Eureka is seeking a Process Expert Evaluation and Ethics

Eureka is the world’s biggest public network for international cooperation in R&D and innovation. Since 1985, governments and public funding agencies in our network have supported the R&D of over 7,000 ground-breaking commercialised innovations that have positively impacted economic growth and industry competitiveness. With several programmes, our network funds small, medium and large companies, universities and research organisations who undertake international R&D projects for civilian purpose.

The Brussels-based Eureka Secretariat supports the network’s strategic objectives, manages Eureka programme operations, develops and maintains IT platforms, stores data and promotes Eureka to a wide range of stakeholders and beneficiaries. 

One of Eureka’s flagship programmes is the Innovative SME Partnership, co-funded by the European Commission. The funding programme for collaborative international innovation targeted at SMEs called Eurostars, is a main component of the Partnership. Two calls for projects are run each year, resulting in around 600 applications and 100 projects approved for funding in each call.  Programme management is run by the Eureka Secretariat in close cooperation with the national funding agencies and the European Commission. 

To support this work, the Eureka Secretariat, based in Brussels (Etterbeek), is looking for 1 full time Process Expert Evaluation & Ethics who will be the Eurostars call coordinator.

The role would involve managing the process of launching calls for proposals, receiving project proposals, and facilitating the selection of projects for funding. You would work closely with various stakeholders, including funding agencies, project applicants, and experts in the relevant field. S/he will oversee running of the evaluation process of Eurostars from start to finish and will report to the Eurostars Operations manager.

Duties and responsibilities:

Your responsibilities may include:

Programme management:

Overall responsibility for the coordination of the Eurostars call.

• Acting as a primary contact point for applicants, experts and the network to guide applications through the Eurostars evaluation process to ensure timely delivery of milestones and objectives.
• Controlling and checking the compliance of the participants/projects with the Eurostars evaluation requirements. Proactively following up information exchanges and queries with applicants and national representatives.
• Leading the coordination of the Eurostars remote peer review process in a timely and high-quality manner.
• Coordination of the execution of the Eurostars Independent Panel review and overseeing of the ethics review. 
• Overseeing the follow up of Eurostars projects with ethics requirements. 
• Responsible for proactively identifying potential problems and delays as soon as they arise, proposing potential solutions, and implementing the directed actions.
• Through a continuous analysis of programme processes and evaluating the success and quality of the outcomes, identifying areas for improvement, implementing changes and future planning.
• Performing the role in accordance with the organisation's strategy of quality and risk management.

Reporting and communication

• Preparing regular detailed reports and documentation giving full descriptions of the process implementation including, for example, actions taken, milestones and deliverables achieved.
• Preparing and delivery process presentations for network and stakeholder meetings as required. 
• Participating and presenting the programme at external events.
• Presenting to stakeholders the processes and benefits of the programme as well as project and programme results.

Team and stakeholder coordination

• Designing and implementing training sessions for improving programme processes, particularly regarding the peer review process, when required.
• Liaising with IT and finance teams to ensure evaluation processes are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• Welcoming new colleagues and assisting in their induction and training.
• Explaining to stakeholders, processes and benefits of the programme as well as project and programme results.

Qualifications and skills

Hard (technical) skills (i.e. specialized knowledge)

• Excellent practical knowledge of MS Excel or an equivalent.
• At ease with understanding and producing statistical analyses.
• Ability to produce an objective analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Ability to explain complex ideas in simple terms (written and verbal).
• Excellent spoken and written English is essential.

Soft skills (abilities) 

•  A positive, flexible and highly motivated team-player, with the ability to work independently, manage tight deadlines and focus on results.
• Organisational ability to cope with the challenge of daily deadlines and changing priorities.
• An exceptional administrator, well organised and able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• People management – persuasion, negotiation, consensus building.
• Excellent public speaking abilities.
• As a member of a multinational team: sensitivity to cultural differences.

Education and experience

• A level of higher education corresponding to a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
• Preferably a level of higher education corresponding to a master’s degree within a relevant field.
• Relevant professional experience of at least two years, preferably five.
• Experience of managing evaluation processes in EU programmes will be considered as an asset.
• Prior experience with implementing publicly funded research and innovation projects will be consider as an asset.

What we offer you

• A full-time position with an open-ended contract.
• A competitive salary, taking into account educational level and previous professional experience.
•  Attractive extra-legal benefits, like working from home, extra-legal vacation days, group and hospitalisation plans, free public transport to commute to the office, meal vouchers, etc.
• An international and dynamic team of roughly 35 employees from 16 different countries
• Eureka strongly lives by the values of trust, transparency, passion, creativity, autonomy, collaboration, work-life balance and diversity across all our teams and our whole network of customers and partners.
• A nice and modern working environment, close to the centre of Brussels and the European quarter and easily reachable by public transport (Merode).

The candidate should be able to start ideally immediately or as soon as possible.  

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the European Union.

Application and closing date

Please send your CV and motivation letter, completing the application form via the APPLY button of the vacancy page.

By sending an application, candidates give their consent to their diplomas and references being verified.

The Eureka Association is an equal opportunities employer.

Closing date: 1 May 2024, 5pm (Brussels time).

Applications received beyond the closing date and time will not be considered.

Please note that only applicants selected for interview will be contacted.

Interviews for this position are indicatively scheduled to occur between 20-24 May 2024.

Candidates selected for interview will be contacted to arrange specific dates and times.