Community and Lab Manager - PLANET-NL Research Platform

We are seeking a proactive and organized Lead for our partnership engagement and Lab Management to support the growing activities of PLANET-NL, a collaborative inter-university research platform.

Join our team!
PLANET-NL is part of the national research infrastructure and offers a platform for large-scale analysis of network data, with a focus on social networks. The research group consists of people in computer science and social science, and related disciplines. The successful candidate will play a central role in maintaining the operational and outreach aspects of the group, serving as its organizational face, and facilitating internal and external collaboration across academia, policy institutions, and research funders.

What are you going to do

• Oversee the coordination of joint research initiatives, including project planning, funding acquisition, communication and progress monitoring.
• Ensure seamless internal operations by managing project timelines, team communication, and resource allocation.
• Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with and within academic institutions, policy institutions, research funders, and other stakeholders, both in the Netherlands and Internationally.
• Represent the group at conferences, workshops, and public forums, enhancing visibility and building relationships with key stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for external inquiries, providing information and updates to key stakeholders about ongoing research projects and initiatives. Develop and implement communication strategies that effectively convey the group's research goals, outcomes, and impact.
• Work closely with senior leadership to align community and partnership initiatives with broader institutional strategies and priorities.

What do you have to offer

• Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in a relevant field, or equivalent experience.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with experience managing multiple stakeholders and deadlines.
• Experience in community engagement, partnership development, or program management, preferably in academic or research settings.
• Proven track record of successful collaboration with academic institutions, policy makers, research funders, or similar stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences and the translate cutting edge scientific work to a range of non-academic stakeholders
• Experience in research funding acquisition and grant management is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• In-person availability at least on Mondays

Desired Skills:

• Affinity with Computational Social Science and/or Network Science. Familiarity with research administration and academic publishing.
• Experience with public speaking and representation at academic or policy-related events.
• Knowledge of relevant funding opportunities, both governmental and private sector.

What we offer you

• A collaborative, inclusive work environment with opportunities for professional development
• Part of a team that spans several institutes and universities
• The chance to make a tangible impact on groundbreaking research initiatives
• Flexible work arrangements and competitive compensation

The position concerns temporary employment of 23 hours per week (0.6 fte). The initial employment term will be for one year, with a probationary period of two months. Following a positive assessment and barring altered circumstances, the contract will be converted into a permanent employment agreement.

The intended starting date is early 2026.

The starting salary will be based on qualifications, expertise and relevant work experience, ranging from a minimum of € 4728 to a maximum of € 6433 gross per month based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week, in keeping with salary scale 11, as per the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities. The job profile ‘Coordinator Externe Samenwerking 4’ is applicable. We additionally offer an extensive package of secondary benefits, including 8% holiday allowance and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.

Here you will work
In this team, you will work in an interdisciplinary computational social science setting. The core team is based at the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University. You will collaborate with other teams that are part of the national research infrastructure and interact with a wide variety of academics and policy makers in the Netherlands.

If you recognize yourself in this profile and are interested in the role, we look forward to receiving your motivation letter and CV. You can apply via the red button. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be given preference over external candidates.

Deadline for submitting your file is on Thursday 4 December. Interviews are scheduled on Friday 12 December.

For questions about the vacancy, you can contact: e.m.heemskerk@uva.nl