Advisor International Affairs

Passionate about international collaboration, connecting people and coordinating initiatives? Join our International Affairs team to help shape partnerships, policy and opportunities that create impact in research, education and patient care.

Advisor International Affairs

As advisor International Affairs, you contribute to the development and implementation of UMC Utrecht's internationalization strategy. You support stakeholder engagement, policy development, communication, and strategic initiatives, while helping identify opportunities that advance UMC Utrecht’s international ambitions. You help translate strategic priorities into concrete actions and coordinate their implementation.

A part of your role is preparing tailored programs for international guests, coordinating logistics, and ensuring visits run smoothly from start to finish. Through your advisory, coordination, and relationship-building skills, you help strengthen UMC Utrecht’s international collaborations, visibility and mobility activities. You work closely with colleagues across UMC Utrecht and with external partners, including Utrecht Science Park partners, universities, hospitals, governmental bodies, companies, and other national and international stakeholders.

This position combines well with another role at UMC Utrecht or Utrecht University, or suits you if you are looking for flexibility in your working week.

Your work includes:

• Monitoring international developments, events and opportunities, translating relevant insights into analyses, recommendations, policy proposals and follow-up actions.
• Collecting, analyzing, interpreting and presenting information to support policy development, implementation, evaluation, and management reporting and strategic decision-making.
• Coordinating communication and engagement with internal and external stakeholders, to support the development and strengthening of international partnerships, networks, and collaboration agreements.
• Maintaining oversight of international partnerships, strategic activities, visits, delegations, events, mobility opportunities, and relevant funding schemes.
• Coordinating and participating in international visits, workshops, events, conferences, and mobility activities.
• Managing the administration and execution of internal mobility travel grant programs.
• Contributing to communication activities, including website content, news items and presentations that strengthen UMC Utrecht's international visibility and positioning.

Where you will work

You will be part of a small and growing International Affairs (IA) team within the Research Office, which will become part of cluster Research & Innovation Services and Expertise within the Research & Innovation Center next year. The team currently consists of a coordinator and an advisor IA. We facilitate a multidisciplinary IA network of colleagues, experts and leaders across UMC Utrecht.

Collaboration is central to how we work. We value an open and supportive team environment where colleagues share knowledge, keep each other informed, and learn from diverse perspectives. We all actively contribute to a positive and professional environment, support one another and believe the best results are achieved together.

Together, we strengthen the strategic coherence and impact of UMC Utrecht's international activities by, e.g.:

• Establishing and developing the IA function, including central coordination and the development and implementation of the internationalization strategy.
• Facilitating strategic decision-making on international initiatives across our core tasks.
• Building and expanding international partnerships, networks and stakeholder relationships.
• Coordinating visits, delegations, our travel grant program and other key international activities.
• Strengthening international positioning and visibility, identifying funding opportunities and increasing utilization of our expertise, capacity and infrastructures.

What you bring

• An academic or higher professional education level of thinking and working.
• Approximately 2 to 3 years of relevant experience in international affairs, policy advisory, stakeholder engagement, higher education, healthcare, research management, and/or a related field.
• Experience in contributing to the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies, programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Experience in preparing policy proposals, management information, reports, and presentations for decision-making and governance processes.
• Well-developed analytical skills and the ability to translate complex information and developments into clear insights, recommendations, tactical advice, and actionable improvements.
• Effective organizational and coordination skills, with experience in planning and delivering events, visits, and other international activities.
• Well-developed stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, with the ability to work effectively across disciplines, cultures, and organizational levels.
• The ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Affinity for international collaboration and strategic partnerships, combined with a willingness to continuously develop your knowledge and expertise in an international environment.
• Organizational awareness and understanding of governance, decision-making processes, institutional dynamics, and international developments affecting collaboration and partnerships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Dutch and English, including the ability to prepare reports, policy notes, presentations, and stakeholder communications.
• A proactive, accurate, and hands-on mindset, with the ability to take ownership, manage multiple priorities, and move initiatives forward while maintaining stakeholder support.
• Willingness to travel abroad.

What UMC Utrecht offers

• Year-end bonus of 8.3% and holiday allowance of 8%.
• Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 70% of the monthly contribution.
• 100% public transport reimbursement. Are you coming on foot, by bike or by car? You will then receive a reimbursement of € 0.18 per km (by car up to a max. of 40 km one way).
• Possibilities to develop yourself personally and professionally.
• Cao à la carte: The option to select additional employment benefits in exchange for gross salary, such as purchasing a bicycle and memberships.