Policy Officer – LOFAR ERIC

LOFAR ERIC coordinates the development and efficient operation of LOFAR (the Low Frequency Array), a crucial radio astronomy instrument for world-class scientific research, with facilities cohesively operated across several countries.

LOFAR ERIC

LOFAR is inherently a pan-European project, with 52 antenna stations spread across eight European countries: the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, France, Ireland, Latvia, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Plans are also in place to construct two additional stations in Italy and Bulgaria. The long international baselines created by LOFAR's distributed nature are crucial for providing its unique high angular resolution.

LOFAR ERIC serves as the coordinating organisation to optimise the joint exploitation and maximise the scientific output of the LOFAR facilities. Importantly, LOFAR ERIC also ensures a unified approach to ongoing and future upgrades to the facility. The staged upgrade, known as LOFAR2.0, will significantly enhance LOFAR's capabilities, particularly at the lowest frequencies.

Within LOFAR ERIC, a small team consisting of a director, secretary, and financial advisor handles daily operations. The policy officer is also part of this team. LOFAR ERIC is hosted by ASTRON, with its headquarters in Dwingeloo, the Netherlands. While you can work from home part-time, regular visits to Dwingeloo will be required. The position offers a 32-40 hour workweek and also requires regular travel to meetings and events in Europe.

Your Mission

As a Policy Officer at LOFAR ERIC, you will play a pivotal role in aligning organisational goals with strategic policies, facilitating international collaboration, and ensuring seamless communication among various stakeholders.

What will you do?

• Support the director in drafting and reviewing strategic policy documents.
• Contribute to and possibly coordinate the preparation of project proposals, in particular for the Horizon Europe Programme.
• Maintain an integral view of all committees and monitor consistency, including the provision of necessary documents and/or information in a timely manner.
• Maintain strong relationships with Council & committee members and partner organisations.
• Keep track of developments in the field of radio astronomy.
• Provide strategic input to improve communication and manage the distribution of essential actions.
• Collect, organise and analyse data to support LOFAR-related initiatives.

Requirements

Calling all talented Policy Officers who:

• Have a strategic mindset and excellent advisory skills.
• Excel in written and verbal communication, especially in English.
• Enjoy building relationships and maintaining professional networks.
• Are experienced in (European) policymaking or decision-making processes.
• Thrive in dynamic, multicultural environments and adapt quickly to new challenges.

Preferred qualifications:

• A background in natural or exact sciences (master’s level or higher).
• 3-5 years of experience, ideally in a European or scientific context.
• Knowledge of astronomy or experience with European grant applications.
• Fluency in Dutch is a plus.

What you can expect from us:

• A collaborative, inclusive, and innovative working environment.
• Opportunities to grow professionally and contribute to groundbreaking research.
• Flexible working arrangements tailored to your needs, including hybrid work options.
• Regular travel opportunities to engage with international partners.
• A gross monthly salary of 5.661 to € 7.894 (scale 12-13), based on a 40 hour work week and experience
• A workplace surrounded by the stunning scenery of a Dutch National Park, offering inspiring lunch walks and serene natural beauty.

Initially we are looking to offer a temporary position, but with the prospect of an indefinite appointment in the event of good performance and the availability of funding.

We strongly believe that progress, creativity and innovation is only possible in an inclusive and diverse environment. Therefore, we value the unique skills and qualities you bring to the table. While we appreciate a range of expertise, please note that not ticking all the boxes does not diminish our interest in your application. Therefore, we warmly welcome everyone and in particular women and individuals from under-represented groups to apply for an interview.

Looking forward to your application

If this role excites you, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit your CV and a motivation letter via jobsatastron.nl before 1 March 2025. For more information about the procedure, contact hr@astron.nl. If you’d like to know more about the position, please contact Michiel van Haarlem, Director of LOFAR ERIC (director@lofar.eu).

Take the next step in your career and join us in shaping the future of radio astronomy at LOFAR ERIC