The hunt is on for an outstanding Administrative Project Manager to support research in ecological economics at the University of Barcelona.
The position will contribute to the Horizon Europe MAPS Project (https://mapsresearch.eu), which aims to develop new models, assessments, and policies for sustainability. The successful candidate may also support the management of other research projects undertaken by the research group, subject to future funding. This is a full-time position (35 hours per week), with a target start date of January 2027. The position is for a minimum of 1.5 years, with the possibility of extension subject to project funding.
The successful candidate will support cutting-edge research in ecological economics, political ecology, and the impacts of artificial intelligence, with a particular focus on “post-growth” approaches.
They are looking for an outstanding Administrative Project Manager with excellent organisational and time management skills to support this work. The successful candidate will work closely with the project Coordinators (Daniel O’Neill and Federico Demaria).
The responsibilities of this position include:
- Supporting the Coordinators in a wide range of administrative tasks
- Overseeing project governance and administration, ensuring compliance with the Grant Agreement and Horizon Europe rules
- Managing the overall project timeline, including anticipating and monitoring milestones and deliverables
- Monitoring the project budget, keeping track of expenses, and managing financial documentation for audits and reporting
- Organising travel and itineraries, and submitting related expense claims
- Planning and facilitating monthly online consortium meetings, including preparing agendas and collecting updates from work package leaders
- Planning and facilitating the project’s final in-person consortium event
- Managing and maintaining the project’s online resources (e.g. Microsoft Teams, websites, mailing lists, etc.)
- Communicating with project partners and the EU project officer
- Liaising with other administrative staff at the university (e.g. Fundació Bosch i Gimpera, human resources)
- Working closely with the project partner responsible for communication, dissemination, and exploitation of research results
- Reviewing and editing content before publication (e.g. deliverables, blog posts, policy briefs, newsletter, press releases)
- Managing processes for the recruitment and hiring of new staff (advertising vacancies, shortlisting, onboarding)
- Organising internal events such as meetings, workshops, and team retreats
- Ordering resources such as equipment and software
- Leading the preparation and submission of periodic and final reports to the European Commission
- Supporting the preparation and submission of new research project applications
- Organising the management and administration of other research projects secured by the research group, as required.
Essential — The successful candidate will have:
- A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office (especially Word, Excel, and Teams)
- Excellent organisational skills and a keen attention to detail
- Well-developed time management skills
- Fluency in both English and Spanish (Catalan would also be an asset)
- Strong quantitative skills for managing project budgets
- Excellent verbal and written communications skills
- Interest in sustainability and/or economics issues
Desirable — The successful candidate may have:
- Previous work experience as a Project Manager, Executive Assistant, or similar role
- Previous experience with Horizon Europe research projects
- Knowledge of the administrative procedures and protocols of Catalan public universities
- Proficiency with AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Copilot
- Knowledge of ecological economics, post-growth, and/or the science–policymaking interface at the European level
The position will be based in the Faculty of Economics, at the University of Barcelona (Spain), under the supervision of Dr Daniel O’Neill and Dr Federico Demaria.
How to apply: Please submit your CV and a cover letter that describes how your skills and experience fit the position. Please address your application to Dr Daniel O’Neill and Dr Federico Demaria at ecoeco.recruitment@gmail.com by Sunday, 25 October 2026, 23:59 CET. The subject of your email should be: “Application for Project Manager Position”.
Please ask two referees to submit reference letters for you to ecoeco.reference@gmail.com by Sunday, 25 October 2026, 23:59 CET. The subject of their emails should be: “Reference for YOUR NAME”.
Deadline to apply: Sunday, 25 October 2026, 23:59 CET
Start date of position: January 2027
Starting salary: €35,000 per year
Working arrangements: The successful candidate is expected to live in the Barcelona area and to work regularly in person at the University of Barcelona. Applicants who are not willing to live and work in the Barcelona area will not be considered for this position. Barcelona is a dynamic city on the Mediterranean, with a very high quality of life. The University of Barcelona is generally regarded as the top university in Spain, and one of the best in Europe.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from people from groups that are underrepresented in research and university environments.
About the MAPS project: There is an urgent need for a new economic paradigm that reconciles human well-being with environmental sustainability — one based on a “post-growth” approach. High-income countries must move beyond the pursuit of GDP growth as a policy goal, and instead pursue policies that improve human well-being while reducing resource use. The aim of the MAPS project is to broaden the range of policies, models, and assessments to help achieve sustainability, equity, and human well-being. It is a 4-year Horizon Europe research project coordinated by the University of Barcelona, with nine other partners across Europe.