Research support consultant focusing on European funding at the University of Southern Denmark

Do you thrive with developing research-based, collaborative, and international projects?

Can you provide support that make academic researchers win European project grants?

If your answer is ‘yes’ or ‘can-do’, the University of Southern Denmark offers an attractive specialist position in a unique working environment.

Why the University of Southern Denmark?

The University of Southern Denmark (SDU) is a young and dynamic university founded in 1966, and the fourth-largest university in Denmark. Remarkably, SDU has for decades been acknowledged for delivering both excellence in basic research and substantial societal impact.

SDU is increasing the focus on research development, internationalization, and cross-sectorial collaboration via research funding. The offered position is right where this strategy becomes real – working closely with researchers and other research support specialists to develop and win large European project grants.

Description of the position

The position is anchored in the research support team of the central support office (SDU RIO). The team supports the development, grant application writing and implementation of research-based project consortia focusing on European funding programs and Danish private foundations. The team works closely with researchers and the local faculty support units to win societal impact-oriented collaborative grants.

The position offered is broad and interesting as you will be involved in all aspects of the pre-award process for European projects. This includes advising researchers and research sections on funding strategy, relevant funding programs and potential consortium partners, as well as communicating the importance of research policy aspects, representing researchers in European networks, participating in concept and project development, and in proposal writing. You will work with and respond to new trends in the funding and policy landscape, to best promote the university's researchers and their research agendas. With the team, you will continuously develop ‘next practice’ in consultancy and AI-assisted methodologies. Finally, you will help to share knowledge across the university.

Applicant's profile

We are looking for applicants who:

• Are passionate about international research-based collaboration, especially in relation to cross-sectorial collaborations. 
• Have a background in, or knowledge about, research in Health and/or the Natural Sciences and understand their potentials for cross-disciplinary research.
• Preferably have experience from the Horizon 2020 and/or Horizon Europe funding programs, however, this is not a requirement. 
• Are proposal writers with a deep understanding of research and innovation projects, especially aspects of organization and impact - or wish to gain specialist experience in this area.
• Are both proactive and self-managed, as well as co-creation and team-oriented.
• Find it natural to share knowledge and build relations with their collaborators.
• Are strong communicators able to communicate complex issues to different audiences.
• Are fluent in English speech and writing.
• Hold a Master or Ph.D. degree.

The job offer

You will be part of a dedicated and highly competent team in the flexible and collaborative working environment of the university’s central support office (SDU RIO). You will work with the most modern digital technologies to build new practice. You will work with competent and committed colleagues from across SDU's organization, including other SDU RIO teams (business developers as well as policy, legal, ethics and strategy advisors) and the faculty research support offices, to provide professional and committed support for SDU's researchers. You are therefore expected to perform both as a specialist and as a team member. You will work with highly relevant international projects from many of SDU's research environments and sometimes face demanding tasks and hard deadlines with an increased workload, which will however be compensated by flexibility in less busy periods. In this job you will make a difference for SDU’s researchers and research environments and thereby help to transform research visions into concrete projects that will ultimately impact positively on society.

More information

• The application deadline is 25th of August 2024 at 23.59.59 o'clock.
• 1st round of interviews are expected between 2nd and 6th of September 2024. The 1st round of interviews may be online.
• 2nd round of interviews are expected between the 16th and 20th of September 2024.
• Preferentially, you can start around 1st of November 2024.
• The position is permanent and full-time (37 hour/week) with anticipated placement as either Academic Officer or as Special Consultant.
• A European working permit is required.
• The primary place of employment is Odense, but weekly workdays in other SDU campus cities (Sønderborg, Esbjerg, Kolding, Slagelse and Copenhagen) can be negotiated.
• Salary and other terms of employment are according to those for state-employed academics. 
• You will refer to the Head of SDU RIO's Research Support team.

Further information about the position can be obtained from SDU RIO team leader Esben N. Flindt (M: +45 4047 3773, E: [email protected]).

We look forward to hearing from you.

About SDU RIO

SDU RIO (SDU’s Research and Innovation Organization) is a support office in the central administration established in 2017 with the aim of supporting SDU's strategic focus on creating value for and with society incl. focus on the global sustainability goals. Value creation is achieved through close internal and external collaboration across SDU. SDU RIO supports the interaction between research and education with businesses, foundations and the public sector. SDU RIO has a broad portfolio of tasks and for example works with entrepreneurship and business development, technology exchange and patenting, partnerships and cross-sectorial collaborations, research support, contracts, internationalization, career guidance for students as well as connecting companies and students.

About the University of Southern Denmark

The University of Southern Denmark (SDU) has around 27.000 students and 3.600 employees distributed over six campus cities. The biggest campus site is in Odense, centrally located in Denmark. Campus cities are spread across the country from the Danish West coast to Copenhagen in the Eastern part of Denmark.

The university has five faculties covering from humanities and social sciences to the natural, health and engineering sciences. The university is renowned both for outstanding basic research but also for its ability to connect research across disciplines and apply research in societal settings. SDU’s overall mission merges quality research, relevance to society and talent development everywhere in the organization.

The successful applicant will be employed in accordance with the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations.

Application must include cover letter, CV and certificate. All documents in connection with the application should not contain CPR number (civil registration number) – in that case, the CPR number must be crossed out. 

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background.