Project Manager

At IXA-GO, we support researchers throughout the full lifecycle of their research — from securing funding to translating results into value for the market and society. IXA-GO brings together grant advisors, programme managers, business and impact developers, and other support professionals.
The Grants Office helps scientific staff apply for and manage European and Dutch research grants. To further professionalise our support for large, primarily EU-funded consortium projects, we are setting up a central Project Management Pool to support researchers and faculties with the project management of large European and national consortium projects. Most projects we manage have a consortium size of 7–12 partners and a total budget of €3.5M–€8M.
As Project Manager, you provide operational and administrative support to PIs, ensuring smooth delivery of complex, multi-partner projects. You join the Project Management Pool, working both independently and within a matrix team of project managers, programme managers, grants advisors, and project controllers, in close collaboration with the Pool's Coordinating Project Manager.
You work closely with coordinating PIs, who hold overall project responsibility. Your key task is to ensure projects deliver results and that risks are caught early. Funding sources vary — from national programmes like NWO Gravitation, KIC, and NWA-ORC to Horizon Europe instruments — each with its own rules. You maintain regular contact with funders' Project Officers to ensure accurate progress reporting and alignment on any project changes.
Specific responsibilities:

• manage administrative processes across multiple projects, ensuring timely reporting and compliance
• support PIs by leading operational, administrative, financial, and managerial coordination — freeing them to focus on the science
• liaise with consortium partners and funders' Project Officers on progress reporting
• provide logistical and administrative support for project and consortium meetings
• mitigate project risks for VU by monitoring implementation against funding and consortium agreements
• maximise use of the project budget, working closely with Project Control, Business Control, and department managers
• coordinate support from other domains — Legal, Finance, HR, Ethics, Business Development. You're the spider in the web