Pre-Award Project Manager – UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change (ESCI-UPF)
About UNESCO Chair
The UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change ESCI-UPF is an international center of excellence in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and a leading source of innovative research on LCA and its application on mitigating climate change in sectors such as: agrifood, packaging, chem/pharma, health, new materials, construction, energy and, waste management.
The UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change at ESCI-UPF is seeking a Pre-Award Project Manager to join its team within the new ESCI-UPF Project Office.
The selected candidate will play a key role in identifying and attracting competitive funding opportunities, supporting researchers in the preparation of European proposals, and leading communication and dissemination activities for the Chair's research projects.
This position offers a dynamic opportunity to contribute to the growth of international research initiatives in sustainability, climate change, and circular economy, while supporting the pre-award phase of competitive funding projects.
Main Responsibilities
Pre-Award and Project Promotion
* Proposal Writing: Draft and contribute to high-quality research and innovation proposals for European and national funding programmes (e.g., Horizon Europe, Erasmus, AEI calls, etc.), ensuring alignment with call requirements and institutional priorities.
* Budget Preparation: Develop project budgets in compliance with the financial rules of each call.
* Coordination with Partners: Act as the main contact for consortium partners in coordinated proposals, and liaise with coordinators when ESCI-UPF participates as a partner.
* Opportunity Scouting: Monitor and identify new funding opportunities and strategic partnerships relevant to the Chair's research areas.
* Promotion & Networking: Represent ESCI-UPF and the Chair at information sessions, brokerage events, and networking activities to promote collaborations and attract new projects.
* Support to Researchers: Provide guidance to research staff during the proposal preparation phase, including administrative, technical reporting, impact, gender, knowlegde transfer, KPI and strategic aspects.
Communication & Dissemination
* Strategy Development: Design and implement communication and dissemination strategies for research projects, ensuring alignment with funder requirements and maximizing project visibility and impact.
* Content Creation: Prepare and publish dissemination materials, scientific and non-scientific articles, newsletters, social media posts, and reports showcasing project results.
* Event Participation: Coordinate and participate in events, conferences, and workshops to disseminate outcomes and strengthen stakeholder engagement.
Required Qualifications and Experience
* University degree in Environmental, Chemical, Agricultural, Agri-food or related Engineering, Environmental Sciences, or related fields.
* A Master's degree or PhD in Sustainability, Circular Economy, Environmental Management, or related disciplines will be highly valued.
* Solid knowledge of European funding programmes (Horizon Europe, Interreg, LIFE, Erasmus+, etc.) and familiarity with national and regional funding instruments.
* Professional proficiency in English. Spanish, and Catalan will be highly valued.
* At least 3 years of experience in the preparation of competitive funding proposals, preferably in academic, research, or consultancy environments.
* Understanding of sustainability, climate change, circular economy, and life cycle assessment principles.
Interpersonal Skills
* Strong analytical, organizational, and writing skills.
* Capacity to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines.
* Proactive, detail-oriented, and solution-driven approach.
* Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities in multicultural environments.
* Strategic and business-oriented mindset, aligned with sustainability values.
What We Offer
* The opportunity to contribute to impactful international research initiatives in sustainability and climate change.
* Integration into the new ESCI-UPF Project Office, working closely with researchers and supporting the pre-award phase of projects.
* A dynamic, collaborative, and international work environment at the UNESCO Chair in Life Cycle and Climate Change.
* Professional development and specialized training in pre-award project management and proposal writing.
* Flexible working arrangements, including up to 2 remote days per week.
* 35 hours per week (PAS position).
* A modern and welcoming office in the center of Barcelona.
* Gross annual salary: 31.000€
Applications will be evaluated starting from 7 January. The call will remain open until 16 January.
To apply for this position, please upload your CV and motivation letter (both in English and combined in a single PDF file). The PDF file should be named starting with your family name.
Kindly note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. The Chair is committed to equal opportunities and non-discrimination in employment policies and salaries on the grounds of race, ethnic origin, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, gender reassignment, or marital and civil partnership status.
All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
This contract is part of the Project GPE2025-001663-P financed by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033