Coordinator Research Support Office

Welcome to Maastricht University! 
We are looking for a motivated coordinator of our Research Support Office. Are you interested in working with a dedicated team of professionals to optimize UM’s support for acquiring external funding? Then Coordinator of the Research Support Office of Maastricht University might just be the right opportunity for you.

 

Coordinator Research Support Office

•    Our goal: The Research Support Office (RSO) aims to further strengthen the support for acquisition of external research funding at UM. As coordinator of the RSO, you will play an important role in realising three main objectives: (1) supporting the refinement and implementation of the institutional research funding support strategic framework (including coordination of central funding support activities at a strategic level), (2) creating insight into UM’s funding profile and performance in the acquisition of external research funding, by monitoring and analysing performance, and (3) maintaining and expanding the RSO’s position as UM knowledge hub for research funding. 
•    Your colleagues: The RSO is a small team with a flat organisational structure. The RSO employs an administrative assistant and a (temporary) RSO policy advisor. The RSO is part of UM’s central department Academic Affairs, cluster research. Academic Affairs is a professional and ambitious department responsible for policy, quality assurance and strategy at institutional level for the themes of education, research, knowledge valorisation, business analytics, impact and external relations. The RSO officer also works closely with the business information & management cluster of Academic Affairs.

 
What you do
The RSO officer is responsible for coordinating the RSO’s activities and ensuring that the RSO’s objectives are achieved. You will provide input and advice to the Executive Board and faculties, informed by faculty policies and ambitions, but also by internal and external developments. You will collaborate closely with a team of experienced funding advisors from the six UM faculties to further optimise the support mechanisms available at UM for research funding acquisition. An important task is to further strengthen the connections between the faculties and the central Academic Affairs department on funding-related matters, and to maintain relationships with external funding-related organisations (e.g., in the context of EU funding developments). This includes actively looking for (and exploiting) opportunities for knowledge exchange and strengthening of expertise within and outside of the university, and optimising institutional-level grant support processes. You should be a team player with excellent communication skills, and you are well-equipped to handle different organizational dynamics. 

Tasks:

•    Taking a leading role in refining, implementing (and in time, evaluating) the institutional research funding support policy framework.
•    With the RSO team and faculty funding advisors, developing the central RSO into the UM knowledge hub (both in terms of data and best practices) for research funding, and using this to tailor institutional-level grant support processes to the institutional research funding strategy.
•    Providing input and advice to the Executive Board and faculties regarding funding matters, in direct consultation with the faculty funding advisors and other stakeholders.
•    Maintaining the strong connections between faculties and Academic Affairs regarding funding matters.
•    Translating funding-related policy developments on national and international level into strategic advice.
•    Representing UM in national and international research funding-related meetings and groups.
•    Coordinating central funding support activities and processes.

 
Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. 

What you bring 
We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

•    An academic level of working and thinking; a PhD is a plus.
•    Knowledge of the Dutch and EU research funding landscapes.
•    At least 4-5 years of relevant work experience in (research) strategy and policy development and implementation.
•    You are a builder: you enjoy the early phases of organizational development, you can devise a plan with milestones, you have an open personality and can inspire and convince different groups of people, up to and including a board room;
•    Excellent communication skills (in English and Dutch; both written and spoken) and collaboration skills.
•    Strong networking skills. You can effectively connect people and issues at different organisational levels; ideally you will also bring in your own networks.  

 
What we offer 
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer: 

•    A 12-month contract (0.8 - 1 FTE) with the prospect of a permanent contract based on mutual satisfaction.  
•    A gross monthly salary between €5705,00 and €7904,00 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus . 
•    29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours. 
•    Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home. 
•    Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas. 
•    A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with. 
  o    A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities. 
  o    An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe. 

 

About the Maastricht University Office (MUO)
MUO connects, facilitates, and strengthens collaboration within and beyond Maastricht University. As a network organization, we support the Executive Board, faculties, and services with joint programmes, communication, and strategy. Together, we make the university’s direction visible and tangible.

Interested? 
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Vicky Sterk at vicky.sterkmaastrichtuniversity.nl. The end date of the publication is April 15.

 Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow. 

 

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

 

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.

Job Type:  Non-Academic

Faculty/Service Center:  Maastricht University Office

Closing date:  15-04-2026

FTE min:  0,8

FTE max:  1,0

Salary min:  €5705,00

Salary max:  €7904,00

ID job:  2991

Job Type:  Non-Academic

Faculty/Service Center:  Maastricht University Office

Closing date:  15-04-2026

FTE min:  0,8

FTE max:  1,0

Salary min:  €5705,00

Salary max:  €7904,00

ID job:  2991