NORCE is seeking a new Strategy Advisor

NORCE is seeking a Strategy Advisor/Research Coordinator with expertise in external research funding and research strategy development.

This position will be placed within the NORCE Climate and Environment department. The department has approximately 160 researchers. Half of the department is working on environmental research and biotechnology. The other half is dedicated to climate studies conducting both basic and applied research on the past, present and future climate system, on anthropogenic climate change and its impact on societies, and on the feasibility of climate change mitigation options. In particular the climate part of the department is also a partner in Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research. At the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research (BCCR) they use observations, models and theory to study past, present and future climates. They have leading expertise within climate understanding, climate modelling, predictions and scenarios for climate changes and quantification of climate changes. BCCR consists of partners from NORCE, University of Bergen, Marine Research Institute and the Nansen Centre. It is the largest climate research centre in the Nordic countries and among the leading centres in Europe. The working environment is highly international with around 200 scientists from 37 countries.

The position will coordinate the department's strategy and activities in identifying and applying for new research projects and also support overall coordination and management of active projects in the department in close collaboration with researchers. One such project with a particular focus during the next 4 years, will be to give professional support for our recently funded H2020 project PolarRES, which is coordinated by NORCE. As much as 50% of the position will be dedicated and funded as Project Manager to this project for the next 4 years.

PolarRES is a new research project financed by the EU's Research and Innovation programme, Horizon 2020, involving 21 organisations from 15 different countries, with an overall budget of 8 mill. Euro.

This is an exciting project that offers the opportunity to connect with scientists across multiple disciplines leading to improved efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change in the polar regions. We are looking for a self-motivated, strategically oriented person with experience and strong results in project management and research funding programmes.

Overall work tasks

• Keep the department updated regarding the development and possibilities in within research programmes at the Research Council of Norway (RCN), Horizon Europe and the European Research Council.
• Guide researchers regarding requirements and conditions that are relevant for applications targeting program areas within the RCN and the EU.
• Maintain a good knowledge of international and national research policies and strategy documents.

Specific work tasks as PolarRES Project Manager

• Daily support of the overall coordination and management of the Project activities to ensure that PolarRES is delivered on time and to budget.
• Monitoring of the progress and related use of resources of the individual Work Packages and tasks by the partners and the individual Work Packages.
• Support the Project Coordinator in planning and reviewing the deliverables and outcomes to ensure their timely delivery.
• Setting-up and updating administrative and management procedures of the Project, including risk monitoring and performance management.
• Provide management tools (e.g. guides, templates, address list, online collaboration environment etc.) for the consortium.
• Inform and advise project partners on financial and administrative rules, while ensuring the conformity with the relevant procedures.
• Organisation of, support to and participation in, where relevant, the meetings of the General Assembly, Scientific Steering Committee, Project Management Team and Advisory boards of the PolarRES Consortium, including meeting minutes.
• Monitor all contractual obligations, including transmittance of documents and information connected with PolarRES to any other Parties (i.e. Grant Agreement, Consortium Agreement and other legal reference documents) and draft additional agreements and suggest changes.
• Primary responsibility for updating the information on the European Commission's platform.

• More than 5 years of experience with project management.
• More than 10 years of experience in research funding programs, such as the EU's Horizon Europe Work Programme and the Research Council of Norway's programmes.
• Good team working skills while being proactive.
• Proficiency in English and Norwegian.
• Excellent communication skills.

• Experience in managing research projects funded by the EU's Work Programme for Research and Innovation
• Good knowledge of Norwegian and EU climate Policies
• Strong interest in climate research and policies

• A good and professionally challenging working environment
• A competitive salary
• Opportunities for independent project development
• Possibility to influence your own work, worktime and choice of solutions.

Your application should be written in English and must include the following:

• A cover letter outlining your interests and motivation for applying for the position
• The names and contact information of two references
• CV
• Transcripts, diplomas and relevant certificates

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at our recruitment portal Jobbnorge.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 18 July 2021

If you have any questions about the position, please contact: Dr. Trond Dokken (trdo@norceresearch.no). Questions about the application process can be directed to senior HR Adviser Monika Voit (movo@norceresearch.no).