Project manager NATURESCAPES project

Within the Horizon Europe-funded NATURESCAPES project, we explore the potential for nature-based solutions (NBS) to contribute to transformative change for climate, nature and society across urban-regions in Europe, the USA and Latin America and the Caribbean. As a project manager, you work with colleagues in the Copernicus Institute and Utrecht School of Economics alongside our partners in universities, NGOs and consultancies as well as with local stakeholders and communities.

Your job

You will work closely with Professor Harriet Bulkeley, Project Coordinator, with whom you will form the central management team of the consortia. You will be responsible for the administrative processes including i.e. (financial) planning and reporting, monitoring and management of project implementation, contract compliance, archive management, and the organisation of meetings. Communicational and organisational skills are crucial in this position. Organisationally, you will be embedded in the Research Support Office (RSO) of the faculty, closely working together with an experienced group of project managers.

Your formal responsibilities include the following:

• You will be in charge of assuring smooth operations of the NATURESCAPES project processes and work organisation hand-in-hand with the project coordinator.
• You will monitor the progress and quality of project activities and results, including reporting, identifying bottlenecks and suggesting improvements when relevant.
• You will maintain project-central administration and inform partners of EU regulations.
• You will monitor the financial performance of the project for the Utrecht University side in collaboration with the Project Financial Controller.
• You will act as an intermediary between various parties involved and will be the primary contact person for the European Commission.
• You will be responsible for the internal communication across project partners.
• You will be actively embedded in the consortium activities, which includes the participation in project meetings (abroad).

During the lifetime of the project you will be responsible for the analysis of potential complex or sensitive consortium members questions, establishing the nature of the problem and appropriate responses in collaboration with relevant parties, the Project Coordinator and where relevant the European Commission. Additionally, you will take part in RSO team activities and share your experiences with the RSO team to enhance skills and knowledge of team members.

Your qualities

• You have strong organisational skills and experience with managing multi-partner and multi-disciplinary research projects.
• You are educated at academic level, preferably in one of the SSH domains.
• You are proactive, service-oriented and have a can-do mentality.
• You are flexible and able to deal with (tight) deadlines and complex situations;
• You have excellent writing and communication skills in English. An understanding of the Dutch language can be an advantage, but is not necessary.
• You demonstrate an understanding of the funding landscape (European and/or national), including financial aspects.
• Research experience and/or other experience which helps you relate to our researchers is a plus.
• EU nationality or a Dutch residence permit is required given the scope and duration of the position.

Our offer

• A temporary position for two years in an international working environment;
• a working week of 16-20 hours and a gross monthly salary between €3,378 and €5,331 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU)); 
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus; 
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU. 

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

About us

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

The aim of NATURESCAPES is to address the pressing challenge of realising the transformative potential of nature-based solutions (NBS) for climate change, biodiversity loss and social justice. Despite progress in the field, our knowledge of the synergies and trade-offs from implementing NBS at scale across diverse and interconnected landscapes is limited. At the same time, there remain challenges in designing the governance arrangements, finance and forms of citizen engagement are needed while the value NBS for diverse social actors is increasingly contested – especially where they seem to bring benefits to some and new forms of inequity and exclusion to others. Advancing the transformative potential of NBS requires that we address these underlying challenges together – ensuring they are both effective and just. NATURESCAPES will advance our understanding of how NBS across interconnected urban, rural and coastal landscapes generate benefits for diverse communities, particularly in areas of socio-economic disadvantage, inequity and risk. We will analyse the synergies/trade-offs emerging for climate, biodiversity and communities in 30 ‘naturescapes’ across Europe, LAC and the USA, including 12 in-depth case-studies focusing on the dynamics of implementation, creating new insights and tools. In 7 of these cases we will co-design interventions with local collaborators that test transformative theories and practices of change and identify how these can be replicated.

More information

For more information, please contact Mirjam van Kan (Head of Research Affairs) at m.vankan@uu.nl or +31 (0)6 38 99 42 37.

If you want specific information on NATURESCAPES, please contact Harriet Bulkeley at h.a.bulkeley@uu.nl.

If you are unsure whether you fit the profile sufficiently, please contact us so we can explore this together.

Are you an international applicant? Then have a look at what our International Service Desk can do for you and check the information for international staff and guests for the what and how on living in the Netherlands.

Candidates for this vacancy will be recruited by Utrecht University.

Apply now

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, via the ‘apply now’ button.

The interviews will be in person and take place on Thursday 28 August 2025 in the morning.

The application deadline is 13 July 2025.