Job Description
Your role
ECMWF is seeking a motivated and skilled Grants Specialist (A2) to contribute to the delivery and continued development of ECMWFâs growing grants programme. Since becoming a grant-giving organisation in 2025, ECMWF has established and operationalised its grants framework. The programme is now in an active delivery phase, with a growing portfolio of grants and Calls for Proposals planned for the coming years. As a Grants Specialist, you will contribute to the end-to-end management of the grants lifecycle. This includes supporting the preparation and launch of Calls for Proposals, coordinating the evaluation process, contributing to the preparation and award of grant agreements, and monitoring the implementation and closure of awarded grants. You will also contribute to the continuous improvement of ECMWFâs grants processes, tools and procedures as the portfolio and funding activities expand.
You will be part of the Grants Team, which is responsible for the end-to-end implementation of ECMWFâs grants activities, ensuring the quality, consistency and effective application of grants processes and procedures. The team coordinates and formulates input to the Grants Evaluation Board and works closely with technical, scientific, financial and legal colleagues across ECMWF. The Grants Team currently comprises a Senior Grants Specialist and a Grants Specialist. The Senior Grants Specialist provides overall coordination and guidance for the grants activities, while the Grants Specialist contributes to the delivery and further development of the grants programme across the different stages of the grant lifecycle.
As a Grants Specialist, you will play an important role in the effective delivery of ECMWFâs growing grants portfolio, ensuring that grants are managed efficiently, consistently and in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures. You will work across the different stages of the grant lifecycle and contribute to the further development and optimisation of the grants framework as ECMWFâs funding activities continue to grow. The role involves regular interaction with ECMWF colleagues and grant beneficiaries, as well as close collaboration with internal technical, financial and legal stakeholders.
Travel may be required to the ECMWF offices in Bonn, Germany, and Reading, UK, as well as to locations across Europe and beyond, depending on programme and grant activities.
Main duties and key responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Senior Grants Specialist and the overall guidance of the Head of Strategic Sourcing Section, you will contribute to the effective implementation and management of grants across the full grant lifecycle.
Pre-award
Support the planning and delivery of Calls for Proposals by coordinating administrative processes, preparing and reviewing call documentation, managing communications with applicants, and ensuring evaluation activities are organised and completed effectively. Contribute to the preparation of evaluation records and reports, and support the assessment and consolidation of grant management information, including budgets, risks and beneficiary data, to facilitate informed funding decisions.
Award
Coordinate the administrative aspects of the grant award process, including the preparation, review and finalisation of grant agreements in collaboration with technical, financial and legal stakeholders. Ensure that all required approvals, documentation and administrative steps are completed within agreed timelines, maintain accurate and complete records, and support a smooth and timely transition from award to implementation.
Post-award
Support the effective implementation and closure of grants by monitoring contractual obligations, reporting requirements, deliverables and key milestones. Assist with amendments, payment processes, beneficiary enquiries and project reporting, while maintaining accurate grant records and databases. Contribute to the continuous improvement of grant management processes, procedures and tools through quality assurance activities and lessons learned.
What we're looking for
- Excellent analytical and result oriented skills with a proactive and constructive approach
- Ability to work collaboratively, sharing expertise and lessons learnt with colleagues, including ability to stimulate and inspire different stakeholders to align to new procedures and working principles
- Ability to work autonomously and as part of multidisciplinary and geographically distributed teams
- Flexible attitude and ability to work to tight deadlines and pay attention to details, even under time pressure
- Ability to work as part of a team, managing multiple projects, potentially conflicting priorities and from different sites (possibly in a matrix style)
- Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to recognise and deliver to specific audiences
- Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrable ability to apply these to working within and across teams with staff at all levels, preferably in a scientific or technical environment
- Client-oriented mindset
Your profile
Education
- University degree (EQF Level 7) or equivalent in a business, legal or engineering discipline or an equivalent qualification, with exposure to grants / commercial procurements
Experience, Knowledge and Skills
- Relevant professional experience in the management and administration of EU-funded grants and/or contracts, covering different stages of the relevant lifecycle, from preparation and award through to implementation, monitoring and closure
- Demonstrated experience in EU-funded grant and/or contract processes, including the preparation of Calls for Proposals, assessment and selection, preparation and negotiation of grant agreements or contracts, and follow-up of implementation
- Experience in applying EU funding rules and procedures, including eligibility and compliance requirements, financial provisions, reporting obligations, amendments and payment conditions
- Experience in managing competitive funding or procurement processes, including the preparation of documentation, eligibility/compliance checks, evaluation or assessment processes, engagement with evaluators or tenderers, and preparation of award documentation
- Experience working with technical, financial and legal stakeholders and with external beneficiaries, grantees or contractors or other funding recipients in an international or multicultural environment
- Experience monitoring deliverables, milestones, deadlines, budgets, financial reporting and contractual obligations, and maintaining accurate records and management information
- Good working knowledge of the legal, financial and administrative aspects of EU-funded grants and procurement contracts
- Good knowledge of EU-compliant grant and contract management procedures, including an understanding of the similarities and differences between grant funding and commercial procurement
- Good understanding of grant and contract management practices, including agreement preparation, eligibility and compliance requirements, reporting, amendments, payment conditions and monitoring of contractual obligations
- Experience with, or good understanding of, electronic grant and/or contract management systems and tools
- Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Microsoft Word and Excel, with the ability to manage and analyse structured grant and contract information
- Candidates must be able to work effectively in English. A good knowledge of one of the Centreâs other working languages (French or German) is an advantage.
If you feel that you have the motivation and many of the skills for this role but don't meet precisely all of the criteria listed above, we still encourage you to apply.
About ECMWF
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is a world leader in Numerical Weather Predictions providing high-quality data for weather forecasts and environmental monitoring. As an intergovernmental organisation, we collaborate internationally to serve our members and the wider community with global weather predictions, data and training activities that are critical to contribute to safe and thriving societies.
The success of our activities depends on the funding and partnerships of the 35 Member and Co-operating States who provide the support and direction of our work. Our talented staff together with the international scientific community, and our powerful supercomputing capabilities, are the core of a 24/7 research and operational centre with a focus on medium and long-range predictions. We also hold one of the largest meteorological data archives in the world.
ECMWF has also developed a strong partnership with the European Union and has been entrusted with the implementation and operation of the and the Climate Change and Atmosphere Monitoring Services of the . As entrusted entity, ECMWF also implements actions under the , with a focus on the Global South. Other areas of work include High Performance Computing and the development of digital tools that enable ECMWF to extend provision of data and products covering weather, climate, air quality, fire and flood prediction and monitoring.
Our vision: The strength of a common goal
Our mission: Deliver global numerical weather predictions focusing on the medium-range and monitoring of the Earth system to and with our Member States
ECMWF is a multi-site organisation, with its headquarters in Reading, UK, a data centre in Bologna, Italy, and a large presence in Bonn, Germany, as a central location for our EU-related activities. ECMWF is internationally recognised as the voice of expertise in numerical weather predictions for forecasts and climate science.
Other information
Grade remuneration: The successful candidates will be recruited according to the scales of the Co-ordinated Organisations. In addition to basic salary, ECMWF also offers an attractive benefits package. Information about working with us and full details of salary scales and allowances are available on the ECMWF website at:
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Starting date:⯠As soon as possible
Location: Reading, UK or Bonn, Germany (Candidates are expected to relocate to the duty station)
Remote work: As a multi-site organisation, ECMWF has adopted a hybrid organisation model which allows flexibility to staff to mix office working and teleworking. We allow for remote work 10 days/month away from the office, including up to 80 days/year away from the duty station country (within the area of our member states and co-operating states).
Interviews by videoconference (MS Teams) interviews will be conducted in English and are expected to take place approximately a month after the closing date.
Successful applicants and members of their family forming part of their households will be exempt from immigration restrictions.
If you require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment process, please let us know. To contact the ECMWF Recruitment Team, please email jobs@ecmwf.int.
Who can apply
Applicants are invited to complete the online application form by clicking on theâ¯applyâ¯button below.
At ECMWF, we consider an inclusive environment as key for our success. We are dedicated to ensuring a workplace that embraces diversity and provides equal opportunities for all, without distinction as to race, gender, age, marital status, social status, disability, sexual orientation, religion, personality, ethnicity and culture. We value the benefits derived from a diverse workforce and are committed to having staff that reflect the diversity of the countries that are part of our community, in an environment that nurtures equality and inclusion.
Applications are invited from nationals from ECMWF Member States and Cooperating States, listed below, as well as from all EU Member States:
ECMWF Member and Co-operating States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
In these exceptional times, we also welcome applications from Ukrainian nationals for this vacancy.
Applications from nationals from other countries may be considered in exceptional cases.