Project Management Officer - PMO

1 - Working at the VUB

For almost 50 years, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel has stood for freedom, equality and connectedness. These values are strongly present on our campuses, in our students as well as our staff. At the VUB, you’ll find a diverse collection of personalities: pure innovators and especially people who are 100% their authentic selves. With about 3.500 employees, we are the largest Flemish-speaking employer in Brussels, an international city with which we are all too happy to be connected, and around which our four campuses are located.

2 - Position Description

Do you want to become the connecting force between professonial staff and central services?

We are looking for a Project Management Officer who provides administrative – financial management support for research projects and acts as a liaison between the two research teams of the Crime and Society Research Group (CRiS) and the Brussels University Consultation Center (BRUCC) & the central services of the VUB.

A selection of your tasks:

• Administrative-financial management of the different research projects of two research teams, including
• Support in the elaboration of new project proposals, with preparing project budget proposals as your specific responsibility.
• Follow-up of contractual and financial aspects of scientific services and coordination and follow-up of progress reports;
• General follow-up on the HR files of the researchers working within the professors' teams;
• Supporting and advising the professors on staffing, finance and various other operational aspects of research projects;
• Liaising and coordinating with (international) project partners on administrative and operational issues;
• All-round support concerning other research project related tasks such as outreach activities and management of websites and social media;
• You are the main point of contact (SPOC) for administrative, financial and any other questions not regarding theoretical content, for the professors and their teams. You look for solutions based on your own expertise and in coordination with the central services of the VUB.
• Optimizing administrative processes between the faculties and central services of the VUB.

For this function, our Campus in Etterbeek will serve as your home base, in combination with working from home.

3 - Profile

What do we expect from you?

• We are looking for someone with a master's degree or equivalent through experience.
• You are highly proficient in both spoken and written English and you can easily adapt your message depending on your target audience.
• Comprehensive proficiency of Dutch is needed.
• You have a strong focus on detail and an affinity with numbers. You are proficient in Excel and can easily learn how to use new platforms.
• You are a born networker and you like to liaise between the professors and other university stakeholders. You are proactive and work independently.
• You can make an important contribution to simplification and optimization of processes based on analyses, both advisory and executive and thereby stimulate continuous improvement.
• You are an 'all-rounder' and like to jump in where necessary.
• Understanding of the VUB or another university’s context is a plus.
• Work experience in financial-administrative (project) management within higher education is a plus.
• Knowledge of Flemish, Brussels, Belgian and European research funding is a plus (e.g. FWO, Belspo, Innoviris, VLAIO, FOD, Horizon Europe).

4 - Offer

Are you going to be our new colleague? You'll be offered a temporary (1 year - extendable) full-time contract at a salary linked to grade 7 or 8, depending on your skills and previous relevant work experience.

At the VUB, you’re guaranteed an open, involved and diverse workplace where you are offered opportunities to (further) build on your career. As well as this, you’ll enjoy various benefits:

• Full reimbursement for your home-work commute with public transport according to VUB-policy, or compensation if you come by bike;
• Cost-free hospitalisation and group insurance with guaranteed income;
• The space to form your job content and continuously learn via VUB LRN;
• Excellent facilities for sport and exercise;
• Ecocheques;
• Delicious meals at attractive prices in our campus restaurants;
• An open, family-friendly work environment where attention is paid to work-life balance, and exceptional holiday arrangements with 35 days of leave (based on a fulltime contract).  

5 - Interested?

Is this the job you’ve been dreaming of? Apply before 06/01/2025. 

Upload the following documents:

- your CV

- a motivation letter clearly indicating your interest in the position and how your skills and experience will directly contribute to our research groups.

- your diploma (not applicable for VUB alumni).

Do you have questions about the job content? Contact Lucas Melgaço at lucas.melgaco@vub.be or Imke Baetens at Imke.Baetens@vub.be.

Would you like to know what it’s like to work at the VUB?

Go to www.jobs.vub.be and find all there is to know about our campuses, benefits, strategic goals and your future colleagues.  

6 - For office use

Regulation: externe financiering

Contract: fixed term (1 year)

Head unit/faculty: Faculteit Recht en Criminologie

FTE: 1

Function: Management Support

Pay grade group: Grade 7

Recrutement type: hiring