Project Communication Officer

Great position as Research Communication Officer interested in science communication. Be part of an international team where you can grow your skills and knowledge of dissemination, communication, and stakeholder engagement.

Dit ga je doen

From the start, you will be responsible for a portfolio of NL and/or EU-funded research projects for which you will run the communication and dissemination activities. You will be guided by experienced team members, allowing you to discover and experiment with your talents. You will gain hands-on experience and become a trusted partner for researchers, while also enhancing your skills in stakeholder engagement and helping to foster valuable connections between researchers and their external partners.

In this role, you are responsible for the design and implementation of effective communication and dissemination plans for scientific projects. You will adhere to proper science communication practices and inspire researchers to engage with relevant stakeholders. Collaboration with scientific project leaders and team members is key, and you will also have the opportunity to work on side projects internally with the Marketing and Communication directorate.

Day-to-day activities:

• Ensuring effective and timely execution of the projects’ dissemination and communication plans.
• Facilitating stakeholder engagement and optimizing the impact of stakeholder interactions through activities such as organizing events, developing engagement platforms, and coordinating with key partners.
• Creating and managing a content calendar.
• Social media account management.
• Developing (text and visual) content for educational and communication materials (e.g. newsletters, animations, infographics, short videos).
• Maintaining online publication repositories.
• Organizing and participating in public science events.
• Tracking and reporting on dissemination and communication activities.
• Attending and presenting at consortium meetings (nationally and abroad).
• Shaping effective, goal-oriented communication and dissemination plans for new proposals, actively contributing to the professionalization of the dissemination and communication service.

Early-to-mid career science communicators, preferably with a related educational background, are welcome to apply. Those with an interest in digital design work are also encouraged to apply. Should you be invited for a first round interview, we will also ask to see a small portfolio (2-5 examples) of outreach activities and information materials you’ve created.

Hier ga je werken

The Research Office is part of the Directorate Policy & Strategy of the University Medical Center Utrecht. The Research Office focuses on strategic advice on development, implementation, and evaluation of science policy within UMC Utrecht. Team Funding & Support (F&S) is a part of the Research Office and focuses on advising and supporting the development of grant applications (pre-award) and management of awarded projects (post-award). The research communication officer will be placed within the post-award branch of F&S, which currently has 13 team members.

In the F&S team, you will work with ambitious and eager colleagues. We embrace our open, collaborative, and supportive culture and core values. Flexible annual hours contribute to a healthy work-life balance and provide the ability to excel in both aspects, accommodating personal preferences and needs.

Your role is positioned in the F&S team, close to the needed expertise in relation to funding requirements. You will also work closely with colleagues at the Marketing and Communication directorate, which contributes to the UMC Utrecht ambition by building a strong and sustainable reputation for the organization and supporting effective communications.

Dit neem je mee

We are looking for an enthusiastic, self-starting, creative, and motivated Research Communication Officer for an early-career position (1-3 years of experience). In this role, you will help implement communication and dissemination strategies for various research projects, working closely with researchers and stakeholders to ensure effective outreach and engagement. If you are eager to shape a new service, empower researchers to co-create and engage with stakeholders, and ultimately translate groundbreaking scientific results into impact for patients, we encourage you to apply!

You have an interest in science communication, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement for (inter)national EU and other subsidized projects. You have a basic understanding of how science communication and stakeholder engagement can facilitate and accelerate the translation of scientific findings and innovations into societal impact. You have relevant education and/or experience in this field and a desire to improve the reach and impact of research activities and findings. In your work, you show initiative, are service-oriented, a great communicator/networker, and able to establish and maintain interpersonal relations. Preference will be given to candidates with an educational background and work experience in health and/or life science communication.

• Excellent writing and speaking skills in both English and Dutch
• Take initiative
• Establish and maintain interpersonal relations
• Are flexible
• Find joy in working in an international team
• Eager to learn and ask questions (no matter the issue size)
• Can switch well between different projects and tasks

Skills that are beneficial but not required:

• Experience with website maintenance (e.g. WordPress or equivalent content management software) or desire to learn
• Digital design (e.g. Canva, Adobe) or desire to learn

We do not have a closing date for this vacancy. The vacancy will be closed as soon as we have found a suitable candidate.

Dit bieden we jou

• Possibilities to develop yourself personally and professionally.
• The option to select additional employment benefits in exchange for gross salary, such as purchasing a bicycle and memberships.