European/International Pre-award manager

We are looking for a person to join the Pre-Award International Unit of Fundació Sant Joan de Déu. The mission of the team is to support the elaboration of competitive proposals to European and International funding agencies securing competitive funds for research and innovation related activities conducted at SJD centers, mainly Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu.

The person will be responsible for assisting Sant Joan de Déu researchers in securing competitive European or International funds for research and innovation related activities overseeing all pre-award activities, including proposal development, budgeting, compliance, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders. He/she will ensure that all the projects are delivered to a high standard and in compliance with funder regulations and internal policies. The final objective of this position is to maximize the value of these projects to Sant Joan de Déu ecosystem in terms of research outcomes, outputs, dissemination and impact.

This position focuses on European Commission calls, ranging from Horizon Europe, EU4Health Programme, Erasmus+, CERV, among others, but also including other European and International public and private sources of funding such as US-NIH or private foundations.

The person we are looking for should be creative, flexible, empathic, and oriented to problem solving. We search for a professional with good communication and teamwork skills. Given the complex and competitive landscape of funding opportunities at European and international level, we need someone who is versatile and able to learn and adapt quickly, putting into practice new knowledge with flexibility and rigor.

Tasks and responsibilities:

• To be aware of the activity of the research groups, their interests and capabilities, their needs and the project portfolio.
• Identify new areas, researchers and projects with potential.
• Participate in the planning of the group in terms of its development and growth, establishing actions to anticipate and maximise the possibilities of applying for competitive European and international funding.
• To have an in-depth knowledge of European/international competitive funding programmes, applicable policies and regulations, and to keep up to date.
• Promote participation in European/international calls suitable for the groups and projects to be developed.
• Professional support for the preparation of European/International proposals:
  • Evaluation of the suitability of the project idea with the topic/call and evaluation criteria.
  • Support in the consortium building.
  • Support in the concept, design and structure of the project.
  • Preparation of the budget including the management of the negotiation process with partners, including budget revisions, scope adjustments, and other matters.
  • Conduct thorough reviews of proposal documents to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
  • Providing institutional information and other cross-cutting issues of the proposal.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact during the pre-award phase, responding to inquiries, clarifications, and requests for additional information.
  • Logistical and administrative support for the submission.
• Identification of networks, actions and initiatives that may represent a strategic opportunity for both the Institution and the researchers.
• Stay informed about relevant trends, policies, and regulations in international development, grants management, and donor funding opportunities.
• Participate in lobby and networking opportunities.
• Attendance at conferences, information sessions, partnering events and meetings of interest with funding agencies.
• Organisation of information seminars for researchers.
• Provide guidance and support to junior staff members involved in pre-award activities, including mentoring, training, and quality assurance.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of pre-award processes, tools, and resources to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance.