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Head of Strategy

Introduction to the vacant position:

We are seeking a Head of Strategy. Our Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) is an internationally recognised research centre with more than 450 professionals, mainly scientists, specialised in biomedicine, bioengineering, robotics, cell biology and artificial intelligence applied to health.

The Strategic Initiatives Unit at IBEC provides strategic advice and support to the Director in the deployment of the Strategic Plan of IBEC. Among others, the unit fosters and coordinates:
(a) institutional and strategic projects and alliances such as Severo Ochoa, BIST, EIT Health and institutional networks as NanoMed Spain, (b) international alliances and partnerships,
(c) deployment of Open Science, and (d) the scientific activities of the institute.

Main tasks and responsibilities:

1. Strategic Development

  • Lead the implementation and monitoring of IBEC’s institutional strategy, including the development of its Strategic Plan and scientific policy.
  • Coordinate institutional evaluations and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), strategic objectives, and institutional outcomes.
  • Foster and strengthen international strategic alliances and collaborations with research institutions, universities, industry partners, hospitals, and scientific networks.

2. Management of Externally Funded Institutional Projects and Networks

  • Oversee, coordinate, and manage institution-wide research and innovation projects and IBEC’s participation in externally funded networks and strategic initiatives.
  • Ensure the effective implementation, monitoring, and achievement of project objectives and deliverables.
  • Liaise with external stakeholders, including universities, public administrations, funding bodies, and partner institutions, to facilitate collaboration and ensure effective coordination.

3. Interdisciplinary Scientific Activities and Institutional Visibility

  • Contribute to the planning and organisation of interdisciplinary scientific activities aimed at enhancing IBEC’s visibility, strengthening scientific exchange, and promoting its research.
  • Coordinate and support institutional scientific events and initiatives, including seminars, conferences, workshops, and institutional visits.

4. Open Science

  • Promote and coordinate institutional initiatives and projects related to Open Science, supporting their implementation and alignment with IBEC’s strategic priorities.
  • Oversee and monitor the development of Open Science activities and foster their integration into institutional practices.

5. Unit Leadership and Team Management

  • Define the Unit’s objectives, priorities, and action plans, ensuring their alignment with IBEC’s institutional strategy.
  • Oversee the Unit’s operations, monitor performance against established objectives, and ensure the efficient delivery of its activities.
  • Prepare and manage the Unit’s budget, ensuring the effective allocation and optimisation of resources.
  • Lead, supervise, evaluate, motivate, and support the professional development of team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.

Requirements for candidates:

Essential:

  • University degree in Life Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, or related disciplines.
  • PhD in experimental science or life science.
  • Knowledge and experience in cross-cutting edge initiatives suporting research excellence such as open science, evaluation reform, scientific education and sustainability.
  • Proven ability to plan, organize and coordinate tasks or projects in a research or institutional setting.

Skills and competencies:

  • Collaborative leadership, capable of building consensus.
  • Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment and adapt to changing priorities
  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Results-driven, pragmatic and professionally rigorous
  • Strong organizational and planning abilities.
  • Excellent Communication skills.
  • Proactivity
  • Excellent command of Catalan, Spanish, and English written and spoken.

We Offer:

  • Number of available positions: 1
  • Starting date: November, 2026
  • Working conditions:
  • Replacement contract to cover an employee on compulsory leave of absence
  • Fixed salary and variable salary, depending on experience. Flexible remuneration
  • Hybrid model: 2 remote working days
  • Working time: 37.5 hours per week
  • Fridays: intensive schedule (8:00–15:00)
  • Reduced working hours in summer (July–August)
  • Holidays: 23 days + 9 personal days
  • Continuous training 
  • International, high-excellence scientific environment

IBEC ensures equality of access to professional development opportunities irrespective of employment status, length at IBEC or other factors. The IBEC’s yearly training catalogue offers a wide range of training in technical and transferable skills including mobility grants and a Mentoring programme for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers.

Stimulating, interdisciplinary research and high-quality international scientific environment.

Induction programme to facilitate incorporation at IBEC and additional support is provided for foreigners to obtain Visa-working permit and to install in Barcelona.

How to apply:

Until November 3rd an online application form is available through IBEC dedicated site: https://careers.ibecbarcelona.eu/  

Only those applications submitted before the deadline will be evaluated.

Reference: HSU_SC

If you have any further question regarding your application, please contact us at jobs@ibecbarcelona.eu

Principles of the selection process:

IBEC is committed to the principles of the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers of the European Commission and the Open, Transparent and Merit based Recruitment principles (OTM-R) https://ibecbarcelona.eu/careers-at-ibec/jobs/

IBEC´s Commitment on equal opportunity, diversity, and Inclusion:

Our strength and excellence as an international transdisciplinary Research Institute are based on diversity.  Being an equal opportunity employer, we are committed to diversity and inclusion, so that we support employees irrespective of their gender, nationality, religion, disabilities, age, sexual identity or cultural and socioeconomic background.

Visit our devoted webpage on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

For candidates with children that come from outside Barcelona, we offer babysitting services during the interview, so you don’t have to worry about anything else than doing a good interview. Contact us if you are interested in this service.  

In categories where women are underrepresented, such as Group Leader positions, and with the aim of ensuring gender balance in recruitment processes, women candidates must represent at least 50% of those interviewed for Junior-level positions and 40% for Senior-level positions, provided they have CVs comparable to those of male candidates. At the end of the evaluation process, in cases of equal merit, preference will be given to women candidates.

IBEC, as a signatory of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), will consider,  especially for early-stage investigators, much more the scientific content of research outputs, than publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which it were published.

Protection of personal data:

IBEC guarantees that candidates’ personal data are processed in accordance with the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Law 3/2018 on Data Protection.

Personal data will be processed solely for the purposes of the selection process.

Who we are?

The Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, IBEC is an interdisciplinary research center focused on Bioengineering and Nanomedicine based in Barcelona. IBEC is one of the top research institutions named as a Severo Ochoa Research Centre by the Ministry of Science, Universities and Innovation, which recognizes excellence at the highest international level in terms of research, training, human resources, outreach and technology transfer.

IBEC’s mission is to develop international high-quality interdisciplinary research that, while creating knowledge, contributes to making a better quality of life, improving health and creating wealth. A close link with key universities, reference hospitals and corporations, are assets that facilitate achieving the mission.

IBEC was established in 2005 by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Autonomous Government of Catalonia), the University of Barcelona (UB) and the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC).

IBEC is located within the Barcelona Science Park and UPC Besós Campus, with an annual budget of 22 Mio€; 4.400 square meters of facilities; 25 research groups and a team of researchers and support services of 450 people from 40 different countries.  www.ibecbarcelona.eu