Open position for assistant with PhD position for managing the WISE PROJECT

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Application deadline: 31. 7. 2026

Expected start date: 1. September ali 1. Oktober 2026

The Faculty of Mathematics, Natural sciences, and Information Technologies of the University of Primorska (UP FAMNIT) is looking for a dynamic, motivated and experienced project manager to coordinate the 4-year project entitled “From WIdening to urban Sustainability innovation & Excellence” (WISE).

Formally, this full-time position will be classified as an “ASSISTANT WITH PHD” academic position. The selected candidate shall be experienced enough to be quickly autonomous, with good organisational and communication skills, and shall be able to proactively take initiative to manage the project implementation. The candidate will be involved in coordinating the WISE research activities as part of the project implementation, which includes 3 micro-projects respectively related to wooden-based innovative materials and acoustics for buildings, remote sensing using hyperspectral imaging for smart cities, and sustainable strategies for policy transfer between cities and regions.

The candidate is expected and/or will be responsible for:

• Coordinating the partners through the whole project implementation,
• Supervising the timely delivery of milestones and deliverables,
• Making sure that the project KPIs are achieved on time by the responsible partners, or that the necessary mitigation measures are activated, so that the project runs smoothly,
• Monitoring, reporting and reflecting on the project impact beyond indicators,
• Supervising meetings and taking minutes,
• Adopting a quality-oriented approach to the project outputs,
• Getting involved in further project management, reporting, budget overview and monitoring

We believe that this project is a unique opportunity for a candidate to make a long-lasting contribution to excellence in HEIs within the T4EU network, but also in Europe and beyond.

About the project

WISE is an institutional-reform, capacity-building, and outreach initiative aimed at raising excellence in science and knowledge valorisation in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), with emphasis on Widening countries and a focus on urban sustainability. It builds on the Transform4Europe (T4EU) framework, a European University Alliance that unites 11 European HEIs. It also includes 5 non-academic partners from the HEIs’ local and regional networks plus a Brussels-based EU network, to work within a structured quadruple-helix community of practice (CoP).

The objectives of WISE are:

1. to raise excellence in science and knowledge valorisation,
2. improve global competitiveness & visibility of Europe’s HEIs, and
3. to improve researchers career opportunities, promoting balanced circulation of talents, fair & modern research assessment, diversity, gender equality, inclusiveness, open science, and acquisition of transferable skills.

Essential requirements/skills:

• Strong project management experience
• Knowledge of EU funding mechanisms
• Fluency in both spoken and written English is a must
• PhD degree in any field, preferably related to the project topic
• Autonomy, precision, capacity to lead
• Good communication skills

Desirable (but not mandatory) requirements/skills:

• Fluency in Slovenian or other languages

What we offer:

• 1-year position, with the possibility for extension
• Mentorship and training
• Salary according to the basic salary class 31
• Opportunity to participate in other ongoing projects of the university

Employment opportunities, admissions policies, activities, services, and the facilities of the UP FAMNIT do not exclude any person based on race, colour, age, sex, gender, religion, national origin, or disability. In processing your application, the GDPR will be respected, and your information will not be shared outside of the relevant staff at the University of Primorska. By submitting your application, you agree that the data you provide will be reviewed by these organizations.

HOW TO APPLY:

The applicants should send:

• Curriculum vitae (including short descriptions of all prior educations, qualifications, and research or work experiences)
• Motivation letter for this position (maximum one A4 page)
• List of publications if applicable

to this email address: kadrovska.famnitiam@upr.si  In the title (subject) of your email please write: Open assistant with PhD position for managing the WISE project. All materials should be in English and submitted in PDF format no later than 31th July 2026.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For further information about the position, please contact prof. dr. Michael Mrissa (michael.mrissa@upr.si.

UP FAMNIT reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, and consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

Learn more about UP FAMNIT at https://www.famnit.upr.si/ or by e-mailing: info@famnit.upr.si