Programme Manager Healthy Future

Creating a healthy future requires more than disciplinary expertise alone. Healthy Future is one of the University of Amsterdam’s (UvA) four Strategic Themes. Healthy Future brings together knowledge, people, and perspectives across all seven faculties of the UvA to address some of the most pressing health challenges of our time. It takes a broad view of health, including physical and mental wellbeing, equal opportunities, prevention, and planetary health. Healthy Future contributes to the UvA Strategy 2021–2026 by strengthening the connection between research, education, and society.  See: About Healthy Future - Healthy Future. The other strategic themes are Responsible Digital Transformations, Systemic and Just Climate Solutions, and Fair and Resilient Societies.

Healthy Future is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced Programme Manager to further develop the strategic theme into a recognized UvA collaborative. This position is a unique opportunity to experience the university from the inside out: to learn how the university works around a strategic theme, while at the same time being exposed to new research across all disciplines and staying closely connected to teaching and academic developments.

As Programme Manager, you will play a central role in the strategic and operational development of Healthy Future. You will work closely with the programme leads of Healthy Future, the Programme Council, and and connect different faculties, research institutes, and external partners.

You will combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution: identifying opportunities, bringing the right people together, and turning ideas into concrete collaborations and results.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the programme leads and programme council in the strategic and organisational management of the programme, including embedding it within the wider university strucutre and other strategic themes.
• Supporting of the programme leads and programme council  in developing Healthy Future into a structural entity, such as a UvA transdisciplinary centre, instutitue or alliance.
• Building and maintaining the UvA network around Healthy Future and connecting researchers with relevant internal and external partners.
• Identifying and pursuing opportunities for new collaborations, large-scale research projects, funding, and innovation.
• Monitoring relevant scientific, societal, and policy developments and translating these into opportunities and concrete initiatives.
• Initiating and organizing workshops, meetings, and other activities that bring researchers and stakeholders together and contribute to the Healthy Future research agenda.
• Developing and coordinating calls for proposals, supporting the associated procedures and monitoring progress.
• Supporting the financial management of programme
• Contributing to the visibility and positioning of Healthy Future, both within and outside the UvA.
• Supporting the programme leads and programme board with administrative tasks, including scheduling and preparing meetings and following up on agreed actions. 

You have:

• An academic level of thinking and working and an affinity with the field of Healthy Future. A Master’s degree or PhD is an advantage.
• Experience in working in an academic teaching or research environment and an understanding of how universities operate.
• Experience in programme or project management and in building collaborations within complex organisations.
• The ability to connect scientific developments to societal challenges and impact.
• A strategic, pro-active and entrepreneurial mindset, with a talent for identifying opportunities and turning them into concrete initiatives.
• Experience with research proposals, grant applications, and/or funding strategies is an advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to bring together different perspectives and interests.  
• The ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and Dutch, including the ability to create professional, and visually appealing presentations.
• Knowledge of the UvA and its faculties, research institutes, and collaborations is an advantage.