Project Development Officer

Introduction

IHS, Erasmus University Rotterdam has a vacancy for a Project Development Officer (0.8 fte). We are looking forward to finding a new team member who can support the institute’s project acquisition activities.

Projects are of growing importance for the institute to achieve financial sustainability and maximize impacts. In line of its three core pillars, the institute implements research, education, and advisory projects funded by a broad range of organisations (European Union, National and Multilateral Development Banks, international organisations).

As Project Development Officer, you will support the Project Development Manager to strengthen IHS’s impact through acquiring and delivering high quality projects that contribute to the institute’s mission. You will work closely with the academic teams and other departments and will report to the Head of Projects and Partnerships.

This is a temporary position, starting on 01 October or as soon as possible thereafter, based in EUR, Rotterdam (with hybrid working options). You will join a motivated team dedicated to acquiring and implementing high-quality projects.

Job description

At IHS, no project runs smoothly without solid preparation and well-organised support. As our new Project Development Officer, you will be the person who keeps things moving – from the first contact with a donor to booking that last-minute trip for a colleague who has just found her/his passport.

What others might see as “just admin” is, in your hands, precision work that enables real impact in cities around the world. You will work closely with colleagues across the institute, supporting project acquisition, managing essential documentation, keeping our databases accurate and up to date, and making sure deadlines are never missed.

Your days will be varied: one moment, you are reviewing a new project opportunity, pulling together CVs and polishing a proposal; the next, you are diving into the archive to find details of a project from 1990, or mapping out how we can make our travel procedures run more smoothly. You will take charge of scheduling meetings, preparing minutes, and ensuring action points are followed up – the quiet but essential work that keeps teams coordinated. And when it comes to events or travel, you will handle everything from booking flights and arranging visas to making sure everyone arrives on time with the right documents in hand.

We value every role at IHS, and this one is no exception — your contribution will be vital to our success.

Key Assignments

In this role, you will:

• Provide administrative and coordination support for project acquisition, including preparing proposals, updating client references, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.
• Maintain and improve project and partnership databases and keep key documentation accessible and up to date.
• Support colleagues with travel arrangements, from initial requests to reimbursements, and contribute to improving related procedures.
• Assist in drafting communication materials, preparing meeting agendas, and following up on action items.
• Streamline recurring processes by creating templates, improving workflows, and finding smart solutions.

Job requirements

To thrive in this role, you bring a mix of practical skills, accuracy, and a genuine interest in supporting projects in an international environment. You have:

• A bachelor’s or associate degree or equivalent work experience. Candidates with MBO4 and relevant experience are also welcome.
• Proven experience in administration or project support, ideally in a multicultural or international setting.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and spoken. Knowledge of Dutch or a Latin language is an advantage.
• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work to deadlines without losing quality.
• Good digital skills and confidence in learning new systems. Familiarity with generative AI tools is a plus, but not required.
• A proactive, solution-oriented approach, combined with the ability to work well as part of a team.
• Candidates must reside in the Netherlands for the duration of the employment and hold a valid work permit. Please note that visa or work permit sponsorship, as well as relocation support, are not available for this role.

Employment conditions and benefits

What we offer:

• An international and diverse working environment at Erasmus University’s vibrant Woudestein campus.
• A temporary employment contract for one year, with the possibility to an indefinite contract.
• Employment contract for 0,8 FTE.
• A gross monthly salary between € 2.899 and € 3.809 (in scale 7 CAO NU), based on a full-time commitment of 40 hours per week. This salary will be adjusted proportionately for part-time work. Furthermore, the specific salary scale will be determined based on the candidates' working experience.
• Generous employment conditions:
  • 8.0% holiday allowance
  • 8.3% end-of-year bonus
  • 30 days of annual leave (based on full-time)
  • Good pension scheme
  • Commuting and internet allowance
• A hybrid position based at our Woudestein campus in Rotterdam, with the option to work from home at least one day per week.

Please note that IHS has its own Labour Conditions; the full CAO NU is not applicable.

Faculty / Institute / Central service

The Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) is a centre of urban expertise under Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). IHS works to make cities more liveable, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable through education, research, and advisory services. We collaborate with urban professionals, international organisations, and academic institutions across the globe to co-create urban knowledge that leads to action.

IHS operates within the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) and is part of EUR Holding BV

Department

The Team of Projects and Partnerships (ToPP) is a small and dedicated team to streamline decision making in relation to projects and partnerships. Its primary goal is to support academic staff to deliver high-quality and impactful research, training, and advisory projects. ToPP is composed of the Head, the Project Development Manager and the Project Development Officer.

Additional information

For more information about IHS, please visit our website www.ihs.nl. More information about the position can be obtained from Abbie Arcena, Project Development Manager (arcena@ihs.nl). For HR related questions, please contact hr@ihs.nl.

Applying

The application procedure consists of one round of interviews. The interviews will take place in week 35.

You can apply for this position up to and including 21 August. The interviews will be in week 35, between Tuesday 26 and Friday 29 August. Please upload your cover letter and CV to your application in English.

IHS offers equal opportunities to all employees and applicants, regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability or any other aspect that makes them unique. We hope to welcome you in our community.

We look forward to receiving your application.