Project Manager – EU-funded R&D Projects // Job-ID: 233-1

Festanstellung, Vollzeit · GRAZ / VILLACH

Your future responsibilities

We are looking for an experienced Project Manager (EU-funded R&D Projects) to coordinate and manage national, European, and international research and technology projects in collaboration with universities, research institutes, industry partners, and public organizations. The role strengthens the grants team within the Research Support Office (RSO) and reports to the Head of RSO. As a key contributor, you will support the implementation of funded projects throughout their full lifecycle.

Working closely with principal investigators, the RSO team, administrative staff, and financial controllers, you will oversee the post-award phase, ensuring smooth execution and full compliance with funding requirements.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research by enabling its successful delivery within a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.

Your future tasks include:

• Coordinate administrative and technical project kick-offs and ensure effective communication with partners, EU institutions, funding agencies, and internal stakeholders together with the principal investigator and operations manager.

• Oversee the full project lifecycle, ensuring compliance with scope, timelines, quality requirements, and contractual obligations.

• Develop and monitor internal project plans, schedules, and milestones and ensure alignment across internal teams and consortium partners.

• Manage contractual and compliance aspects with legal, financial, and technical stakeholders, ensuring adherence to IP, data protection, export control, and EU funding rules.

• Lead all reporting activities, preparing financial, technical, and administrative reports and ensuring timely submission of deliverables, meeting minutes, dissemination materials, and progress reports.

• Monitor project expenditures, support partners with financial processes, and ensure compliance with all funding and financial guidelines.

• Track project KPIs, risks, and issues and implement mitigation strategies throughout the project.

• Facilitate technical coordination to ensure milestones and work packages are delivered according to contractual commitments.

• Maintain efficient communication flows with consortium partners, EU officials, government bodies, research institutions, industry stakeholders, and external third parties.

• Maintain comprehensive project documentation in line with EU funding rules and audit requirements.

• Support multidisciplinary teams, foster collaboration, and contribute to the research unit’s strategic goals.

• Assist in partnership building and contribute to day-to-day operations and long-term impact-driven project outcomes.

Your profile

• Demonstrated professional experience in managing or coordinating EU-funded projects
• Knowledge of EU research and innovation programs (Horizon Europe, Digital Europe,EuroHPC) is a plus
• Excellent communication, organizational, and analytical skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills both in English and German; additional European languages is a plus
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to take initiative and motivation to drive results.
• Very good planning and time-management skills.
• High sense of accountability and great ability to work effectively both independently and within a team.
• Open-minded, proactive, able to multi-task and flexible
• Welcoming and service-oriented attitude
• Curious and able to adapt to the ever-changing world of research management
• Willingness to relocate to Austria

Important Facts about SAL

• Diverse research activities with many technical challenges. 
• State-of-the-art laboratory facilities and equipment.  
• Location in the heart of Europe in Austria – relocation support for non-European nationalities. 
• Internal and external training opportunities for career development.  
• Family & children friendly - actively shaping the compatibility of family and career. 
• “Vital4SAL” to promote a healthy workplace (e.g. SAL coaching pool, trainings on mental health, physical activities, healthy snacks, 24/7 accident insurance) 
• € 4 per day meal allowance in restaurants or € 2 per working day in supermarkets. 
• Public transport initiative (subsidy for the “Klimaticket”)  
• Our values:  
  • Open door policy, flexibility in working hours, casual dress code, diverse teams, working with people of different nationalities, informal communication, lifelong learning,compatibility of family and career, sustainability, personal growth, and collective advancement. 

About us