Project Officer for EMBL Scientific Expeditions

EMBL; Heidelberg; Vor Ort; EUR 60.000 - 80.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading research institution in Heidelberg seeks a Project Officer for Expeditions to ensure smooth execution and coordination of scientific endeavors related to the Traversing European Coastlines initiative. The role combines operational logistics and engagement with stakeholders, requiring strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. A PhD in life sciences is preferred, alongside experience in EU-funded project management. The position offers a 2-year contract with competitive benefits including tax-free salary and flexible working arrangements.

Leistungen

Financial incentives

Flexible working arrangements

Private medical insurance

30 days annual leave

Relocation package

Generous family benefits

Visa exemption for international applicants

Qualifikationen

• Experience in administrative tasks and operational support.
• Excellent written and spoken English; additional European languages are a plus.
• Experience with EU funded projects management is desirable.

Aufgaben

• Coordinate travel logistics and event support for expeditions.
• Manage grants and coordinate proposal writing efforts.
• Engage stakeholder communication and dissemination of expedition results.

Kenntnisse

Operational support

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Ausbildung

PhD in life sciences

Jobbeschreibung

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is Europe’s flagship research institution for the life sciences, bringing together over 110 independent research groups and service teams across six sites: Heidelberg (headquarters), Barcelona, Cambridge, Grenoble, Hamburg, and Rome. EMBL's mission is to conduct pioneering research in molecular biology, train scientists and students at all levels, provide critical services to the public and private sectors, develop innovative instruments and methods, and actively engage in technology transfer.

As part of our ambitious EMBL Programme 2022–2026: Molecules to Ecosystems, we launched the Traversing European Coastlines (TREC) expedition, a flagship initiative, now in the post-expedition and samples analysis phase. Following the success of the first TREC expedition, we are expanding the TREC scope to include additional ecosystems, establishing time series at selected sites, and planning new expeditions under the broader Traversing Ecosystems (TREC) initiative. This exciting phase requires building new partnerships, coordinating international engagements, and organizing new groundbreaking expeditions.

Your role

As the Project Officer for Expeditions, you will play a critical role in ensuring the smooth execution of TREC expeditions, taking also a central coordinating and administrative role for pre and post expedition activities. The position combines two specific aspects: operational excellence and scientific engagement activities.

You become a pivotal force—ensuring smooth field operations and shaping the funding and outreach narrative of TREC’s scientific expeditions.

• Administrative Coordination & Expeditions Support
  
  

This role is not your typical admin support job—it's mission-critical operational coordination for TREC expeditions:

• You’ll manage all travel and accommodation logistics, reimbursements, and EMBL policy compliance for field trips (including credit card usage).
• Ensure seamless meeting and event support, from venue booking to end-to-end event organization and documentation.
• Provide everyday operational support for the TREC coordination team, working closely with and support the Head of Scientific Expeditions in coordination tasks.
  
  

By overseeing these logistics, you enable scientific teams to focus fully on their field goals—your precision and efficiency are crucial to mission success.

• Grants & Fundraising Activities
  
  

This role also sits at the heart of project funding and impact:

• You will work closely with the Head of Scientific Expeditions on research landscaping, stakeholder liaison,
• You will help coordinate and lead grants proposal writing.
• You will be responsible for all reporting activities related to grants, foundations, and internal reporting, as well as for documenting and reporting the exploitation of project results.
• You will support the communication and dissemination of expedition results via events, communication and outreach materials, and stakeholder engagement.
  
  

This blend of administrative coordination with proactive involvement in funding strategy makes this role uniquely positioned as both the logistical anchor and narrative champion for the expedition program.

You have

Experience In

• Administrative tasks: You thrive in providing operational support, with a keen ability to anticipate needs and ensure matters are handled efficiently, effectively, and on time.
• Communication, dissemination, exploitation, financial and administrative management
• Organising workshops, meetings and/or symposiums
• Consortium set-up, proposal writing, project management and/or reporting activities of EU funded projects
• Managing complex tasks, maintaining a high level of accuracy, and engaging with people in a friendly and professional manner.
• Establishing effective channels of communication and liaison with internal and external stakeholders.
• Problem-solving and adaptability: You are open to tackling the unknown, discovering innovative solutions, and establishing new processes while ensuring compliance with internal policies.
• European languages: You have an excellent command of English, both written and spoken. Proficiency in additional European languages is a plus.
  
  

You may also have

• Research background (ideally, PhD in life sciences)
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and management
  
  

Contract length: 2 years (with the possibility of extension depending on available funding and circumstances at the time of review)

Salary: Grade 5 (starting salary from 4.031,02 EUR monthly after tax, before ~12% EMBL social security dedcutions)

Application Instructions

Please submit your structured CV along with a cover letter that reflects your own voice and motivation. We are genuinely interested in understanding why you see this as the right next step in your career.

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation.

We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.

Enjoy Lots Of Benefits

• Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
• Flexible working arrangements
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays
• Relocation package including installation grant (if applicable)
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus (select sites), on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
• Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances
• Benefits for international newcomers: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
• For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here
  
  

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Visit our International Applicants page, to find out more.
• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ & individuals from all nationalities.
• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.
  
  

Closing Date

21/08/2025