EU Innovation & Partnerships Manager (0,8 - 1,0 FTE)

Introduction

Are you interested in supporting Erasmus University Rotterdam’s ambition to better align with developments in European higher education, research, and innovation policy? Are you driven by people, a natural connector with a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset, able to spot opportunities and link them to the right individuals? Do you already have an existing network of stakeholders across Europe? Then this may be the role for you, and we would be delighted to meet you!

Job description

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is seeking an EU Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Manager to strengthen our capacity to develop funding and partnership opportunities within the EU context. In addition to competitive funding schemes, the EU’s strategic priorities translate into policy-driven funding opportunities—such as the responsible use of technologies, human-centred AI, defence, and cybersecurity. To access these policy-oriented funding opportunities, the EU Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Manager will develop partnerships, maintain contact with EU and national stakeholders, and match funding opportunities with EUR expertise.

The EU Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Manager works closely with EUR’s EU Liaison Officer. Given the overlap in regional, national, and EU priorities, the manager will also align closely with the Innovation and Partnership Manager and the Innovation and Partnership Team of Engagement & Research Services. In this role, you will develop and maintain a broad network of internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify synergies between EU developments and funding opportunities and the EUR’s strategy and impact agenda, and connect these to relevant researchers and other stakeholders within EUR.
• Facilitate matchmaking with external stakeholders (universities, industry, government, NGOs) and build high-quality collaborations and consortia essential for successful Horizon Europe and other EU funding applications.
• Facilitate matchmaking within EUR with external stakeholders to build consortia for successful EU project proposals.
• Facilitate internal (EUR) coordination and community building (interdisciplinary teams) in collaboration with Grant Advisors and Innovation & Partnership Advisors.
• Ensure timely and targeted communication on EU initiatives and policy developments to the existing EUR grant community, in collaboration with Grant Advisors.
• Monitor ongoing successful EU projects: identify exploitation opportunities together with colleagues from Engagement & Research Services, maintain relationships with partners, and identify opportunities for future collaboration.

Objectives of the Role

• Contribute to strengthening the university’s research and societal impact agenda, particularly in emerging areas such as human‑centred AI, cybersecurity, and the responsible use of technologies.
• Support the university’s long-term strategic ambitions in Europe, with a focus on building strategic partnerships and consortia for major collaborative projects funded through EU instruments such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, the European Competitiveness Fund, etc.
• Facilitate, together with colleagues from Engagement & Research Services, the successful acquisition and implementation of large EU-funded projects.
• Support the EU Liaison Officer and the Innovation and Partnership Manager of Erasmus University Rotterdam in achieving strategic ambitions to increase the university’s visibility, influence, and presence regionally, nationally, and in Brussels.

Job requirements

• A master’s degree in a relevant field such as European Studies, Public Policy, Innovation Management, International Relations, or a related discipline.
• Affinity with the social sciences and humanities.
• At least 3 years of relevant experience in EU funding acquisition, innovation ecosystems, public affairs, or strategic partnerships, with demonstrable experience in building and managing international consortia and partnerships.
• In-depth knowledge of EU institutions, policies, and funding programmes, particularly Horizon Europe and Erasmus+.
• Experience with advocacy, policy influence, and/or representation in EU networks is a strong asset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.
• Creative thinking, strong analytical and synthesis skills, and the ability to prepare position papers, reports, presentations, and other written materials.
• English (C1) and proficiency in Dutch (B1) is an advantage ; proficiency in other EU languages is also an advantage.
• Willingness to travel regularly and stay abroad (e.g., in Brussels).

Employment conditions and benefits

We offer you an internationally oriented and varied job in an enthusiastic team, with excellent working conditions in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO-NU).

The start date of this position is as soon as possible and you will be based at campus Woudestein in Engagement & Research Services (ERS). This position is for 0.8 fte - 1 fte. The salary is dependent on your experience and knowledge and ranges from a minimum of € 5.705 to a maximum of € 7.297 gross per month Scale 12 on a fulltime basis (38 hours), in accordance with the CAO-NU. The contract is offered for a period of 1 year and can be converted into an employment contract for an indefinite period if suitability is proven and if continued in the same position, if (financial and/or organizational) circumstances remain the same.

Everything else we offer you; you can find below!

- Everything you need for a good work-life balance: the option to work from home in consultation with your manager, 41 days of paid leave with a 40 hour contract, 8% holiday pay and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus, and a significant discount on a subscription for our on-campus sports centre!

- Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR.

- Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library.

- Good pension with ABP that EUR contributes 2/3rds towards, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use.

- Are you currently combining your job with parenthood, or do you want to do so in the future? EUR offers partially paid parental leave and fully paid additional birth leave for partners, and our campus features a daycare (daycare not paid for by EUR).

- Moving to the Netherlands for your job with EUR? Then you may be eligible for the 30%-ruling if you meet the requirements of the Belastingdienst (Dutch tax agency), and with our Dual Career Programme we will also help your partner find the right job for them.

Employer

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is an internationally oriented university with a strong social orientation in its education and research, as expressed in our mission ‘Creating positive societal impact’. EUR is home to 4.100 academics and professionals and almost 33.000 students from more than 140 countries. Everything we do, we do under the credo The Erasmian Way – Making Minds Matter. We’re global citizens, connecting, entrepreneurial, open-minded, and socially involved. These Erasmian Values function as our internal compass and create EUR’s distinctive and recognizable profile. From these values, with a broad perspective and with an eye for diversity, different backgrounds and opinions, our employees work closely together to solve societal challenges from the dynamic and cosmopolitan city of Rotterdam. Thanks to the high quality and positive societal impact of our research and education, EUR can compete with the top European universities. www.eur.nl.

Faculty / Institute / Central service

Engagement & Research Services (ERS) advances excellent research and engagement to maximize positive societal impact. ERS creates conditions for transparent, inclusive, collaborative, and impactful research through strategic and operational expertise. 

We provide pathways for talents to reach their full potential and we advance fruitful collaborations, enabling Erasmus University to be a front runner in embedding excellent research in society. The following areas of support are embedded within ERS: Business Development, Grant Support, Legal Counsels, Open Science, Research Data Management, Ethics Review and Research Intelligence. ERS is a relatively young service department within Erasmus University Rotterdam and is steadily building and extending its service portfolio. ERS provides support to all faculties of Erasmus university Rotterdam (occasionally to Erasmus University Medical Center). 

Additional information

You can find more information about the EUR on our website www.eur.nl.

Are you enthusiastic, but would like to ask some questions about the position first? Then you can contact Immanuel Nijssen via office.ers@eur.nl.

For questions about the procedure, you can contact our recruiter Iris Konijnendijk at iris.konijnendijk@eur.nl.

Applying

Please submit your application, consisting your cover letter and cv, before the vacancy closing date. 

The selection procedure consists of 2 interviews. Interviews are expected to be held in weeks 16 (15-4) and 17 (22-4).

We look forward to receiving your application.

EUR offers equal opportunities to all employees and applicants, regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, occupational disability, citizenship or any other aspect that makes them unique. We hope to meet you in our community.