Two professionally strong advisors to AU's Research Support Unit: Strategic EU funding advisor and budget advisor

Two professionally strong advisors for AU's Research Support Unit: Strategic EU funding advisor and budget advisor

The Research Support Unit is seeking two strong advisor profiles: A strategic EU funding advisor with a focus on applications, and a budget advisor with a focus on application economics.

Are you passionate about developing and delivering world-class research support, and would you like to help groundbreaking research progress well through external funding, innovation, or advanced budget models?

We are looking for two new colleagues for our Pre-award team in the Research Support Unit. The team, which comprises 14 staff, supports and advises researchers from Aarhus University (AU) and Aarhus University Hospital (AUH) in securing external research funding. Our primary focus is the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, as well as selected national funds such as Denmark's Innovations Fund.

We are looking for two different profiles for our team.

Profile 1: EU funding advisor with in-depth knowledge of the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, with a focus on project development, innovation and strategic proposal processes.

Profile 2: Budget advisor and template specialist with strong Excel skills for complex partner budgets and financial method development.

Your primary tasks

Depending on which profile you apply for, the emphasis of your tasks will be

Primary tasks for Profile 1

Create a match between research ideas and funding calls and brainstorm with researchers and institutes about homecoming strategies and targeting.

• Provide holistic advice, including sparring about and preparation of proposal budgets and application text in accordance with fund requirements in collaboration with the applicant.
• Review and comment on applications to ensure they are competitive and meet fund requirements.
• Cultivate and maintain in-depth knowledge of the EU funding landscape and translate complex EU rules and work programs into concrete advice for our researchers.
• Coordinate application and advisory processes, especially with a focus on larger collaborative projects and innovative initiatives.
• Proactively seek new knowledge and best practices within relevant funds, instruments and innovation initiatives, and contribute to the development of our advisory tools and templates.

Primary tasks for Profile 2

• Provide specialized sparring on budget rules before submission of applications and proactively seek knowledge about developments in financial requirements for research projects.
• Advise on and prepare application budgets in accordance with fund requirements, with a particular focus on partner budgets for larger national and international applications.
• Develop and optimize our budget templates in close collaboration with both pre- and post-award as well as finance departments.
• Link the faculties' financial needs with the fund's specific requirements in both the advising and development of supporting tools.

Common tasks for both profiles

• Convey information about instruments, budgets and advisory processes at e.g. workshops and masterclasses for researchers.
• Participate in relevant network events internally at AU and nationally and internationally.

Who are you?

As an advisor you are driven by building close, trusting relationships with both researchers and administrative partners across the university. You are used to team work, where you collectively find solutions to everyday problems. You balance your task execution responsibly and independently, always with a view to the overall work community across pre- and post-award. We expect you to have at least a master's degree and to possess strong writing and communication skills in both Danish and English. Knowledge of or interest in data processing in, for example, Power Query can be an advantage.

For Profile 1 we are particularly looking for someone who has

• In-depth knowledge of and experience with EU funding programs (especially Horizon Europe, EIC and partnerships).
• Experience with or strong interest in the field between research and innovation (how research is translated into societal/technological value).
• Experience with proactive advisory and administrative support for researchers through strategic proposal processes.

For Profile 2 we are particularly looking for someone who has

• In-depth experience with budgeting in Excel and preparing complex proposal budgets (you may have a background as a project controller or advisor with a strong numeric focus).
• You thrive at the intersection of central guidelines and local needs at the faculties through a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach.
• The ability to translate complex fund requirements into simple, user-friendly budget templates and workflows.
• Knowledge of or experience from the university sector would be an advantage.

What does daily life look like with us?

With us you will experience a strong professional collaboration, both within the pre-award team and across the entire unit, as we value knowledge sharing and sparring highly. But it’s not only the professional side that binds us together. The Research Support Unit is also characterized by a close collegial community with an informal and down-to-earth tone, which is evident in our willingness to meet for bowling and street food, participation in DHL, and our “1st Monday of the month cake club.”

The workflow is structured in an annual cycle, and you can expect a varied daily life with peak periods for application activity and periods focused on strategic development. It is therefore important that you are comfortable with peak periods, can adapt between development and operations, and are able to prioritize your tasks.

Some travel may be required to AU’s other campuses (Viborg, Emdrup, Roskilde and Herning) as well as occasional participation in conferences and annual meetings domestically and internationally.

About the Research Support Unit

The Research Support Unit reports to the Vice Director area AU Research and comprises 23 dedicated colleagues across pre-award, post-award and strategy. Together we form a strong professional community that provides specialized advisory and administrative support to researchers across Aarhus University as well as Aarhus University Hospital (AUH) throughout the process from the initial project idea to final reporting.

Salary and terms of employment

The position is a permanent full-time position with start 1 January 2027.

The average working time is 37 hours per week.

Salary and terms of employment follow the state academic salary scheme ( see the circular here ). You will be appointed as an Akademiker in the basic salary grade 4-8 with a flex allowance. For the right candidate there will be an opportunity for placement as a senior or chief consultant with salary according to appendix 4 of the agreement.

The employing authority is Aarhus University.

The primary place of work is at the Research Support Unit at Navitas, Inge Lehmanns gade 10, 8000 Aarhus. Note: we will move the address to Universitetsparken in the first half of 2027.

Application and information

If you want to know more about the department, you can read further on our website.

If you have questions about the positions, you are welcome to contact team leader Mette Meilstrup at tel. +45 93 52 13 29 or email: [email protected].

Applications will be shortlisted in weeks 45 and 46.

Important when applying: Please clearly mark in your application whether you are primarily applying for Profile 1 or Profile 2 , or if you would like to be considered for both.

Aarhus University will be a rewarding and inspiring workplace for everyone and aims for a culture where each individual can develop and grow. We see gender equality and diversity as a resource and therefore encourage all interested to apply.

Applications are submitted via Aarhus University's recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University’s website.