Research Project Manager - Pre award

Overview

Are you interested in joining a dynamic and international team of professionals to transform education? IE University's Faculty & Reasearch is looking for a Project Manager to join its team! 

The Project Manager will support the identification, preparation and coordination of research and innovation proposals within the IE University research environment, with focus on national R&D&I funding programmes but also on European funding opportunities. 

Working closely with IE University researchers and internal support teams, the role will help shape strong, competitive proposals aligned with the institution’s research priorities, ensuring sound coordination, timely execution and high-quality submission of funding applications. 

This position is focused on proposal development, coordination and follow-up, with progressive autonomy and a strong emphasis on execution, documentation and deadline management. 

 

Why IE University?

Every story begins with a purpose, and ours has always been about people. Founded in 1973, IE University has continuously raised the bar to drive positive change through education. We believe education is more than a path to professional success; it is a catalyst for personal transformation and meaningful impact. 

At IE University, we place people and their potential at the center of everything we do, empowering individuals to become extraordinary. We encourage bold thinking and foster a culture where innovation, curiosity, and courage lead to real-world impact. Together, we create an environment where talent thrives, and ideas shape the future. 

Our mission 

We support students in developing impact skills to live and lead with positive impact. This ignites a ripple effect: We transform people, who then transform others, systems, society, and, ultimately, our world.  

Our Purpose

To foster positive change.  

Values  

Cultivate the humanistic approach.  

Empower your entrepreneurial spirit 

Cherish the diversity of people, mind, and experience 

Drive innovation with a proactive mindset

We are looking for a person to join a full-time position in Madrid - IE Tower. 

Responsibilities

Your role as a Research Project Manager will involve:

• Identify national and European funding opportunities aligned with IE University research priorities. 

• Support researchers in the detection, shaping and structuring of project ideas. 

• Analyse the fit between research topics and calls for proposals, eligibility requirements, objectives and expected impact. 

• Coordinate the preparation of national and European proposals, ensuring quality, consistency and deadlines. 

• Work with researchers and, when applicable, external collaborators to define project scope, objectives, work plan and timeline. 

• Support the drafting of proposal sections, including narrative, methodology, objectives, impact and implementation approach. 

• Coordinate the collection of input, documentation and supporting materials from researchers and internal stakeholders. 

• Assist in the preparation of budgets, annexes and administrative documentation required for submission. 

• Track proposal progress, internal approvals and submission milestones. 

• Maintain well-structured, traceable and up-to-date project documentation. 

• Support communication with funding bodies, consortium members and internal institutional stakeholders during the proposal phase. 

• Follow up on the status of submitted proposals and keep relevant teams informed. 

• Contribute to dissemination, communication and project visibility activities when relevant to the proposal. 

• Support the organisation of meetings, drafting of minutes and follow-up of agreed actions. 

Qualifications

To thrive in this role, you should possess the following qualifications:

• University degree and/or master’s degree in a relevant field such as research management, project management, social sciences, business administration, international relations, communication, public policy or similar. 

• 2 to 4 years of experience in research project management, proposal preparation, funding support or related coordination roles. 

• Knowledge of Spanish national R&D&I funding frameworks and European innovation and research funding programmes. 

• Experience working with multicultural research teams, universities or knowledge and innovation driven environments. 

• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple proposals simultaneously. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and Spanish. 

• Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively with academic and administrative teams. 

• High attention to detail and strong coordination capacity. 

Valuable experience 

• Experience with Spanish national research and innovation funding programmes. 

• Experience with European programmes such as Horizon Europe (ERC, MSCA…), LIFE or similar. 

• Familiarity with proposal writing and project application processes. 

• Experience in higher education, research and technology centres or academic environments. 

• Additional languages. 

Key competencies 

• Proposal development and funding analysis. 

• Research project coordination. 

• Stakeholder management. 

• Excellent writing and editing skills. 

• Planning, prioritisation and deadline management. 

• Analytical thinking and problem solving. 

• Cross-functional collaboration. 

• Proactive and service-oriented mindset. 

• Interest in research, innovation and academic environments. 

Unleash your full potential and make an impact. The next move is yours!  If you want to be part of this educational revolution, we invite you to apply and be part of our dynamic team at IE University.   At IE University, we actively promote equal opportunities in recruitment processes and access to employment, always ensuring the absence of gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, ethnic origin, or disability bias throughout the entire selection process.