The Head of the Projects & IA Office leads the strategy, coordination, and execution of all research and innovation project activities in a center of excellence. This role ensures outstanding project design, competitive funding acquisition, project management, compliance, and reporting.
The role is central in supporting the center’s scientific leadership, enhancing international competitiveness, and ensuring strategic alignment with the center program goals and KPIs.
KEY RESPONSABILITIES
Strategic Leadership, Funding Strategy & Program Coordination
1. Develop the Projects Office strategy aligned with institutional priorities.
2. Identify, evaluate, and prioritize funding opportunities (ERC, MSCA, Horizon Europe, national/regional programs, foundations).
3. Ensure proposals effectively support the center’s scientific goals and programmatic obligations.
4. Oversee planning, monitoring, reporting, KPIs.
Project Management, Compliance & Operational Excellence
5. Lead the full lifecycle management of funded projects, ensuring financial, legal, and administrative compliance.
6. Coordinate deliverables, risk assessment, reporting, and audit readiness with Finance, HR, Legal, and Communications.
7. Develop and optimise internal processes, tools, and KPIs to enhance operational quality and efficiency.
8. Provide training and guidance to researchers on funding schemes and proposal development.
Team Leadership & Capacity Development
9. Lead, mentor, and support the PMO team, ensuring strong coordination and balanced workload distribution.
10. Establish best practices and promote a service‑oriented, high‑performance culture.
11. Enhance team capabilities for managing complex and competitive research environments.
External Relations, Partnerships & Institutional Representation
12. Represent the center within key research management networks and working groups.
13. Maintain active engagement with funding agencies, partner institutions, and industry stakeholders.
14. Build and strengthen strategic collaborations to enhance competitiveness and international positioning.
15. Support long‑term institutional strategy and visibility, internationally and positioning and contributing to long‑term institutional strategy.
EDUCATION, TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
16. Master’s degree or higher in science, or related fields.
17. A PhD degree in life sciences and research experience will be an advantage
18. Full command of English and Spanish; Catalan desirable.
19. Minimum 5 years of experience in research project management, preferably in internationally competitive research environments.
20. Proven track record managing EU-funded projects (especially Horizon Europe / H2020) and institutional (infrastructures…).
21. Experience leading a team in a position of leadership or middle-management positions is a must.
22. Experience working in or with Severo Ochoa / María de Maeztu centers is a strong advantage.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
23. Deep knowledge of the research funding landscape (EU, national, regional, private).
24. Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
25. Good communication skills, leadership, teamwork and collaboration, proactivity, commitment, integrity, people management and goal oriented.
26. Strategic thinking and planning.
27. Ability to manage multiple priorities
28. Stakeholder and relationship management.
29. Proactive mindset and service orientation.
WORKING CONDITIONS
30. Full-time, Permanent position. Specific Rate of Replacement for the stabilization of temporary work, requested by the Administration of the Generalitat based on the Law 2/2023, of march 16, and the Law 31/2022, of December 23, on general State budgets for the year 2023, both currently extended.
31. Remuneration: depending on the experience and qualifications provided and framed within the salary structure of CRAG.
32. Planned date of incorporation: September 2025
33. Facilities for balance work and personal life through teleworking and flexible working hours, 22 days of holidays, 9 free days of personal matters; intensive working hours on summer and Fridays, among others.
34. Good environment and good place to work.
35. High-quality international scientific environment.
36. Centre placed in UAB Campus
SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS
Please submit all the application through indicating the reference of the position.
CRAG is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission. All candidates will be considered qualified for the job without restrictions of gender, race, nationality or disability.
Integration policy: reserve the place in a first turn for disabled staff.