Eureka is the world’s biggest public network for international cooperation in R&D and innovation. Since 1985, governments and public funding agencies in our network have supported the R&D of over 7,000 ground-breaking commercialised innovations that have positively impacted economic growth and industry competitiveness. With several programmes, our network funds small, medium and large companies, universities and research organisations who undertake international R&D projects for civilian purpose.
The Brussels-based Eureka Secretariat supports the network’s strategic objectives, manages Eureka’s programme operations, develops and maintains IT platforms, stores data and promotes Eureka to a wide range of stakeholders and beneficiaries.
One of Eureka’s flagship initiatives is the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs, co-funded by the European Commission. Within this are:
The Innowwide funding programme - supporting SMEs going global through market feasibility projects to assess the viability of their research or commercial ambitions in international markets, launching one call for projects per year.
The Fast Track to the EIC Accelerator - allowing Eurostars-3 alumni SMEs to skip the first step of the EIC Accelerator and move directly to the second step (full proposal) of the EIC Accelerator, with two calls per year.
The Eureka Secretariat, based in Brussels (Etterbeek), is looking for a full-time
Programme Management Officer
to support the Innowwide and Fast Track to the EIC accelerator implementation and evaluation processes.
The selected candidate will support the preparation of the calls for proposals, applicant helpdesk, evaluation and monitoring of projects and administration.
The Programme Management Officer will report to the Operations Manager – Global cooperation & corporate activities
You will work closely with various stakeholders, including funding agencies, project applicants and experts. This position requires strong motivation and client-focused organisation and communication skills.
Duties and responsibilities:
Programme management:
- Acting as a primary contact point for applicants, participants, experts and the network to guide them through the Innowwide and Fast Track evaluation, monitoring and funding processes to ensure timely delivery of milestones and objectives.
- Supporting the entire evaluation process from receipt of applications, expert selection, remote expert evaluation, independent evaluation panel through to the ethics review.
- Following up on projects’ ethical requirements during their life cycle.
- Proactively communicating with applicants and national representatives.
- Identifying potential problems and delays as soon as they arise and proposing and implementing solutions.
- Contributing to the continuous analysis of programme processes, identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes.
- Performing the role in accordance with the organisation's strategy of quality and risk management.
- Preparing reports, documents and presentations for network and stakeholder meetings, including reports to be submitted to the European Commission or its agencies.
- Participating and presenting the programme at external events.
- Liaising with the IT, communications and finance teams within the Eureka Secretariat to ensure that evaluation processes are delivered effectively and before deadlines.
- Welcoming new colleagues and assisting in their inductions and trainings.
- Explaining processes and benefits of the programme and its results to Eureka stakeholders.
Qualifications and skills
- An exceptional administrator.
- A positive, flexible and highly motivated team-player with the ability to work independently, manage tight deadlines and focus on results.
- Organisational ability to cope with the challenge of daily deadlines and changing priorities.
- Excellent spoken and written English.
- Excellent practical knowledge of MS Office, especially Excel or an equivalent.
- At ease with understanding and producing statistical analyses.
- Excellent public speaking abilities.
- As a member of a multinational team: sensitivity to cultural differences.
Education and experience
- A level of higher education that corresponds to completed post-secondary education of at least three years attested by a diploma (bachelor degree) in a relevant field of study.
- Preferably a level of higher education corresponding to a master’s degree within a relevant field.
- At least one year of relevant professional experience in operations of funding programmes, project management, or similar; or a successful six-month internship at Eureka.
What we offer you
- A full-time position with an open-ended contract
- A competitive salary, taking into account educational level and previous professional experience.
- Attractive extra-legal benefits, like flexible home-office working with a homeworking allowance, extra-legal vacation days, pension and hospitalisation plans, a work-to-office public transport season ticket and meal vouchers.
- An international and dynamic workplace consisting of a team of 35+ employees from 16 different countries.
Eureka strongly lives by the values of trust, transparency, passion, creativity, autonomy, collaboration, work-life balance and diversity across all our teams and our whole network of customers and partners.
- A nice and modern working environment, close to the center of Brussels and the European quarter and easily reachable by public transport.
The selected candidate would be invited to start as soon possible.
Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the European Union or EEA.
Application and closing date
Please send your CV and motivation letter, completing the application form via the online APPLY button at the end of the vacancy page.
By sending an application, candidates give their consent to their diplomas and references being verified.
Eureka Network is an equal opportunities employer.
Closing date: Tuesday 5 November 2024, 5 pm (Brussels time).
Applications received beyond the closing date will be refused.
Please note that only applicants selected for interview will be contacted.
We expect to hold interview between 18 and 29 November 2024. Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted to arrange a specific date and time.
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