Pre-Award Grants Officer (Ref. AD/26/06)

Your Role & Our Team

IRB Barcelona is seeking a highly qualified Officer to join our Competitive Funding and International Promotion Department. Reporting to the Section Head of Pre-award, you will provide strategic support throughout the full grant application and negotiation process, guiding researchers in identifying funding opportunities at local, national, and international levels. We are looking for a proactive person to provide hands-on support to our researchers, actively using data and technology to enhance the efficiency of procedures and the quality of applications.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Provide strategic support throughout the full grant application and negotiation process, proactively guiding researchers in identifying funding opportunities at local, national, and international levels, proposal preparation, and grant agreement formalization.

• Analyze successful and unsuccessful proposals to identify trends, best practices, and opportunities to improve future applications.

• Collaborate closely with ITS personnel to implement, optimize, and train AI tools designed to support proposal drafting and assess alignment with funding agency requirements.

• Contribute high-quality information to refine AI models and streamline pre-award processes.

• Offer personalized support to researchers to ensure compliance with eligibility criteria, budget guidelines, ethical considerations, and other funder requirements.

• Support the negotiation and completion of grant agreements and signature processes.

• Guide researchers through regulatory and administrative requirements related to grant applications and funded projects, including ethical clearance, data management, and consortium agreement formalization in collaborative projects.

• Maintain and update the department’s project-related databases, including funding opportunities and awarded projects.

YOU HAVE

• Experience and knowledge:

  • PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in any scientific discipline relevant to the position.

  • Proven experience supporting researchers in preparing applications for local, national, and international funding programmes.

  • Expertise in budget preparation for research grant applications.

  • Excellent command of written and spoken English and Spanish.

• Skills:

  • Working knowledge of AI tools and their application in professional environments.

  • Strong communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with researchers, administrators, and national and international funding bodies.

  • Ability to interpret legal language and negotiate grant agreement terms.

  • Proficiency in Google Workspace and MS Office.

YOU MIGHT ALSO HAVE:

• Knowledge of Catalan and other languages.

• Experience in training LLMs or applying AI tools to technical writing.

• Working knowledge of ERP systems (ideally SBO).

• Knowledge of ethical procedures and regulatory frameworks applicable to translational biomedical research. 

WHAT WE OFFER:

To be a part a part of something meaningful: We are a biomedical research centre that tirelessly works to achieve a society free of diseases. Our mission is to carry out research of excellence to cure cancer and other diseases linked to ageing.

Good Working conditions: Employed in compliance with Spanish legislation and regulations under a full-time contract. Employees receive the benefits of the Spanish Social Security system covering sickness, maternity/paternity leave and injuries at work.

Competitive salary: commensurate with experience and qualifications.

International Environment: we are home to nearly 500 researchers, technical and support staff from 45 countries.

Multidisciplinary Research: Research of excellence at the unique interface between biology, chemistry, and structural and computational biology.

Continuous Training: Transversal and general training is offered to our community (examples include research seminars, conferences, training in time management, scientific integrity, gender equality, health and safety, languages courses and emotional wellbeing).

Relocation & Visa Assistance: Trained staff provides support on visa paperwork, administrative requirements, and practical information on living and working in Barcelona, etc.

Social Life: We like to have fun. We promote several activities, like a Football League, an annual skiing trip, a Mountaineering Club, a Running Club and "Cool-off sessions", where members meet informally for drinks, snacks and scientific discussions.

Fairness: Our recruitment is open, transparent and merit-based, and all applicants compete on the same terms. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, ethnic origin or disability.

HOW TO APPLY & SELECTION PROCESS:

• Deadline for applications: 15/07/2026 (If no suitable candidate is found, the deadline will be extended) 

• Number of positions available: 1

• Selection process:

  • Pre-selection: Will be based on CV, motivation letter & experience,

  • Interviews: Short-listed candidates will be interviewed.

  • Job offer: Will be sent to the successful candidate after the interview. 

IRB BARCELONA endorses the Requirements and Principles of the European Charter for Researchers, the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, and Open, Transparent, Merit-based recruitment promoted by the European Commission and follows Equal Opportunities policies.

On 9 December, 2014, IRB Barcelona was awarded the "HR Excellence in Research" logo. This recognition reflects the commitment of the Institute to the continuous improvement of its human resources policies in line with the Charter & Code. The Institute works to ensure fair and transparent recruitment and appraisal procedures.

Please check our Recruitment Policy.

Note: The strengths and weaknesses of the applications will be provided upon request.

ABOUT IRB BARCELONA,

Created in 2005 by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) and the University of Barcelona, IRB Barcelona, a Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence since the first call in 2011, has received the accreditation four consecutive times.

The institute is devoted to conducting research of excellence in biomedicine and to transferring results to clinical practice, thus improving people’s quality of life, while simultaneously promoting the training of outstanding researchers, technology transfer, and public communication of science. Its 29 laboratories and seven core facilities address basic questions in biology and are oriented towards diseases such as cancer, metastasis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and rare conditions.

IRB Barcelona is an international centre that hosts 500 members from 45 nationalities. It is located in the Barcelona Science Park. IRB Barcelona forms part of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) and the “Xarxa de Centres de Recerca de Catalunya” (CERCA).