Research Grant Writing & Supporting Officer

Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Elsene; Presencial; EUR 50.000 - 60.000; A tiempo parcial

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Homeworking options

Telework allowance 50 €/month

Internet fee 20 €/month

35 days of leave and fine holidays

Hospitalisation insurance

Commuting reimbursement

Campus restaurants and benefits

Descripción de la vacante

Vrije Universiteit Brussel is seeking a Research Grant Writing & Supporting Officer to bolster MOVE researchers in securing external funding. The role focuses on identifying opportunities, strengthening grant-writing capacity, and coordinating high‑quality proposals aligned with national and international calls.

You will also foster collaborations, manage administrative needs of funded projects, and liaise with Research and TechTransfer departments.

Formación

• PhD degree or demonstrable grant-writing experience.
• Proficient in academic English.
• Proven ability to secure research funding.
• Strong understanding of national and international funding mechanisms (e.g. FWO, MSCA, ERC).

Responsabilidades

• Identify and monitor national and international funding opportunities aligned with MOVE research group.
• Strengthen grant-writing capacity of MOVE researchers to secure funding.
• Coordinate and support development of clear, compelling grant proposals tailored to calls and regulations.
• Foster collaboration and form national and international research consortia.
• Support administrative and operational management of MOVE’s funded projects per funder requirements.
• Participate in MOVE group meetings and strategy sessions.
• Serve as liaison between MOVE group and the Research Department and TechTransfer Department of VUB.

Conocimientos

Grant writing

Academic English

Funding acquisition

Strategic funding

Collaborative leadership

Project management

Stakeholder liaison

Educación

PhD degree

Descripción del empleo

Research Grant Writing & Supporting Officer

Category: Academic Staff & Researchers

1 - Working at the VUB

For more than 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and solidarity, and this is very much alive on our campuses among students and staff alike.

At the VUB, you will find a diverse collection of personalities: innovators pur sang, but above all people who are 100% their authentic selves. With some 4,000 employees, we are the largest Dutch-speaking employer, in the private sector, in Brussels; an international city with which we are only too happy to connect and where (around) our 4 campuses are located.

Add to this our principle of free research - in which self-reflection, a critical attitude and an open, creative mind around scientific and social issues are central - and you have a university that is fundamentally groundbreaking and pioneering in education and research. In short: the VUB all over again.

Moreover, the VUB is a member of EUTOPIA, an alliance of like-minded European universities, all ready to reinvent themselves.

The Faculteit Lichamelijke Opvoeding & Kinesitherapie, Department Bewegings- en Sportwetenschappen, research group Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance (Movement and Nutrition for Health and Performance; https://move.research.vub.be/ , is looking for a Research Grant Writing & Supporting Officer.

More concretely your work package contains:

• You monitor and identify relevant national and international research funding opportunities aligned with the MOVE research group’s expertise, strategic objectives, and research identity;
• You build and strengthen the grant-writing capacity and confidence of the MOVE researchers to secure competitive research funding at different stages in their academic careers;
• You guide, coordinate and support the development of clear, compelling and high-quality research grant and fellowship proposals of the MOVE researchers tailored to specific funding calls, applicable regulations and evaluation criteria;
• You foster collaboration within the MOVE research group and facilitate the development of national and international research consortia (e.g., by identifying potential collaborators across academia, industry, and policy), bringing together expertise across various subdomains (including biomechanics & neuromuscular function, structural & functional aspects of the human body, motor development & didactics, energy-expenditure related behaviors & nutrition) in fundable research projects. You do not need to have expertise in these domains;
• You support the administrative and operational management of MOVE’s funded research projects in accordance with funder-specific and institutional requirements (e.g., deadlines, ethics, project milestones, budget monitoring, data management, progress and final reports);
• You actively participate in the MOVE research group’s general and strategic research meetings;
• You serve as liaison between the MOVE research group and the Research Department as well as the TechTransfer Department of VUB;

For this function, our Brussels Humanities, Sciences & Engineering Campus (Elsene)will serve as your home base.

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

You hold a PhD degree and/or you can demonstrate relevant grant writing experience;

• You have a profound knowledge of (academic) English;
• You have an outstanding track record and proven ability to acquire funding of any kind;
• You can take a catalytic and leading role in funding development activities and proactively contribute to the acquisition of external research at research group level;
• You are eager to develop a strong understanding of the competitive research funding landscape and its key mechanisms at both national and international levels (e.g. FWO, MSCA, ERC), and is motivated to explore emerging funding programs, calls, and fellowship opportunities;
• You can quickly assess the quality of a research project idea and related research questions without being an expert in the topic, and – together with the PI and co-applicants – translate this into high-quality and competitive grant applications within various funding schemes;
• You demonstrate excellent strategic insight as well as strong project and resource management skills in an academic research context;
• You have a strong motivational drive to serve as a strategic and operational partner to the MOVE research group, combining funding intelligence, proposal development capabilities, grant-writing expertise, and outstanding administrative and organizational skills;
• You are an empowering team player with good interpersonal skills contributing to sustainable growth in KPIs and scientific staff, stronger collaborations, and increased scientific visibility and societal impact of the MOVE research group;
• As a (non-)EEA national, meet the conditions for obtaining a valid permit for VUB and comply with the VUB residence requirements. More info here .

The VUB wants to be a reflection of the society where everyone's talent is valued, regardless of gender, age, religion, skin color, migration background, disability and neurodiversity.

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague at the MOVE research group ?

You’ll be offered a contract, for an appointment of0.8FTE, for12months (with the possibility of extension up to 36 months, subject to positive annual performance evaluations), with planned starting date01/02/2027. This position offers opportunities for an increase in FTE and longer-term continuation through the successful acquisition of internal/external research funding.

You’ll receive a salary linked to one of the scales set by the government.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career.

As well as this, you will also enjoy various other benefits:

• Extensive homeworking options, a telework allowance of 50 euros per month OR an internet fee of 20 euros per month;
• An open and informal working environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave(based on a fulltime contract), closure between Christmas and New Year and 3 extra leave days;
• Cost-free hospitalisation insurance;
• Full reimbursement of your home-to-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, and/or compensation if you come by bike;
• A wide selection of meals in our campus restaurants at attractive prices;
• Excellent and affordable facilities for sport and exercise, a range of discounts via Benefits@Work (in all kinds of shops, on flights, petrol stations, amusement parks...) and Ecocheques;
• Nursery near campus, discount on holiday camps;
• The space to form your job content and to continuously learn through our VUB learning platforms and training courses;
• And finally: great colleagues with a healthy drive.

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you've been dreaming of?

Application deadline: 29/11/2026

Do you have any further questions about the job content? Contact Eva D'Hondtat [e-mail].

You can contact the person mentioned in the job description.