Senior Project Officer – HIV Cure

Senior Project Officer – HIV Cure

Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland works towards a world where no one dies of aids anymore and where people are sexually healthy, so that everyone can love freely and without fear. This future is within reach. We have the medicines. We know what works. When people have access to effective treatment, HIV transmission will stop. Prevention tools like PrEP are changing how we approach HIV. We are closer than ever to a cure. We do this together with the people who are hit hardest by STIs and HIV because of discrimination and exclusion. We strengthen their voices and support them with information, knowledge and funding. For the love of all loves. We are working on this in the Netherlands, in two focus regions and in 10 countries worldwide.

A cure for HIV is the ultimate, shared ambition of millions of people worldwide. Researchers are making remarkable advances not only in controlling the virus, but also in developing strategies that could eliminate it entirely. Current HIV treatment, though highly effective, is lifelong, costly and not universally accessible. A cure would change everything. It would free people from daily medication, reduce stigma, restore health and profoundly transform lives. Just as importantly, it brings us one step closer to ending the HIV epidemic for good.

We are facilitating global collaboration toward an HIV cure and that requires sustained research, time and investment. That is why we are actively mobilising resources and building partnerships to accelerate progress. Since 2018, we have helped shift the HIV research landscape from competition to collaboration – positioning ourselves as a key actor in global cure efforts and enabling meaningful international alliances. Our focus is on innovative and inclusive solutions, particularly for people in low- and middle-income settings, where different HIV subtypes are prevalent and women are disproportionately affected. We bring together researchers, communities and partners across countries to work towards a universal cure that is effective for everyone, everywhere. By prioritising collaborative science, co-creation, and community engagement, we are helping to reshape the field and lay the groundwork for future breakthroughs.

Senior Project Officer – HIV Cure

36 hours per week

What does the team do and what will you do

The position is placed in the advisory team within the national department and more particularly in the project team focussing on HIV cure. The HIV cure project team invests strategically in pioneering biomedical and social science research, with a cure as a central priority and people living with HIV at the heart. We collaborate and co-invest with other funders, stimulating inter-disciplinary and international research partnerships and championing a cooperative approach to accelerate innovation. We actively support African leadership of the HIV cure agenda and use national and global advocacy to ensure that future solutions are equitable, accessible and tailored to the needs of affected communities. Within the project you will work closely with the project lead and strategic advisor for HIV Cure, as well as with a fundraiser/development specialist and an EU advocacy officer based in Brussels.

In collaboration with the project lead and strategic advisor for HIV Cure, you will:

• Build and maintain networks with scientists, policy makers, private sector representatives, HIV clinicians and other health care professionals, people living with HIV and communities living with HIV;
• Track scientific developments in HIV research and translate findings into strategic policy analyses for our national and international programs, as well as for marketing and communications;
• Together with the development and partnerships team you will identify funding opportunities and possibilities for co-funding with likeminded partners;
• Monitor and evaluate the outcomes of Aidsfonds-subsidized research projects in your role as grant manager;
• Contribute to the development of innovative funding mechanisms to ensure sustainable financing for HIV cure research in the future.

What we offer

First of all, we offer you an ambitious and diverse organisation in which we cooperate and deliver quality on the basis of appealing goals and clear roles in an accessible, open and inspiring atmosphere. This is how we contribute to a world without aids and a drastic decrease in the number of STIs. You are welcome as you are, who you love or what you believe. We are curious about your talents and your social drive to work with us on our mission.

In addition, we offer:

• An exciting position within the advisory team of the national department based in Amsterdam;
• An employment contract initially for one year with the possibility of extension;
• A salary between € 3.987,03 and € 6.073,86 gross per month (scale 11) for 36 hours per week, grading will depend on your experience;
• An individual choice budget (IKB) of 16.96% that you can use at your own discretion for money, time or spend fiscally advantageous on products or services;
• Hybrid working: You will work at our office in Amsterdam (Sloterdijk) or partly from home;
• Possibility of flexible working hours and setting your own schedule;
• NS Businesscard = 100% reimbursement of your commuting expenses by public transport;
• 208 hours of leave on a full-time basis (36 hours) and you can buy additional leave via the IKB;
• Personal development budget of €650 per year based on 36 hours.

Are you

Someone who looks at issues from different perspectives, and do you find a connection with the communities we work with: people living with HIV, young people, children, LGBTQ+, (former) sex workers, (ex-)drug users, because you can draw on your own experience or have met members of these communities up close. And do you have / are you:

• A background in biomedical or life sciences, ideally at postgraduate level (MSc, PhD, or MD);
• Solid understanding of biomedical research, with knowledge of HIV/AIDS or global health a strong advantage;
• Experience managing complex projects and budgets and building partnerships that deliver impact;
• A natural connector who can cultivate relationships with researchers, funders, policymakers, and community stakeholders;
• Commitment to collaborative, service-oriented leadership, someone who empowers others and leads with humility;
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate science for diverse audiences and inspire action;
• Flexible, driven and stress-resistant;
• Fluent in English; willingness to learn Dutch sufficient for reading and comprehension;
• Based in or willing to relocate to the Netherlands; openness to international travel.

It would be great if you also bring

• Familiarity with funding landscapes relevant to global health, including institutional donors, foundations, and innovative financing mechanisms;
• An existing network in the HIV, infectious disease or broader global health community;
• Experience working at the intersection of research, advocacy and policy and/or in working for a Dutch charity organisation.