Project Support Officer

Are you a connector with an eye for detail?
Do you enjoy supporting others, streamlining processes, and working with numbers and administration? Are you looking for a position where you can truly make a difference – with plenty of autonomy and the opportunity to shape something new? Then we’re looking for you!

As a Project Support Officer for Research Grants, you will support our researchers in applying for and managing externally funded research projects. You provide structure, create clarity, and take work off their hands. Experience is a plus, but not required – what matters most is your motivation to help shape this relatively new role..

What will you do?
In this role, you are the key point of contact for researchers, internal colleagues, and external partners. You manage the entire grant lifecycle – from application to project completion – and ensure smooth administrative processes. You also help align projects with the strategic goals of the department, faculty, and university.

You will join the Research Support Team (RST) of the Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM) – a dedicated team working to strengthen research support within the faculty. As this is a new position within TiSEM, you’ll have room to contribute to its further development and integration into existing structures.

A glimpse of your workday
No two days are the same. Your tasks may include:

• Entering project details into the EU grant portal for a recently awarded project.
• Coordinating with Finance & Control to issue invoices, and updating the management team accordingly.
• Processing changes in capacity planning and discussing their impact with the project administration.
• Consulting with project leaders about researcher allocation and proposing solutions.
• Supporting researchers with new grant applications: asking the right questions, thinking strategically, and initiating the process.

In short: you create connection, structure, and progress.

Who are you?
We are looking for a colleague who prefers working on campus (with the option to work from home one day per week) and who recognizes themselves in the following:

• You hold a completed higher professional education (HBO) degree and have proven experience in independently supporting research projects or similarly complex projects within an academic or research environment.
• You are proactive and service-oriented, and you know how to effectively support colleagues and researchers, even in situations with multiple stakeholders.
• You communicate fluently and professionally in both Dutch and English (at least B2, preferably C1 level), both verbally and in writing – you write accurately and clearly.
• You have demonstrated experience in financial administration or project control, for example with budgets, reports, or invoicing within research or grant-funded projects.
• You are strong in planning, organizing, and prioritizing, and can easily switch between different tasks and deadlines.
• You have strong analytical skills: you can interpret grant conditions and financial data and translate them into concrete actions.
• You work accurately and remain calm under pressure, maintaining oversight in complex procedures.
• You are a team player with a results-oriented mindset, contributing actively to the further professionalization of the Research Support Team.
• You have experience with digital project and financial systems (such as SAP, advanced Excel, or grant portals such as the EU Funding & Tenders Portal).

Tilburg University is among the top employers in the Netherlands and offers excellent employment conditions. Specifically:

• A 12-month appointment, with a possible extension to a maximum of 36 months.
  (This is a vacancy whose work is temporarily funded on the basis of project funding, in accordance with article 2.3 paragraph 7 sub b of the CLA Dutch Universities)
• Salary based on scale 8 or 9 of the CAO Dutch Universities.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 41 vacation days per year for a 40-hour work week.
• Excellent fringe benefits, including a customizable benefits package and relocation allowance.
• A dynamic working environment on a green campus, easily accessible by public transport.
• Ample opportunities for personal development, such as training in leadership, effectiveness, and career development.
• An inclusive workplace culture that values diversity.
• Pension scheme via ABP, and for international candidates, potential eligibility for the 30% tax ruling

More information: Working at Tilburg University.

Tilburg University is committed to contributing to a better society. We believe that those who seek to understand society must also engage with it. Guided by this vision, 1,500 staff and 20,000 students conduct education and research in areas such as economics, business, behavioral sciences, law, humanities, theology, and data science.

De Tilburg School of Economics and Management (TiSEM) is a leading faculty with over 8,000 students and 400 researchers. TiSEM is known for its excellent research, interdisciplinary education, and impactful collaboration with societal partners.

You will be part of the Research Support Team (RST) at TiSEM: a committed and skilled team supporting researchers and faculty management in areas such as PhD trajectories, research output, and quality assurance.

The RST is part of Academic Services (AS), the university division responsible for shaping and implementing policies related to education, research, and societal impact. AS also provides organizational and administrative support for programs, graduate schools, and research projects, and supports students, lecturers, researchers, and PhD candidates. AS helps researchers acquire funding and facilitates the valorization of research results.

AS is structured into three thematic units: Education, Research, and Impact (Knowledge Transfer), and includes a separate policy staff department. Within the Research unit, AS Research collaborates closely with scientists to realize their research ambitions, with a focus on interdisciplinarity, methodological innovation, and personal leadership.

Academic Services is part of University Services, the central organization for support services at Tilburg University.