Research Project Officer ( Maternity leave cover)

Welcome to Maastricht University!
Do you enjoy supporting researchers in delivering impactful international projects? And do you thrive in organising and streamlining complex processes? Then this role as Research Project Officer at FASoS might be the perfect fit for you. We are looking for a temporary Research project Officer to cover maternity leave from June – December 2026.

Research Project Officer  

• Our goal: At the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS), we contribute to understanding and addressing societal challenges through interdisciplinary research. Many of our projects are funded by external partners such as the European Commission, NWO, and international funding bodies.
• Your colleagues: You will join the Research Support Office (RSO), a dedicated and collaborative team that supports researchers with project management, funding support, and policy advice. You will work closely with academic staff as well as colleagues from Finance, HR, and Marketing & Communication.

In this role, you act as the linking pin between researchers, internal support staff, and external stakeholders. You ensure that research projects run smoothly—not only in terms of content, but also in organisation, compliance, and administration.

What you do

As a Research Project Officer, you support several externally funded research projects and ensure their effective implementation. You:

• act as the main point of contact for Principal Investigators (PIs) and liaise with internal and external stakeholders.
• organise meetings, workshops, and project events such as kick-offs and review meetings.
• monitor timelines and coordinate project deliverables, including reports and documentation.
• translate funding requirements and regulations into clear actions for researchers.
• support project planning, data management, and ethical procedures.
• maintain oversight of project progress and administration.
• collaborate with colleagues from Finance, HR, and Marketing & Communication.
• proactively identify opportunities to improve processes and workflows.

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you. 

What you bring 

We are not looking for a checklist, but for someone who enjoys working collaboratively and brings structure to complex environments. Do you recognise yourself in this?

• Project management skills – You have experience coordinating projects, preferably in an international context, and know how to maintain oversight.
• Strong communication skills – You engage easily with different stakeholders and can translate complex information into clear communication.
• Organisational strength – You work in a structured way, manage deadlines effectively, and handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proactive mindset – You take initiative, anticipate needs, and support researchers in an approachable way.
• Stakeholder awareness – You balance flexibility with a guiding role and know when to involve specialist expertise.

You have an academic level of thinking and working and are fluent in both English and Dutch. Experience with NWO or EU-funded projects is considered an advantage.

What we offer 
At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

• A 6-month contract (0,8 - 1,0 fte) to cover maternity leave.
• A gross monthly salary between €3546,00 and €5538,00 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.
• 29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.
• Flexible working hours, and the option to work from home.
• Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.
• A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.
• A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.
• An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

About the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS)
FASoS is a close-knit, international community of thinkers, doers, and connectors. We offer interdisciplinary education in cultural and social sciences, and our research focuses on societies in transition. Creativity and collaboration are central; ranging from European integration, digitalization, and culture to innovative educational projects. FASoS is small-scale, informal, and diverse, with room to follow your own path.

Interested?
Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Michel van der Graaf, Cluster Coordinator of the Research Support Office, tel. +31 6 4150 2490 or m.vandergraaf@maastrichtuniversity.nl. 

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University
At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM, and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.