication & Impact to help strengthen its profile and visibility.

What are you going to do?

In close collaboration with the researchers involved and together with the institute coordinator, you will help to develop a QuSoft communication-strategy. QuSoft is a collaboration between the University of Amsterdam and the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), the Dutch national center for mathematics and computer science of NWO. You will coordinate with the communication departments of both partners, while acting as the point of contact for QuSoft.

You will help develop new communication methods such as strategic brochures, while refreshing and maintaining existing ones, such as the QuSoft website, Twitter, and other channels. You will build up an extended, professional, and effective network in the media (nationally at first, but also internationally), and pro-actively seek out opportunities to share the exciting research at QuSoft with the world.

You will assist in the development of a local quantum-ecosystem called Quantum.Amsterdam and ensure that the position and core-values of QuSoft within this ecosystem are properly visible. QuSoft and this ecosystem play a key role in the National Agenda for Quantum Technology (the 'QuantumDeltaNL'), which can and will provide a key angle for delivering impact in our strategy.

Occasionally, you will assist in composing outreach and impact strategies for research proposals involving multiple national and international stakeholders. You will also every now and then (be asked to) advise the directors of QuSoft on topics related to communication and impact.

• A MSc degree in Mathematics, Computer Science, (Theoretical) Physics, or a closely related field (with a specialization in Communication and Education of Sciences);
• fluency in Dutch and English, both written and spoken;
• a pro-active, inquisitive and self-reliant attitude; the willingness to pick up work even when not directed to do so;
• a passion regarding connecting foundational research and technology to society and industry;
• mastery of digital technologies for communication and social media;
• the ability to operate smoothly in a complex environment and sensitivity for the interest of multiple stakeholders involved;
• a good listener and being able to build up personal relationships.

What would be nice to have?

• Experience with the development of strategies for more complex organizations;
• a year or longer of experience in a research or technology-development organization;
• knowledge of the communication and impact requirements in research proposals.

Fixed-term contract: one year.

A temporary contract for 32 hours per week, preferably starting as soon as possible for the duration of 1 year, with the possibility of another 1-year extension if we assess your performance positive. You will be employed at the University of Amsterdam, at the Institute of Physics at the Faculty of Science. Your day-to-day activities will mostly be within the Center Wiskunde en Informatica (CWI).

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2,709 to €4,274 (scale 10) gross per month, based on full-time employment (38 hours a week). These amounts are exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end-of-year bonus. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits? Then find out more about working at the Faculty of Science.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.  

The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

Faculty of Science –  Institute of Physics

QuSoft is the Dutch research center for quantum software and develops new protocols, algorithms, and applications that can be run on small and medium-sized prototypes of a quantum computer. The main focus of QuSoft is on the development of quantum software, which requires fundamentally different techniques and approaches from conventional software. 

QuSoft is a collaboration between CWI and UvA and involves roughly 50 researchers from the disciplines of Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science and Chemistry. QuSoft is an important partner in the National Agenda for Quantum Technologies, the QuantumDeltaNL.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.