Created in 2005 by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) and the University of Barcelona, IRB Barcelona is a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence—a seal that was awarded in 2011.

The institute is devoted to conducting research of excellence in biomedicine and to transferring results to clinical practice, thus improving people’s quality of life, while simultaneously promoting the training of outstanding researchers, technology transfer, and public communication of science. Its 29 laboratories and seven core facilities address basic questions in biology and are orientated to diseases such as cancer, metastasis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and rare conditions.

IRB Barcelona is an international centre that hosts 500 members and 45 nationalities. It is located in the Barcelona Science Park. IRB Barcelona forms part of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and the “Xarxa de Centres de Recerca de Catalunya” (CERCA).

Your role & our team

IRB Barcelona seeks to recruit a Section Head of International Promotion to join the Department of Competitive Funding Strategy and Scientific Management. Reporting to the Head of Competitive Grants and International Promotion, the Section Head will lead a dynamic team of international project managers and will be responsible for driving participation of IRB Barcelona in international collaborative projects, with a particular focus on attracting funds from Horizon Europe coordinated actions. The Section Head will also be responsible for ensuring excellence in the implementation of ongoing projects coordinated by IRB Barcelona, ensuring effective interaction between project managers and funding agencies. The position will also require close collaboration with other administrative departments within IRB Barcelona to facilitate the execution of the projects.

Key responsabilities:

• Lead a team of International Project Managers, optimizing project management processes and strengthening the team's proposal writing capabilities.

• Promote participation of IRB Barcelona researchers in EU collaborative proposals through proactive call screening, targeted dissemination, and participation in Info Days and matchmaking events, among others.

• Support researchers in writing coordinated collaborative proposals, mainly within the Horizon Europe (and future) work programs.

• Liaise with other administrative institutional bodies (mainly legal, finance, purchasing, post-award, innovation) for matters related to legal, IP and financial aspects of projects managed by the team under various funding schemes.

• Develop and execute strategies to enhance IRB Barcelona’s positioning for future Work Programs and R&I framework programs (lobbying strategy).

• Contribute to proposal writing and project reporting for strategic institutional projects.

You have:

• Experience: 
  • Experience in the management of European H2020/HE coordinated projects
    
  • Experience in EU research and innovation strategy and funding programs.

• Knowledge: PhD in Life Sciences
• Skills: 
  • Outstanding writing skills
    
  • Excellent communication and networking abilities
    
  • High initiative and capacity to work independently.
    
  • Strong organizational, planning and multi-tasking capacities.
    
  • Ability for teamwork, and to meet to strict deadlines with minimal supervision
    
  • Problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate across departments.
    
  • Proven ability to develop and maintain a portfolio of key contacts relevant to lobbying actions, accredited through attendance to relevant specialization programmes (e.g. “Programa de especialización de gestores CDTI-SOST”)
    
  • Advanced proficiency in Google Workspace and MS Office
• Languages: Excellent command of written and spoken English and Spanish.

You might also have:

• Experience working in a multidisciplinary environment
• Experience in dissemination and communication of EU projects
• Proficiency in collaborative project management software
• Experience using AI tools applicable to project management
• Knowledge of open science and research data management

WORKING CONDITIONS & ENTITLEMENTS:

• Working conditions: Employed in compliance with Spanish legislation and regulations under a full-time contract. Employees receive the benefits of the Spanish Social Security system covering sickness, maternity/paternity leaves and injuries at work. 
• International Environment: The opportunity to join a prestigious international research institution and become a member of our administration team.
• Estimated annual gross salary: Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Continuous training in a high-quality environment.

HOW TO APPLY & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Deadline for applications: 22/04/2025 (If no suitable candidate is found, the deadline will be extended) 
• Number of positions available: 1
• Selection process:
  • Pre-selection: Will be based on CV, motivation letter & experience,
  • Interviews: Short-listed candidates will be interviewed.
  • Job offer: Will be sent to the successful candidate after the interview. 

Note: The strengths and weaknesses of the applications will be provided upon request.