THE PROJECT TO BE DEVELOPED:

The selected candidate will join the Pre-Award International Unit of Institut Sant Joan de Déu (IRSJD), contributing to the participation of Sant Joan de Déu researchers in European and international funding programmes and supporting the preparation of high-quality competitive research proposals.

The role will involve supporting the full Pre-Award process, from identifying funding opportunities and assessing project ideas to proposal development, consortium building, budget preparation, review and submission, working closely with researchers and internal and international partners.

A key focus of the position will be Excellent Science and international research talent, particularly funding opportunities under the European Research Council (ERC) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The selected candidate will contribute to the development and implementation of SJD's approach to promoting Excellent Science, providing specialised support to researchers applying to these programmes.

The position will also support proposals under Horizon Europe and other European and international funding programmes, across research areas such as paediatric health, rare diseases, paediatric cancer, neuroscience, mental health, maternal and foetal health, and social innovation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Excellent Science: ERC and MSCA

• Support the identification and monitoring of research talent with potential for ERC and MSCA applications.

• Provide specialised support for ERC Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grant proposals, as well as MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, Doctoral Networks, Staff Exchanges and other relevant schemes.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the SJD Excellent Science Promotion Plan, including training and awareness activities for researchers.

Funding Intelligence and Portfolio Development

• Develop a thorough understanding of research groups' activities, interests and funding needs.

• Identify and analyse European and international funding opportunities aligned with institutional priorities.

• Proactively promote researchers' participation in relevant funding programmes.

Development of Competitive Proposals

• Assess project ideas against funding opportunities, call requirements and evaluation criteria.

• Support proposal development, including project concepts, consortium building, objectives, methodology and structure.

• Contribute to the writing and critical review of proposals, particularly the Excellence, Impact and Implementation sections.

• Prepare and coordinate project budgets, including interactions with consortium partners.

• Coordinate internal and external stakeholders and support the administrative aspects of proposal submission.

International Positioning and Networking

• Identify strategic European networks, partnerships, initiatives and research policy developments.

• Participate in networking events, conferences, information sessions and meetings with funding agencies.

• Contribute to institutional positioning activities related to Horizon Europe and the future FP10, as well as training activities for researchers.

Continuous Improvement and Digitalisation

• Support the continuous improvement of Pre-Award processes, tools, indicators and resources.

• Contribute to the use of digital and AI-based tools for funding intelligence, proposal development, review and internal processes.

WE OFFER:

• Full-time, two-year position, funded through a national programme aimed at strengthening the capacities and competences of Spanish European Projects Offices.

• Professional development in european and international research funding, with the opportunity to develop particular expertise in ERC and MSCA.

• Possibility of partial remote working according to the organisation’s policy.

• Primary location: Esplugues de Llobregat.

• Secondary location: Sant Boi de Llobregat.

• Annual gross salary starting from €35,000, depending on the candidate's experience and the applicable salary scale.

• SJD T-Cuida Programme, offering initiatives and benefits to promote the physical, emotional, social and professional well-being of our teams.

THE PROFILE WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

• PhD in Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences or another field relevant to the position.

• More than 3 years of relevant professional experience in research management, international research funding, research support or the preparation of competitive research proposals.

• Demonstrable knowledge of European research and innovation funding, particularly Horizon Europe.

• Experience supporting ERC individual grants, preferably Starting, Consolidator or Advanced Grants, will be highly valued.

• Experience supporting MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, Doctoral Networks and/or Staff Exchanges will be highly valued.

• Knowledge of other European or international funding programmes will be considered an asset.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent scientific and proposal writing, editing and proofreading skills.

• Ability to understand complex scientific concepts and translate them into clear and compelling proposal concepts and narratives.

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills.

• Excellent project management and organisational skills.

• Ability to establish effective working relationships with Principal Investigators, research teams and internal and external stakeholders.

• Ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively to a collaborative team environment.

• Proactive, flexible and solution-oriented approach.

• Digital skills and willingness to incorporate new tools, including AI-based solutions, into research management and proposal development workflows.

• Excellent command of written and spoken Catalán, English and Spanish

SELECTION PROCESS

Este contrato está  financiado bajo el proyecto GPE2026-001765-P, financiado por el Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades y la Agencia Estatal de Investigación, MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033, para la Preparación y gestión de proyectos europeos y facilitar la atracción de talento internacional 2026.

Esplugues de Llobregat, 23/10/2026