Wanted: Temporary project leader MPCER within YUFERING

Deadline applications: 22 July 2022
Temporary position: 15 August 2022 – 15 January 2023
Location: Maastricht

The Maastricht Platform for Community-Engaged Research is looking for a motivated project leader, who can lead the platform and its working group members in their efforts to support community-engaged research at Maastricht University. Tasks include fundraising, coordinating activities, communication and further development of the platform.

Tasks

The Maastricht Platform for Community-Engaged Research (MPCER) was established in April 2019. Its mission is to create a multidisciplinary platform for employees at Maastricht University who do/support, or are interested in doing/supporting, community-engaged research (CER). We define “community-engaged research” as research that has all of the following three characteristics:

• Intends to have an impact by deploying research to resolve societal challenges
• Actively involves the relevant community in the research process
• Shares the research results with the relevant community

Over the past years, the platform has grown from zero in April 2019 to 443 members in April 2021. In 2021-2022, unfortunately less activities have been organized due to COVID-19. MPCER developed a strategic plan for 2021-2024 and the platform is currently looking for further funding for its other (non-European) plans, which involve a development & education programme for staff and students and establishing a MPCER community of practice.

The YUFERING research branch of the Young Universities for the Future of Europe alliance (https://yufe.eu/)) obtained further funding from the European Commision in December 2020 to develop a similar initiative at the European level.

What will you do?

You will lead the efforts of the MPCER working group in supporting community-engaged researchers as well as staff and students at UM. A first task will be to obtain funding to further develop the UM-centred efforts of the platform. First steps in this direction (overview of possible funding applications, first contacts with potential funders) have been undertaken. Until funding for MPCER’s greater plans is obtained, tasks for the project leader include (in collaboration with the working group members):

• Coordinating and planning of a few MPCER activities per year at UM (mostly in collaboration with other UM entities)
• Coordinating communication activities: a newsletter that is published once every two months, social media updates and updating the website
• Chairing regular (monthly) meeting
• Closely working together with the YUFERING/MPCER workpackage lead on European training on “community-engaged research”

Please take note of our second open call for YUFERING/MPCER.  Candidates that wish to combine the tasks for both projects are encouraged to react.

Requirements

We are looking for a candidate with the following qualifications:

• Interest in and experience with writing funding applications / acquiring funding (not necessarily academic)
• Great enthusiasm for community-engaged research
• Experience with doing and/or supporting community-engaged research is preferred
• Management/leadership experience is preferred
• Experience with organising events, ideally within UM, is preferred

Conditions of employment

This is a temporary position, created by a period of leave of the current task holder. Depending on circumstances, the duration of the vacancy could be extended.

Candidates from all UM faculties and services are welcome to apply. 0.15 FTE will be financially compensated through a transfer from the central UM level to the faculty/service of the new project leader. Further funding depends on the success of funding application efforts.

Please send your application for this role, consisting of your CV and a short motivation no later than July 22 to Bibi Linssen, YUFE institutional coordinator at UM (bibi.linssen@maastrichtuniversity.nl).