EU Program Expert (with a preferable focus on Renewable energy/Cleantech & Materials)

Job Description

TU/e
Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands specializing in Engineering Science & Technology. We combine scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position worldwide in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.
TU/e drives advancements in technical sciences and the development of technological innovations and in doing so, TU/e contributes to the growth of prosperity and well-being in the Brainport region, Europe and beyond. At the heart of TU/e are its people: the campus is home to a growing community of approximately 13,000 students and 3,500 staff members who live, work, and engage in recreational activities on campus.

Research Support Office
The Research Support Office (RSO) consists of a close-knit team of professionals who support the academic staff in both pre- and post-award phases of European, national, and regional research & innovation grants. The RSO team includes research funding advisors / program experts, program managers, project leaders, and a team of legal experts.

Research Support Network
The TU/e Research Support Network (RSN) is a comprehensive knowledge network on campus that supports researchers throughout all phases of their research & innovation projects. The RSN is organized into two tiers: the first tier consists of Departmental Project Development Offices (PDOs) who provide day-today support close to the researcher and Institute Program Managers (PMs) who support researchers from a thematic/strategic point of view. The second tier, that includes the RSO, consists of experts at central services who offer specialized support to both the first tier support and to researchers directly.

TU/e EU Action Plan
On the request of the Executive Board and as a deliverable of the TU/e 2030 Strategy, a new EU-strategy has been developed by a campus-wide working group, in cocreation with stakeholders at TU/e: the TU/e EU Action Plan.
Goal of the plan is to improve the way TU/e is engaging in EU-research & innovation programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe), and to have an integral and coherent approach in which we closely cooperate on campus and where we learn and grow further together. In doing so, we will be compliant with all existing and new EC-regulations and requirements. 

The EU Action Plan, which has broad support on all levels within TU/e, is a dedicated and balanced improvement program in which needed new instruments (like info sessions, trainings, workshops, etc.) will be developed. The overall aim is that TU/e and its researchers and support staff will have a high return on effort and optimal visibility, participation and impact in EU R&I programmes.

To this end, amongst others, staff in 4 central services will be extended, including in the current grant support team of the RSO. The combined new staff will form an EU Action Plan core-team across these 4 central services; this team will closely collaborate with other staff in central services (including the RSO) and with first tier support staff in the Departments & Institutes in various sub-projects towards achieving the goals of the EU Action Plan. 

Job description
We are seeking an enthusiastic colleague to contribute to the successful execution of TU/e’s EU Action Plan. As one of the EU Program experts you will provide academic staff and 1st tier support staff strategic information in an early stage; you will support them in the entire process of call-selection, proposal-ideation, feasibility analyses, writing, reviewing and submitting proposals for European collaborative grants (such as Horizon Europe pillar 2, Digital Europe, European Defence fund, etc.). You will help setting up and running info sessions and a structured training programme for researchers, as well as a training programme for 1st tier support staff (train the trainer). You will help in extending well aligned external relations and cooperation of the RSN with our strategic partners (such as the EuroTech Universities Alliance and our key industry partners).
Importantly, you will also help in the development of improved procedures, toolkits and templates, etc. that are to be developed in the context of the EU Action Plan.

You will be hierarchically positioned in the Grant Support team of the Research Support Office, but content-wise in day-to-day operations be part of the EU Action Plan programme-team. This role offers a high degree of diversity and autonomy within the team and the university.

Tasks
Specific tasks include:

• Represent TU/e in national sounding board(s) to influence future work programmes and to acquire early information and understanding of developments.
• Inform the TU/e community of longer-term and strategic developments in the EU funding landscape, and what it means for TU/e (researchers).
• Identify and communicate (e.g. through information sessions) relevant EU funding opportunities, including background information, to the TU/e community.
• Help understand the why behind the calls and who has written them.
• Provide feedback on project ideas and perform feasibility analyses of project summaries.
• Coordinate proposal-initiatives on campus.
• Alignment, memberships & advice on EU partnerships & associations.
• Answer questions and provide support in the proposal writing process.
• Provide 2nd line support for departments and institutes.
• Provide constructive feedback on grant proposals to improve the quality.
• Stimulate and support researchers to develop a personal EU-growth strategy and network (a.o. through the EuroTech Universities Alliance).
• Develop and provide structured training for researchers (together with PDOs) and support staff
• Collaborate with colleagues in the TU/e Research Support Network and Research Support Office, colleagues from other central services and stakeholders on campus (e.g. department- and institute directors).
• Help in providing high quality management information (such as Research Funding Analyses).

Job Requirements

For this role, we are looking for a colleague who:

• Possesses an academic level of thinking and working.
• Is skilled in communication and proficient in conveying and sharing knowledge.
• Has experience in supporting researchers in applying for grants, preferably EU / Horizon Europe grants.
• Is familiar with the European R&I programmes & institutions and has a relevant network.
• Having a background, experience and/or network in the field of Renewable energy/ Cleantech & Materials is a an advantage.
• Has experience in delivering presentations/workshops.
• Is capable of motivating professionals and coordinating their activities.
• Has strong written and verbal proficiency in English.
• Is proactive, customer-oriented, analytical, results-driven, and a networker.
• Works independently and flexibly.
• Collaborates effectively with colleagues both within and outside the EU Action Plan team.

If you feel you might not meet all the requirements (e.g. on background in Energy/Cleantech) but the job does excite you, then be sure to respond, we would love to look at your profile!

Conditions of employment

An exciting position within an internationally renowned university with a small-scale and personal feel. You are part of our community of students, staff and faculty, sharing a green campus within walking distance from the central station. We offer a position for 32 - 40 hours. You will start in this function with a one-year contract. If you perform well, this will be converted into a permanent contract.

• A monthly salary of, depending on your knowledge and experience, up to € 6.209,- (scale 11 Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities) or € 7.056,-
  (scale 12 Collective Labor Agreement for Dutch Universities) for a full-time position;
• In addition to holiday pay, a structural end-of-year bonus of 8.3%;
• A favorable arrangement for extra days of leave or a sabbatical;
• A choice model for additional secondary employment conditions;
• Working hours in consultation for an optimal work-life balance;
• Opportunities for your talent and personal growth and excellent development opportunities, such as mentoring , workshops and coaching;
• Partly paid parental leave and compensation for travel expenses, commuting, working from home and internet;
• A generous employer contribution to the favorable ABP pension scheme.

More information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to have more information about the position, please contact Wilfried Reincke, Programme coordinator of the EU Action Plan via e-mail address, [email protected]. 

For questions about the application process or the conditions of employment, please contact [email protected]. 

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page. 

Application

If you are interested, please use the ‘apply’ button to send us your CV and letter of application with your motivation and a description of your qualifications by Sunday 25 May 2025 at the latest. First round of interviews are foreseen to be held on Tuesday 3 June and Wednesday 4 June 2025.