Project Manager, NanoGeoScience, Department of Chemistry, University of Copenhagen

A new International Training Network (ITN) has just been granted by the Marie Curie Program of the European Commission (EC) for Science, in a 4 year project called Metal-Aid. It is to be coordinated by the NanoGeoScience research group at the University of Copenhagen so we are searching for a Project Manager with extensive experience in running Marie Curie Training Networks. Metal-Aid is part of Horizon 2020. Its goal is to train 14 early stage research fellows (ESR) throughout Europe.  The 11 partners include 6 research institutions, 4 consulting engineering firms and 1 government agency from Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Spain and the United Kingdom.  Metal-Aid addresses current and future challenges in soil and groundwater remediation. During the project, young researchers will develop and test the effectiveness of iron oxides and other solids for trapping and degrading toxic compounds. Projects will run in the laboratory, use experimental and theoretical approaches and implement new solutions in field injection tests at contaminated sites across Europe. Through the mobility scheme, each ESR will have the opportunity to visit and work with other project partners in the private and public sector so will experience research, industry and national cultures.



Overall duties:

- to assist the Project Coordinators at the University of Copenhagen and take responsibility for the operational management of the project, interfacing with the project partners and the ESRs, the EU Office at the University of Copenhagen, the administrators at each of the partner institutions, and the EC Project Officer in Brussels.



Requirements:

- BSc (Honours, 1st Class, at least B+ or 8/10 on the international scale, character/grade of at least 10/12 on the Danish scale, or equivalent).

- understanding of scientific research and knowledge of chemistry, for assisting the preparation of reports and to effectively represent network activities on the website.

- at least 5 years experience in project and research network management, preferably with EC projects; experience working with EC Project Officers in Brussels.

- experience in administration and interfacing with project partner administrators and between public and private sector scientists.

- experience in design, setting up and maintaining websites.

- extensive experience in writing and editing scientific, administrative and financial reports.

- experience in organising international meetings and events and optimising for high quality sites with low budgets.

- good communication and interpersonal skills; good analytical and problem solving skills.

- well organised, self-motivated, good sense of logic and judgement.

- excellent skills in English; a second or third language is an advantage.





Duties:

The Project Manager has overall responsibility for the people, financial management and reporting the network activities.  She/he will be expected:

- to establish and maintain effective working relationships and communication between the 11 full network partners and 1 associated partner, with the partner administrators and with the project officers at the European Commission (EC) in Brussels.

- to work with the University of Copenhagen EU office to provide guidance to the network partners on the complex operational regulations of Horizon 2020 in general and the Marie Curie Initial Training Networks in particular.

- to prepare a template for all partners, clearly defining the roles of all employed research fellows and stating the Marie Curie requirements and recruitment regulations; to assist the partners with discrepancies in obligations between the local and the EC regulations.

- to work together with the EU Office at the University of Copenhagen.

- to set up a website for the project and keep it updated.

- to prepare checklists for the deadlines during the project, information for the scientific reports, etc. and monitor progress.

- to organise quarterly meetings with the Network Coordinator to ensure deliverables are on target and to anticipate possible changes in the project, with a view to providing information for the EC Project Officer so as to obtain timely authorisation for any changes.  Quarterly templates of work promised in the contract should be prepared and updated each quarter and validated with the Network Coordinator.

- to monitor the triple constraints of the project – scope, time and costs.  Collect and organise baseline data for costs, schedules, work in progress, work completed and work planned.  Present this information to the Network Coordinator periodically and in an annual report, to ensure that there are no major discrepancies between the work promised in the original grant agreement and to liaise with partners about spending and work yet required for the remainder of the contract.

- to be responsible for management and coordination of the Network training events held in Copenhagen and across Europe; to organise meetings and travel in connection with the network activities and regularly update the project website.

- to organise and manage Network Supervisory and Advisory Board meetings, including the participation of network partners; to prepare the agenda, arrange dates and locations, to prepare minutes and to monitor the implementation of decisions taken at the meetings.

- to liaise with other active EC training networks in related fields and explore the possibilities of running training events together.

- to explore possibilities for public outreach and dissemination of results; to promote information flow between the Metal-Aid and other Network Coordinators about possible common dates and venues for network events and to organise them.

- to organise and manage all professional development activities for the ESRs; to collect information from all partners about local training possibilities and to communicate this information to the fellows.

- to participate in meetings and provide guidance on the operational aspects of the network and EC regulations.

- to assist with coordination of the international exchange visits and secondments of network fellows between the Metal-Aid partners; to monitor, record and report exchange of young researchers, information and samples; to keep in contact with fellows and facilitate exchanges and possible apartment sharing to minimise secondment costs.

- to design and edit the Network Newsletter, which summarises project research and to present research results and activities in a manner that is accessible to the informed public.

- to monitor researcher activity and take action in response to researcher absence and/or failure to complete deliverables.

- to be sensitive and considerate in respect of the pastoral care of network researchers; to provide mentoring of ESRs across the network, where appropriate.

- to provide information to fellows on possible job opportunities in their field as they approach the end of their fellowships.



Employment Conditions

The position is for 4 years and will begin 1 July 2016.  It is intended that the position is for half time but this can be negotiated.



Salary will be based on the applicant’s background and experience. In addition to the basic salary there will be an additional general allowance. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. Terms of appointment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. Terms and conditions of appointment will comply with the Circular on Job Structure from the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations for Academic Employees in Denmark.  Information about working conditions and taxes is available at http.//workingconditions.ku.dk and http://ism.ku.dk/.



The university wishes to have its staff reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of personal background. 



Application Details

The successful candidate will be selected based on his/her background and experience.



Applications must be submitted in English, at the university web site by clicking on SØG STILLINGEN below.



For more information, contact Project Coordinators, Dominique Tobler, dominique.tobler@nano.ku.dk or Susan Stipp, stipp@nano.ku.dk . 



Applications must be submitted in English. They must contain:

- a one page description explaining why you are perfect for the job;

- full contact details (name, address, telephone and email) and a few words about how they know you, for 3 references;

- Curriculum Vitae (with your full name, e-mail address and telephone number).

   

The application must be received on or before 25 December 2015 at 11:59 pm Central European Time. Applications or supplementary material submitted after this date will not be considered.