Research Coordinator

SLU - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; Uppsala kommun; Hybrid; SEK 420,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

SLU – Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences seeks a Research Coordinator to support researchers in pursuing external funding, with emphasis on Horizon Europe Pillar II and international collaborations. You’ll provide guidance during pre-award, help develop concepts, review proposals, and contribute to capacity-building and outreach.

You will engage with SLU coordinators, disseminate funding opportunities, and help shape external funding strategies across units.

Qualifications

• Experience working in research support within higher education or research institutes.
• Ability to understand complex funding calls and provide clear guidance to colleagues.
• Experience with Horizon Europe Pillar II and EU funding programmes.

Responsibilities

• Support researchers applying for external funding by giving feedback on proposal drafts and helping craft a persuasive narrative.
• Disseminate information about future funding opportunities and encourage applications.
• Design and deliver seminars/workshops on funders and proposal writing; contribute to cross-unit events.
• Provide input on external funding strategies and engage with SLU's Strategic External Funding Team.
• Represent the Grants Office and SLU at internal and external networks.
• Support SLU Grants Office communications, newsletters, and self-help training materials.

Skills

Research support

Horizon Europe

English proficiency

Networking

Independent worker

Education

Undergraduate degree

Postgraduate education

Job description

Are you interested in working in an inspiring environment where you can support research and internationalisation? The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Grants Office is looking for an experienced, skilled, and passionate Research Coordinator who is proactive, well-versed in external funding, and motivated to make a meaningful difference for researchers across the university.

The SLU Grants Office is a unit within the Division of Planning and Research Support. We provide expertise, support, advice, and information on external research funding to researchers, administrators, and university leadership. Our friendly, helpful, and professional team has a wide range of experience and expertise, enabling us to provide strategic and operational support both pre- and post-award. Our work focuses on proposal-writing advice and constructive feedback, budgeting, administration, and project management. We also provide information and capacity-building initiatives. We are currently based at SLU’s main campuses - Alnarp, Ultuna, and Umeå - but we all work to support the entire university.

Read more about the Grants Office at https://internt.slu.se/grantsoffice/.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at SLU at https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/work-at-slu/.

Duties

As our new Research Coordinator, your primary role will be to work with SLU researchers who are leading applications for collaborative grants such as Horizon Europe Pillar II, MSCA Doctoral Networks, and European Partnerships, with flexibility to support other initiatives as needed. You will offer targeted advice and guidance to SLU coordinators during the pre-award phase, assisting with developing suitable concepts, reviewing proposal texts, and recommending improvements. Additionally, you will provide broader support across SLU through outreach, capacity-building and communication efforts.

More specifically, together with colleagues, you will:

• Support researchers applying for external funding, primarily by providing constructive feedback on proposal drafts and helping them craft a clear, persuasive narrative aligned with the scope of the call.
• Disseminate information about future funding opportunities, proactively identify prospective applicants, and encourage them to apply.
• Design and deliver seminars and workshops focused on funders, funding opportunities and proposal writing, and contribute to events co-organised with other units at SLU.
• Provide input on external funding strategies, including those discussed by SLU’s Strategic External Funding Team.
• Represent the Grants Office and SLU at internal and external networks.
• Support SLU Grants Office communications and outreach, including newsletters and web pages, and developing self-help training materials.

This list is not exhaustive and may change depending on SLU and the Grants Office’s needs. Depending on your personal competencies and interests, there is also scope to propose new initiatives and ways of working.

Please note that, due to the nature of the role, occasional domestic and international travel is required.

Qualifications

Please use your application to demonstrate how you meet the essential and any applicable meritorious criteria listed below. We will place great emphasis on your personal suitability for the position.

• Experience working in research support within higher education or research institutes.
• The ability to understand complex funding calls and applications and to offer straightforward advice and guidance to academic colleagues.
• Experience with Horizon Europe Pillar II.
• Knowledge and understanding of national and international funding sources, including their guidelines and mechanisms.
• An excellent communicator, expressing yourself well in writing and speech.
• Confidence and flexibility of approach, with the ability to work independently and to collaborate with others.
• The ability to prioritise your own workload under pressure and meet set deadlines whilst maintaining a high degree of quality.
• Excellent people skills with the ability to develop professional relationships and networks at all levels within and beyond the university.
• Excellent command of the English language, written and spoken.
• An undergraduate degree.

Meritorious

• Postgraduate education and/or research experience.
• Experience working at research funding agencies or as an expert evaluator for proposals or projects.
• Experience with Marie Skłodowska Curie Doctoral Networks, European Partnerships, and other collaborative funding programmes.
• Knowledge of EU research policy.
• Experience writing or contributing to large research grant applications.
• Experience in outreach and communications, e.g. newsletters, webpages or blogs, or organising events.
• Experience in developing and delivering training sessions.
• Knowledge of how AI may be used appropriately, effectively, and responsibly in the context of research proposal support.
• Knowledge of the Swedish language, both written and spoken (SLU's language policy requires staff to be able to understand information in Swedish after 4 years of employment).

Interview Process

Stage 1 Online interview in English (approx. 30 minutes) plus a written assignment (max. one hour).

Stage 2 In-person interview in English (approx. 1 hour).

Place of work

Ultuna (near Uppsala), Alnarp (near Lund), or Umeå. The position requires occasional domestic and international travel.

Form of employment

Substitute employment for 2 years, with the possibility of extension.

Extent

100%. Hybrid working is an option (max. 2 days per week).

Starting date

According to agreement.

Union contact for recruitment

https://internt.slu.se/en/my-employment/employee-associations/kontaktpersoner-vid-rekrytering/

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

SLU has a key role in the development for sustainable life, based on science and education. Through our focus on the interaction between humans, animals and ecosystems and the responsible use of natural resources, we contribute to sustainable societal development and good living conditions on our planet. Our main campuses are located in Alnarp, Umeå and Uppsala, however, the university also operates at research stations, experimental forests and teaching sites throughout Sweden. SLU has around 4,000 employees, 6,000 students and doctoral students and a turnover of over SEK 4.5 billion. We are investing in attractive environments on all of our campuses. We strive to provide a work environment characterised by inclusivity and gender equality, where different experiences generate conversations between people and pave the way for science, creativity and development. Therefore, we welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.