Are you looking for an opportunity in the field of EU research and innovation programmes? Do you want to contribute to implementation of outstanding research and innovation projects in an organisation with a meaningful purpose? Are you enthusiastic about European wide networking and solving global challenges? Do you want to work with superb colleagues who are top experts in their field?
VTT is one of the leading applied research organisations in Europe. What unites us are curiosity, a passion for learning, and a purpose: to solve the biggest challenges of our time and turn them into sustainable growth and well-being. Our cross-disciplinary community of over 2000 brilliant minds focuses on creating impact through science-based innovation. Get to know us further by exploring VTT's tech & infra.
We are now looking for a Senior EU Project Specialist for European Commission funded projects to join our team!
As a Senior EU Project Specialist, you are responsible for supporting the project coordinators in implementing and monitoring complex cooperative EU Commission funded research and innovation (R&I) projects with partners from all over Europe and beyond. You play a key role in day-to-day project coordination and smooth execution of the projects.
The job is located within the business area Carbon neutral solutions of 600 skilled professionals. The systemical and technological solutions of the business area cut across all the different levels of society – starting from electric cars and smart built environment, ending up in hydrogen revolution and clean energy.
With us, you will be part of a business area specific team of four people and the VTT-wide professional internal support engine of Horizon Europe proposals and projects. We are among the most successful operators in European Commission funded R&I programmes. In Horizon 2020 VTT acquired 18% of the funding allocated to Finland, 74.4% of funding allocated to Finnish research organisations, and in total 432 projects. VTT is on a path to continue its strong performance also in the current Horizon Europe Programme.
Your responsibilities as Senior EU Project Specialist:
- Support the EU project coordinators in high quality implementation and monitoring of complex collaborative R&I projects with partners from all over Europe and beyond.
- Support finalising Grant and Consortium Agreements, periodic and final technical reporting.
- Guide, set up and implement appropriate consortium governance and organizational mechanisms, initiate lean project management practices.
- Coordinate and organize project meetings, workshops & project events across Europe.
- Draft project documents (deliverables, project and meeting reports) and perform document management in the appropriate platforms.
- Contribute to the internal Horizon Europe training programme and internal process development for EU project management.
- Proactively follow the evolution in European project management and build a European wide network of EU project management professionals.
Who we are looking for:
- You have previous experience in EU project management; having a project management certificate and/or lean project management know-how will be considered beneficial but not necessary.
- You have a good knowledge of EU funding instruments and regulations (Grant Agreement, Consortium Agreement, EC Funding and tender opportunities portal).
- You are organized and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written) to be able to coordinate contributions from partners with different cultural backgrounds.
- You have a university or university of applied sciences degree from a relevant field; experience in research and/or technical background relevant to the business area is considered beneficial.
- Excellent written and spoken English.
- You have the ability to travel to project meetings a few times a year, usually consisting of 1-3 days trips around Europe.
As a person, we hope that you are:
You are proactive, systematic and flexible with a good ability for long-term planning. You like to solve challenges and have the ability to organise your and others’ work in advance. You manage peaks and lows in workload and you respect tight deadlines. You have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and you enjoy working together with your colleagues and external partners.With VTT, you’ll enjoy:
- Work with a strong purpose. At VTT, you’ll get to use your professional expertise to help solve the greatest challenges of our time through science and innovation. Our research agenda is dedicated to creating solving systemic and technological challenges, such as reaching carbon neutrality and creating superior digital systems. At VTT, you’ll get to do your part in driving this meaningful change through your own professional skills. Read more about our strategy – the path of exponential hope.
- An inspiring community. VTT houses all the cutting-edge fields of innovation from quantum technology to synthetic biology under one roof. As a professional at VTT, you’ll get to witness and influence the future of science and technology as it happens.
- Career and learning opportunities. As a scientific expert organisation, we put a lot of emphasis on learning and development, and support our people in reaching their full potential. People tend to stay at VTT for more than 10 years, as we offer opportunities to develop and grow into new responsibilities. If you’re curious, ambitious and willing to learn, VTT is the place to take your career to the next level. Read more about our organisational culture as the builder of the world's most meaningful place to work.
- Support for your well-being. Our people are our main asset, so we take good care of them. We aim to nurture great team spirit and leadership and offer versatile well-being services to enable a good work–life balance. On top of 6 weeks of paid holidays we offer exercise and culture benefits, hobby clubs, and voluntary well-being services such as meditation programmes and trainings on cognitive ergonomics.
Apply now and join our community of brilliant minds!
Please send your CV and application with your salary request via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 5 June 2023. We will process applications as they come in and fill in the position as soon as we find the right candidate.
Interested and want to know more?
For further information, please contact Yrsa Cronhjort, EU Programmes Manager, tel. +358 40 197 5232 on 23 May 2023 at 9:00–11:00 or 1 June 2023 at 10:00–12:00 (Finnish time).
We look forward to hearing from you!
Location: At VTT we are working in a flexible hybrid work model and your on-site office location can be either in Espoo, Tampere or Oulu, Finland.
VTT
VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have 80 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.
VTT – beyond the obvious.
Please see our other open positions and read more about us from our career pages.
