Institute Program Manager for the Casimir Institute (0,5 - 1,0 fte)

Introduction

Are you passionate about scientific research and technology? Do you thrive in an innovative environment, surrounded by experts who share your enthusiasm? Are you excited about navigating the intricate world of funding and helping researchers achieve their goals? Do you possess strategic thinking skills and love empowering researchers to turn their visions into reality? Do you enjoy fostering connections between academia and industry, and acting as a content-driven leader? If your answer is a resounding "yes" to these questions, we want to hear from you! Let's connect and explore how we can collaborate to make a difference in the world of research.

Job Description

As an Institute Program Manager, you will be engaged in a diverse range of activities related to research funding acquisition, proposal and project development, strategic thinking and stakeholder management to meet industrial needs, and providing support to a wide variety of researchers. In your role as a Program Manager, you will assist researchers in identifying attractive funding opportunities, refining their research ideas, and funding strategy, coordinating (inter-)national consortia, linking researchers' competencies with industry needs, and articulating their research vision with clarity and precision. You will collaborate closely with researchers, other Institute Program Managers and Project Development officers (PDOs) from the TU/e departments involved in the Casimir Institute, as well as industrial fellows and the research centers, and colleagues in supporting roles such as finance, legal, and HR. The focus of your activities will be part of the Equipment and Components domain, which is one of the four research domains within the Casimir Institute.

The Research Support Office (RSO) is the central Research Support Office of TU/e and consists of a small, close-knit team of professionals who support the scientific staff in applying for European and national grants for research. The RSO team further consists of research funding advisors, grant consultants, corporate lawyers, and project managers.

As Institute Program Manager Casimir you will be embedded in the RSO and from there be allocated to work for Casimir. You will become part of a larger team of Institute Program Managers and Research Support staff for other TU/e institutes such as EAISI, EIRES and ICMS. This allows knowledge exchange and team building with colleagues with a similar role, albeit for a different institute.
See also https://www.tue.nl/en/research/research-support-network/research-support-office

You will be positioned in the Casimir Institute and be part of the TU/e-wide research support network. This is a position that offers lots of freedom and opportunities to define and shape your role, and ample space for personal development and growth. Your daily activities consist of:

• Proactively supporting researchers in the acquisition of research projects.
• Matching opportunities to the expertise and research interests of researchers in the institute by communicating the current and future developments in both the national and European funding landscape.
• Helping build consortia, by enriching the researchers’ network with internal or external collaborators.
• Be an influencing member in relevant (NL and EU) networks.
• Have deep understanding of specific collaborative programs in the national and European funding landscape
• Form, build and maintain communities around equipment and components, where researchers from various departments collaborate.
• Manage the proposal development of complex, multi-disciplinary projects proposals, in good cooperation with departmental research support (PDOs and others).
• Initiate and create research programs directly with industry.
• Strategic networking and lobbying to increase funding opportunities.
• Support the head of science for equipment and components in creating and developing all the activities related to that domain.

The institute and the domain

Casimir Institute for future chips and high-tech systems
Chips and systems are the invisible infrastructure of modern life, powering AI, enabling green technologies, advancing healthcare, and driving digital transformation. The Casimir Institute catalyzes innovation across disciplines by bringing together 700 researchers under one roof, and delivering tangible solutions for a sustainable digital information society. Located in the heart of Europe’s Brainport region, we are establishing the Chips and Systems University of Europe. Our mission is to secure Europe’s technological sovereignty by accelerating innovation in chip technologies and high-tech systems, aligned with the European Chips Act and the Draghi Report. See also https://www.tue.nl/en/research/institutes/casimir-institute.

Equipment and Components Domain
Equipment and Components is one of the four research domains within the Casimir institute. High-tech equipment such as wafer scanners, production printers, medical imaging systems, and electron microscopes delivers extreme system performance, regarding accuracy and productivity, under extremely well-controlled physical conditions, such as pressure and temperature. Performance-cost ratio and first-time right requirements are increasing from one generation of equipment to the next, constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

In addition, equipment and components are highly heterogeneous, encompassing mechanical and electronic hardware, digital software, communication networks, and deep physiochemical processes that are intricately connected and influence each other. This exemplifies the present complexity of such systems, with a rapidly growing increase in complexity over time. As a consequence, the gap between what is physically feasible and what is achieved by state-of-the-art and state-of-practice design technologies and methodologies, is constantly growing.

Job Requirements

• Preferably a Master's degree in Electrical, Mechanical, or Computer Engineering (or other relevant Engineering degree).
• At least 5 years of experience in a similar role
• Excellent networking, analytical, organizational, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently, with a focus on results, and a deadline-driven approach.
• Fluent in English (both oral and written).
• Keen interest in cyber-physical systems, high-tech equipment, and the associated funding landscape, with experience or interest in grant writing.
• Experience with European and national projects, particularly in dealing with (inter)national Project Officers (POs) or policy makers.
• Ability to plan, organize events and monitor progress, including establishing review procedures, risk monitoring, document archiving, progress reporting, and providing administrative support.
• In-depth knowledge of industrial and other relevant stakeholders in the Brainport region.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a willingness to work in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment as a team player.
• Proven experience in working with scientists in a research-intensive environment.
• Create and maintain a network with departmental research support (PDOs and others) to jointly support the aims of the Equipment and Components research domain.

Conditions of Employment

An exciting position within an international yet personal university. You are right in the middle of the students, on a green campus within walking distance of the central station. Besides beautiful architecture, you will find varied workplaces and excellent sports facilities. We also offer you:

• A monthly salary of minimum € 5.705,- to maximum € 7.297,- for full-time employment, depending on your knowledge and experience (scale 12 collective labour agreementfor Dutch Universities).
• In addition to vacation pay, a structural end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
• A favorable arrangement for more holidays or a sabbatical.
• A selection model for additional fringe benefits.
• Working hours in consultation for an optimal work-life balance.
• Scope for your talent with advancement prospects and excellent development opportunities such as mentoring, workshops and coaching.
• Partially paid parental leave and reimbursement for commuting expenses, working from home and the internet.
• A generous employer contribution to the favorable ABP pension plan.

Here you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is a leading international university within the Brainport region where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Research Support and Valorization consists of the Research Support Office (RSO) and startup helpdesk The Gate. RSO supports and unburdens researchers with obtaining external funding for their research and developing project proposals. At The Gate, business developers and IP-experts offer support in translating research results into successful innovations and new companies.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to have more information about the position, please contact Olaf van der Sluis (O.v.d.Sluis@tue.nl), Head of Science for the Equipment and Components Domain.

For questions about the application process or the conditions of employment, please contact 
hrservices.supportunits@tue.nl or +31 40 247 2421.

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. Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

Screening of candidates begins as soon as applications are received and continues until the position is filled. Where applicable, internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates where they are equally suitable.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Please note 

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Important for non-EU applicants: Please be aware that for this position, specific residence permit requirements apply. If you are a non-EU national, you may not be eligible to legally work in this role under current Dutch immigration regulations. We strongly advise you to contact our Staff Immigration Team (staffimmigration@tue.nl) before applying to check your eligibility and to receive further guidance.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.