We are looking for a talented and motivated pre-award manager specialized in proposal writing to join the International Pre-Award Unit at Fundació Sant Joan de Déu. This team provides full support to Principal Investigators of Sant Joan de Déu’s research and innovation ecosystems to secure European and International competitive funding through identification of project ideas, deep knowledge of the funding Ecosystem and preparation of project proposals.

The position

The candidate will be in charge of co-developing successful research and innovation proposals with the PIs, to be submitted to European Commission-funded programmes. The final objective of this position is to maximize the value of the projects submitted in terms of research outputs, outcomes and impact. This position focuses on primarily on European Commission calls, ranging from Horizon Europe, EU4Health Programme, Erasmus+, CERV, among others, but also including other European and International public and private sources of funding such as US-NIH or private foundations.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Knowledge on the interests and project portfolio of the Sant Joan de Déu’s research groups, oversighting its alignment with the trends of funding agencies.


• Comprehensive knowledge of European and international competitive funding programmes, relevant policies, and regulations, with a commitment to staying up to date.


• Identify and align research ideas with funding opportunities, ensuring that each project's concept meets the specific requirements and objectives of the call.


• Support the Principal Investigator with the structure and methodological design of the proposal.


• Write proposals covering Excellence, Impact, and Implementation, while collaborating closely with PIs to craft compelling research narratives that emphasize innovation, impact, and societal relevance.


• Conduct thorough reviews of proposal documents to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.


• Support in the consortium building.


• Preparation of the budget including the management of the negotiation process with partners, including budget revisions, scope adjustments, and other matters.


• Stay informed about relevant trends, policies, and regulations in international development, grants management, and donor funding opportunities.


• Participate in lobby and networking opportunities.


• Organisation of information seminars for researchers.


• Contribute to the continuous improvement of pre-award processes, tools, and resources to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance.

The candidate must have the following qualifications and skills:

- A PhD in Life Sciences, Biomedical Sciences or any related topics.

- Knowledge and experience in writing and managing competitive collaborative international research and innovation proposals, especially Horizon Europe proposals.

- A thorough knowledge of EU R&D funding programmes is essential, with special emphasis on Horizon Europe.

- Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills, with the ability to distil complex technical information into clear, concise language.

- Availability of occasional travels locally and abroad.

- Fluent in English, Catalan and Spanish.

- Personal skills:

• Strong organization and time management skills, ability to multi-task, prioritize tasks effectively and respect deadlines.


• Creative, proactive and with initiative. Looking for improvement, efficiency and quality in the processes.


• Attention to detail.


• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

We offer:

• This position is subject to a grant and has the potential to become a permanent position.


• Preferably immediate hiring.


• Working day: Full time (37,5 hours).


• Primary location: Esplugues de Llobregat, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu.


• Secondary location: Sant Boi de Llobregat, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu.


• Economic conditions according to profile and knowledge provided.

Selection Process:

• Interested applicants must register for this offer, attaching Curriculum Vitae and Letter of Interest before the 8th of November 2024.

Contracte financiat amb codi d’expedient SLT028/23/000293 - subvencions per al finançament de l’actuació Impuls de les unitats de projectes d’R+D+i internacionals (Go Europe), per al període 2023-2025, en el marc de les actuacions incloses en el Pla estratègic de recerca i innovació en salut.