Project Manager on the Horizon Europe research project FORbEST (environmental/forest research and cultural anthropology), Faculty of Humanities

We are looking to hire a highly-motivated

Project Manager

to join the University of Oulu's Faculty of Humanities, Unit of History, Culture and Communications.

The full-time (100%) four-year Project Manager position will work within the EC-funded Horizon Europe project FORbEST "Safeguarding Carbon and Biodiversity Across European Forest Ecosystems Through Multi-actor Innovation" (2025-2028). The FORbEST project is led by the University of Oulu (scientific coordinator: Dr Roger Norum) and has received a total of six million euros in funding from the EC. As a Scientific Project Manager, you will have responsibility as a core member of the lead coordinating team working in the management and oversight of the FORbEST project.

The faculty and research group

This Scientific Project Manager position is based within Cultural Anthropology in the Research Unit of History, Culture and Communications, which combines cutting-edge expertise of human-environment interactions, transdisciplinary environmental social sciences, cultural studies, political ecology, restoration, conservation, and mobility studies. In addition, researchers at Oulu within the FORbEST project are also part of the Biodiverse Anthropocenes Research Programme (https://www.oulu.fi/en/research/biodiverse-arctic-and-global-resilience/biodiverse-anthropocenes) and the Ecology and Genetics Unit at the Faculty of Sciences. The person hired to this position will thus be named as an Affiliated Scholar within Biodiverse Anthropocenes, and will at various times work closely with scientists from that programme.

Located on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia in Northern Finland with over 13,500 students and nearly 4,000 employees, the University of Oulu is one of the Nordic countries' largest universities and a global leader in studies of Arctic environments and peoples.

The FORbEST project: Safeguarding Carbon and Biodiversity Across European Forest Ecosystems Through Multi-actor Innovation

The FORbEST project consortium is composed of 18 European beneficiary partners across ten countries (from Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Thailand, and the UK). FORbEST seeks to restore and protect natural and semi-natural forest ecosystems, as a means of achieving EU biodiversity and climate objectives, and ultimately creating a climate-neutral and sustainable society. The project brings together cutting-edge social scientific approaches with advanced technologies and methodologies from the natural sciences to devise solutions that improve forest function and harness potential for healthy forested ecosystems. The project works with management and conservation practices across five key EU biogeographical regions and one non-EU tropical region (Northern Thailand), to understand the impact of past and current governance, and to create shared roadmaps toward sustainable futures. The project employs an array of methodologies including advanced remote sensing, AI, eDNA metabarcoding, citizen science, and participatory action research to unlock powerful, comprehensive monitoring regimes of forest habitats, and to enable a better understanding of their resilience and functionality. Project research is grounded in a transdisciplinary approach, using participatory Living Labs to steer engaged, knowledge-intensive workshops across stakeholders. These platforms will empower diverse actors to collectively imagine, iterate, and co-design new paths and best practices for carbon-rich and biodiverse forest management. FORbEST emphasizes multi-actor approaches to robust stakeholder engagement, as a means of achieving climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, economic diversification, and citizen empowerment across multiple scales.

Job description

As the Project Manager for the FORbEST project, you will play a pivotal role in leading the project management and coordination team, working alongside the scientific coordinator, project assistant and research services staff. The main responsibility is to carry out tasks related to leading and coordinating the project, reporting to the European Commission, and working with the scientific coordinator in the management, supervision and implementation of the project, and oversight of consortium partners. These responsibilities include a wide set of tasks related to the scientific, organisational, administrative, financial and legal management of the project, enabling coordination of exchanges and communication within the consortium. Furthermore, you will also be integral to the project's multi-actor approach, working with Oulu researchers to design, plan and execute Living Labs across six case studies. You will benefit from the FORbEST consortium's extensive network of researcher and practitioner contacts, and you will have a unique opportunity to engage with different stakeholders in European forestry, and will be able to collaborate with multiple research groups. You will be supervised by Dr Roger Norum, the project's scientific coordinator. Your primary responsibilities will include:

• Managing the scientific, administrative and financial aspects of the project to ensure successful achievement of project tasks, timelines, deliverables, and milestones;
• Sharing in project-level decision making with the scientific coordinator;
• Monitoring project progress from a scientific, administrative and financial perspective, including timely reporting, payment procedures, and coordination of project schedules;
• Support the scientific coordination in planning, producing, collecting and reviewing the deliverables and outcomes (e.g. scientific technical and financial reports) to ensure their timely delivery to the European Commission.
• Coordinating internal communication and management procedures, including leading consortium meetings, conference calls, and webinars among team members, stakeholders, and partners;
• Monitoring and managing the project budget, including fund distribution and transfer;
• Providing support to consortium partners on scientific, administrative, or financial issues related to the project, facilitate clear communication among partners, and provide management tools (e.g., guides, templates, etc.) for the consortium.;
• Working closely with the Living Labs coordinator (WP2) to support the smooth integration of the project's Living Labs across six case studies; 
• Liaising with the EC Project Officer regarding critical technical, administrative, legal, and financial project matters;
• Brainstorming publication and scientific engagement strategies across SSH and STEM partners;
• Managing the project's research assistant and communicating with university administration on project-related administrative and budgeting issues;
• Assisting with identifying and mitigating risks perceived to impact project performance or quality;
• Other duties: carrying out various related coordination and management tasks as needed, linked to the scientific coordinator's other ongoing research projects, scientific programmes, and funding initiatives.

What we offer?

• A supportive and transparent environment in which your work is valued and your contribution is recognized.
• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team of people where you can share your expertise and grow in the field of environmental research and project management.
• A world-class research environment in a multinational, high-ranking group working to solve globally significant scientific and environmental challenges.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits.
• Personal and career development options of a large organisation.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes both flexibility and work-life balance! Read more about working with us.
• Finland is the happiest and one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, personal safety, excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu!

Who are you?

We expect from you the following professional qualifications and skills:

• A university Doctoral degree in the human, social, environmental or natural sciences in a relevant field (e.g. anthropology, geography, environmental humanities, STS, ecology, forest science, biology, etc.);
• Experience in project management or administration;
• Good knowledge and command of project management tools (spreadsheets, planning and collaborative tools), particularly the Microsoft Office suite;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English (the language of communication within the consortium).

The following background components will be considered an advantage (but are not required):

• Working experience in managing or coordinating European Framework Programmes (e.g. Horizon 2020, ERC) or international scientific research projects;
• Knowledge of European Commission management rules associated with the Horizon Europe framework programme;
• Previous scientific research experience or demonstrated interest in topics related to forests, biodiversity, or environmental change;
• Experience of multi-actor and inter-/transdisciplinary approaches to research;
• A good command of the Finnish language;

Required personal skills:

• Excellent organizational and time management skills;
• Excellent skills in writing and synthesis (creating and analyzing work plans, scientific reports, email correspondence, summary sheets);
• Ability to manage multiple duties, and work efficiently;
• Ability to establish and maintain lasting and constructive formal relationships;
• Ability to identify and quickly resolve operational and scientific problems and critical issues that might arise during the project;
• Self-motivation and ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative and multicultural team.

Applications from students are also welcome.

Salary and work terms

The position is full time (100%) and fixed term, beginning from 01.01.2025 (or as agreed as soon as possible thereafter) until 31.12.2028.

The competitive gross monthly salary will be based on the levels 5-6 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component will be paid based on personal work performance (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). Starting gross salary will be approximately 3600-4200 € per month (before taxes). A trial period of 6 months is applied to this position.

The general place of work will be at the University of Oulu, Finland. The work may also include some travel in Europe. Occasionally, an extended work schedule may be necessary due to travel, meeting attendance, and other time-sensitive project activities.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by Sunday 15 September 2024 (11:59pm EET/Finnish Time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and should include the following appendices:

1) A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) summarizing your professional experience and expertise; describing how your previous experience has equipped you to work in this position; explaining why you are particularly suitable for this position; and detailing your career plans and interests.

2) Curriculum vitae (max. 4 pages) with a detailed presentation of your professional activities. You may use the TENK guidelines as a template if you would like (though this is not required): http://www.tenk.fi/en/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae).

3) An example of your writing, such as a chapter of your PhD thesis or a scientific article.

4) Contact information of two previous employer references who may be asked to give a personal statement about you (note that these will only be requested if you are shortlisted for this position).

Only applications containing all relevant appendices and submitted through the online recruitment system will be considered. The top candidates will be invited to an on-site or online interview. All applicants will be notified at the various stages of the selection process, including once it has been filled.

We readily welcome applicants from all backgrounds, such as people of different ages, genders and linguistic, cultural or minority groups.

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the FORbEST scientific coordinator Dr Roger Norum ([email protected]).