The European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC-ERIC) is seeking a motivated and experienced Project Manager (PM) to run a recently won Horizon Europe project on marine biodiversity and biodiversity observation. The MARCO-BOLO project, which unites more than 20 academic partners across Europe, aims to improve our ability to monitor, observe and predict marine biodiversity for better preservation, conservation, and management of marine ecosystems in Europe. The project manager will ensure a smooth delivery of the project, anticipating deadlines, events, and deliverables.

Contract:

4-year contract at EMBRC-ERIC Secretariat

Location:

EMBRC-ERIC Headquarters, Campus de Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 Place Jussieu, Paris, France, c/o Sorbonne Université, Paris 75005.

Start date: ASAP

Brief Description of EMBRC-ERIC:

The European Marine Biological Resource Centre (EMBRC-ERIC) is a distributed pan-European research infrastructure that aims to provide a strategic delivery mechanism for excellent and large-scale marine science in Europe. With its services, EMBRC-ERIC supports both fundamental and applied research based on marine bioresources and marine ecosystems. EMBRC-ERIC is centrally managed by the EMBRC-ERIC Executive Director, with the support of the EMBRC-ERIC Secretariat. The working language is English, and knowledge of French will be advantageous.

Description of MARCO-BOLO:

MARCO-BOLO (MBO) aims to structure and strengthen European coastal and marine biodiversity observation capabilities, linking them to global efforts to understand and restore ocean health, hence ensuring that outputs respond to explicit stakeholder needs from policy, planning and industry. To this end MBO will establish and engage with a Community of Practice (CoP) to determine end-user needs with the aim of optimising marine data flows, knowledge uptake, and improving governance-based on biodiversity observations. By exploiting synergies with concurrent projects MBO will develop and demonstrate new autonomous technology for biodiversity mapping and monitoring, and data streams from remote sensing, eDNA, robotics, optical and acoustic observations. Protocols for eDNA-based biodiversity observations are established and validated across applications, taxa and ecosystems. The sequence of the analytical and technical processes for the different use cases will be incorporated into operational Essential Ocean Variables (EOVs) and Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs) and included into online reusable workflows, contributing to the free and open access of EU and global biodiversity information facilities, and to support major EU biodiversity directives and global initiatives.

The project partnership will leverage its international activities (MBON, GOOS, OBIS) and participation in UN Ocean Decade Programmes (Marine Life 2030, OBON, ODIS, Ocean Practices for the Decade) to align the MBO work programme to global CoP, ensuring European participation and leadership in global biodiversity monitoring and global science. MBO results will be designed to build upon existing capability and infrastructures, and to be relevant to existing frameworks so that outputs can be easily integrated into national, regional (EU and adjacent sea basins), and global observation systems, with no delay ensuring the reusability of the investments Europe is already making in data generation.

Mission and Objectives:

Under the supervision of the project coordinator, Nicolas Pade, the PM will be in charge of the smooth running and delivery of the MARCO-BOLO project from the official kick-off until the final reporting of the project. In their role, the PM will ensure the timely delivery of all deliverables and reporting duties, and will be the main contact point for the consortium partners and for the European Commission’s project officer. They will also play an active role in the delivery of parts of the project and represent the project in discussions and coordination with related Horizon-funded projects. The PM will work directly with the project coordinator and the project Implementation Board. Whereas MARCO-BOLO will be the main task of this project management position, the PM will also be expected to help on other projects in the EMBRC portfolio, as time and effort permits.

Main Responsibilities:

• Communication with the European Commission (EC) and the Project Officer assigned to MARCO-BOLO;
• Ensure the delivery of the project as defined in the Grant Agreement, and ensure the compliance of all consortium members;
• Financial and administrative monitoring of the project, ensuring budgets are spent and expenses are within the allocated budgets, coordinating the timely reporting of the project to the EC;
• Advice, guide and support the logistical and scientific delivery of the project, verifying and checking all deliverables adhere to the Description of Work and Grant Agreement;
• Ensure the due involvement and management of the projects advisory bodies;
• Supervise and support the internal and external project communication;
• Organise, participate, and minute taking in project meetings;
• Manage and anticipate potential conflicts;
• Manage project risks, possible deviations, and mitigating measures;
• Support the management through organising travel, handling ordering of necessary materials and obtaining the necessary quotes;
• Provide general support and advice to other on-going projects in the EMBRC portfolio and assist the submission of future projects.

Desirable Skills:

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in managing Horizon-type projects;
• Understanding of marine biology, ecology, and/or observation;
• Understanding and familiarity with the research environment;
• Experience in organising, running, and animating meetings and workshops;
• Excellent note-taking abilities;
• Excellent command of oral and written English. Good command of French is a bonus;
• Strong writing abilities and report drafting;
• Full command of Microsoft Office or equivalent;

Special Personal Attributes Required for the Position:

• Strong interpersonal and networking abilities;
• Accustomed to working with a high-degree of transparency and in close interaction with colleagues;
• Able to work towards precise objectives under specific time constraints;
• Ability to plan ahead and anticipate tasks and obstacles;
• Commitment to producing high-quality work;
• Excellent organizational skills, including the time management of personal and team assignments;
• International work experience;

Remuneration:

Competitive, experience based salary (Gross salary point around €36 000 ). A benefit package will be offered, including comprehensive health insurance, public transportation subsidy, and flexible work environment with up to two days remote working per week. All staff benefit from 7 weeks of paid leave.

Conditions:

4 year contract with 3 month probation period. Overtime may be required to meet activity deadlines. National and international travel will be required occasionally for the purpose of meeting with internal and external stakeholders. EMBRC-ERIC is an equal opportunities employer.

Application:

Applicants should send a CV along with a covering letter (as one PDF document) that summarises their relevant experience, and in particular any scientific communication expertise, links to online activities or at least two pieces of original content created, current salary, and why they are enthusiastic about this opportunity. They should include the names and contact information of at least two references.

Enclose this document in an email message, with subject: “EMBRC Project Manager” addressed to: <secretariat@embrc.eu>. Applications will be accepted until midnight on 24th September, 2023.