A Project Manager for European Research and Innovation Projects in Artificial Intelligence

Fondazione Bruno Kessler - FBK; Trento; On-site; EUR 37,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexi-time

Cafeteria vouchers / meal provisions

Internal car park

Visa support for research stay

Supplementary pension and health fund

SANIFONDS social security

Free training courses

Job summary

Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) in the Digital Society Center is seeking a dynamic Project Manager for the Project Management Group (PMG) to drive EU funding activities, grant management, and proposal development, with a focus on AI-related projects. The role involves collaboration with DIGIS and AI researchers, coordinating with international partners, and reporting to the PMG Head.

Start date February 2027, 24-month fixed-term contract, with a gross annual salary around €41,245 and a range of

Qualifications

• M.Sc. in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering or related field from an Italian university or recognized equivalent.
• At least 2 years of experience as a project manager focused on writing and managing European projects.
• Solid knowledge of Horizon Europe and other EU funding programs.
• Experience in large collaborative European AI projects within Horizon Europe.
• Emerging track record in writing successful Horizon Europe proposals.
• Good knowledge of Italian (B2).
• Excellent knowledge of English (C1).
• Strategic vision and management skills.
• Teamwork and communication skills.
• Accuracy, flexibility, proactivity, and goal orientation.

Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of Horizon Europe Agentic AI and other AI-related projects, including monitoring, reporting, communication and stakeholder management.
• Provide operational support within other EU-funded projects of the DIGIS and AI centres, focusing on AI topics.
• Support participation in research and innovation programmes in trustworthy and human-centric AI, assisting in calls analysis, opportunities identification and consortia building.
• Write proposals as main contact for local, national and international projects.
• Manage relations with local and international stakeholders within PMG projects.

Skills

Project management

EU proposal writing

Grant management

Stakeholder management

Team collaboration

English proficiency

Education

M.Sc. in IT/CS/Engineering

PhD preferred

Job description

The Digital Society (DIGIS) research center of FBK is committed to comprehensively exploring, understanding, and shaping the intricate interplay between digital technology and the fabric of human society, embracing the vision that digital technology can serve as a catalyst for positive societal change.

In particular, the Digital Society center conducts pioneering research focused on two crucial areas where ICT can have a profound impact on contemporary society: Digital Twins for Human Society to better understand, predict, and proactively address the multifaceted challenges facing them; and New Media and Education for a Resilient Society - exploring the dynamics of new media and developing advanced digital solutions towards a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient society. The center is composed of a multidisciplinary team of approximately 75 researchers, technologists and managers (including PhD students) organized in 7 research units dedicated to specific research areas in the ICT domain and 2 support units focusing on project management and technology maturation.

FBK has established the Project Management Group (PMG) to assist its research units with all of their project management needs. The PMG works across research units and administrative offices assisting and managing local, national and European projects and providing guidance and support to maximize efficiency, optimize results and reduce costs. The purpose of the PMG is to provide a unified approach for defining, managing, reporting and supporting the project management practices for the Digital Society research units. The goal of the PMG is to build and maintain transparent, predictable, and repeatable project management processes to collaborate with researchers.

Job Description

FBK is looking for a dynamic and highly motivated candidate to cover this position in the PMG Unit of Digital Society Center. We are looking for a Project Manager with a background in research funding programmes, EU proposal writing, grant management and project development, with expertise in projects in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The candidate will work in collaboration with other project managers of the Unit and researchers of the Digital Society and Augmented Intelligence (AI) Centers, as well as with international partners, reporting directly to the Head of the PMG Unit.

A key responsibility will be to support the implementation of an upcoming Horizon Europe project on Agentic AI, expected to start in February 2027, with particular focus on project management, communication, and stakeholder management. In parallel, the successful candidate will support funding acquisition and project development across both Centers’ research areas, including identifying opportunities, building consortia, and leading the preparation of competitive research proposals.

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Support the implementation of the Horizon Europe project on Agentic AI, and other collaborative research projects, particularly those related to AI, including activities connected to the project monitoring, reporting, communication and stakeholder management;
• Provide operational support within other EU research and innovation funded projects of the DIGIS and AI centres, focusing on AI-related topics;
• Support the participation of the DIGIS and AI centres in research and innovation programmes mainly in the areas of trustworthy and human-centric AI, agentic and cooperative AI and digital innovation. This includes analysis of the calls, identification of opportunities for FBK, matching of opportunities with scientific expertise of research groups, consortium building, proposal preparation as a main contact person;
• Writing proposals as a main contact person for local, national and international research and innovation projects;
• Managing relations with local and international stakeholders within the scope of PMG research and innovation projects;

Job requirements

• M.Sc. (or equivalent degrees), preferably in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering or related disciplines, awarded by an Italian university or a title obtained abroad which has been recognized as equivalent to the Italian degree;
• At least 2 years of experience as a project manager focused on writing and managing European projects;
• Solid knowledge of the Horizon Europe funding programme and other research and innovation programs;
• Experience in working in large collaborative European projects, preferably in the field of AI, within the Horizon Europe funding programme;
• Emerging track record in writing successful research proposals as a main writer in Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020 and the other funding programmes mentioned above;
• Good knowledge of the Italian language (B2);
• Excellent knowledge of the English language (C1);
• Strategic vision and management skills;
• Teamwork approach, good communication and relational skills;
• Accuracy, flexibility, proactivity, and goal orientation.

Furthermore, the following elements will be positively evaluated:

• A PhD title awarded by an Italian or foreign university, or an equivalent qualification obtained abroad;
• Experience in the management of large collaborative European projects under the Horizon Europe funding programme;
• 4+ years of experience as a project manager focused on writing and managing European projects;
• Familiarity with the European AI research and innovation ecosystem, including European AI networks and initiatives (e.g., ELLIS, ADRA, CAIRNE), and relevant research and funding communities;
• A background in research and a good knowledge of the research process;
• A good knowledge of the administrative procedures within EU projects and of the European Funding & Tender Portal.

Employment

Type of contract: fixed-term contract

Working hours: Full time (38 h per week)

Start date: February 2027

Duration: 24 months with the possibility of extending the contract depending on funding

Gross annual salary: about € 41.245,00, plus objectives achievements bonus

Benefits: flexi-time, company subsidized cafeteria or meal vouchers, internal car park, welcome office support for visa formalities and for research in accommodation, accommodation etc., supplementary pension and health fund, social security (SANIFONDS), family-work balance, free training courses, support on bank account opening, discount on public transport, sport, language course fees, counselling and psychological support service. More info at https://www.fbk.eu/en/work-with-us/