Two Grant Writers

Åbo Akademi University is recruiting two dedicated Grant Writers on contract for permanent employment to its Research Services Office.  The place of work is in Turku, Finland.  Remote work is possible when the duties allow it.

Åbo Akademi University is an internationally acclaimed research university with a wide ranging responsibility to provide higher education in Swedish in Finland. With its international research community and its strong Nordic ties, Åbo Akademi University has an acclaimed and recognized position within research and education both nationally and internationally.

Åbo Akademi is also part of the European CHARM-EU University Alliance, incorporating nine partners from eight European countries: https://www.charm-eu.eu/node/1. This alliance will offer an important network for the Grant Writer in developing further the support for researchers seeking international funding from the Horizon Europe framework program.    

Job description
The Grant Writers are responsible for supporting grant proposal writing and for exploring all potential project funding opportunities with emphasis on Nordic and European research funding sources.  The Grant Writer will be placed in the Research Services unit and will work closely with researchers and administrative units, including the Financial Services, Personnel Services and the University Library. 

The first position as a Grant Writer, starting from 1^st of June 2024 onwards (or upon agreement), is dedicated to support the researchers within the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

The second Grant Writer, starting from 12^th of August 2024 onwards  (or upon agreement) is dedicated to support researchers within the faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology, Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies and the Faculty of Social Sciences, Business and Economics.

The Grant Writers are responsible for all phases of grant writing, including pre-award grant writing, development of procedures, evaluation and compliance, and the overall coordination of grant applications. 

The essential duties and responsibilities include to

1. Actively seek, identify and recognize external opportunities that present viable funding opportunities and to match the priorities in academic initiatives from different research groups, including applications on the university level 
2. Perform internal reviews of faculty needs and assess the feasibility of obtaining external funding for academic initiatives on project and program proposals
3. Research, identify, engage and cultivate prospects for European, global and national corporate and foundation funding sources
4. Take part in writing, editing, revising, and submitting project applications
5. Create, design, and develop processes and procedures related to grant management and proposal development
6. Provide effective coordination of activities for prospective and current funding organizations, including campus visits, strategic attendance and university events
7. Maintain positive, proactive relationships with researchers, university offices and funding agencies to ensure process efficiency and grant compliance, as a liaison to all funding agencies or organizations, developing collaborative relationships with grant funding representatives

A trial period applies to new employees.

Qualification requirements
The preferred candidate is a deadline-driven team player with good multitasking skills. The holder of this position is part of a dedicated team responsible for the full range of funding development activities. The candidate is expected to hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field represented at ÅAU and a proven track-record in grant writing. To perform the job successfully, the candidates should ideally demonstrate the following qualifications:

1. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English is required. Skills in Swedish and Finnish is seen as a merit
2. Experience in professional grant writing with a successful track record (at least two years) 
3. Be familiar with the most common national, Nordic and EU funding instruments  
4. Good organizational skills 
5. Verifiable successful experience in technical writing, proofreading, editing, copywriting or other equivalent written communication format
6. Proficient in research, interpretation and analyzing diverse data
7. Able to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines and funding goals professionally
8. Demonstrate good team working skill and team-orientation in working collaboratively but also independently to achieve the stated goals 
9. Ability to promote the university's fundraising and strategic priorities by developing excellent working relations with faculty, academic staff, and foundation executives
10. Familiarity with the law and regulations as pertains to the administration of higher education grants is desirable

Salary
The salary for grant writer will be based on level 10 of the job demand level for other staff in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid. See the salary chart for other staff: https://www.sivista.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/YPJ-ja-harkkarien_Palkkataulukot_010923_010324.pdf

Application
Submit your electronic application at the latest on 6.5.2024 at 15:00 (Finnish local time). For guidelines on the electronic application, please see https://www.abo.fi/en/instructions-for-submitting-an-application/. 

The application should include a letter of application, a curriculum vitae and copies of certificates to which the applicant wishes to refer to prove their competence. Please indicate in your application which of the positions you primarily are applying for.

(The application period has been extended 15.4.2024.)

Information
For additional information about the position, please contact the Director of Research Services Mats Lindfelt, mats.lindfelt[a]abo.fi +358 50 361 9381 or HR specialist malin.osterholm-liljedahl[a]abo.fi.

Åbo Akademi University is working for equal gender distribution and diversity in all staff categories.