Key Skills

Job Description

Introduction Do you thrive on turning research ambition into smooth-running operations? Join ECO, TU/e's photonics and quantum communications & networks group, as the operational engine behind our growing project portfolio. Job Description As Operations Manager, you will be the operational engine and strategic coordinator of ECO, a leading research group of approximately 100 scientists, including PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, assistant, associate and full professors, supported by a dedicated team of technical and professional staff. Working closely with the Chair, Principal Investigators (PIs), and professional support teams, you will ensure that ECO operates effectively, efficiently, and sustainably as it continues to grow its research activities, external partnerships, and international visibility. You combine a hands-on operational mindset with strategic thinking. You translate ambitions into action, align people and processes, and create the organizational conditions that allow researchers to focus on scientific excellence and societal impact. Your Responsibilities Include Providing operational leadership across the group's research, education, organizational, and support activities. Coordinating strategic planning and helping translate long-term ambitions into actionable initiatives and priorities. Managing and monitoring the group's research project portfolio, ensuring effective resource allocation, risk management, compliance, and timely delivery. Acting as a central point of coordination between researchers, support services, university departments, industry partners, and funding organizations. Supporting the development of large research initiatives, strategic partnerships, and funding opportunities, while coordinating proposal development, including proposal writing, and project implementation. Overseeing contract preparation, project administration, financial monitoring, reporting processes, and governance requirements. Driving continuous improvement of internal processes, workflows, and organizational practices to support a growing and increasingly international research environment. Providing management information, analyses, and recommendations to support decision-making by the Chair and leadership team. Representing ECO internally and externally, building productive relationships across the academic, public, and industrial ecosystem. Key Challenge ECO is entering a period of continued growth, driven by large national and European research programmes, increasing industrial engagement, and expanding interdisciplinary collaborations. Your challenge is to further professionalize and strengthen our operations while helping shape the strategic opportunities that will define the group's next phase of development. "ECO combines world-class research with a strong ambition for societal impact. As Operations Manager, you ensure that our organization, partnerships, and project portfolio are as excellent as the science we deliver." Job Requirements We are looking for a proactive and highly organized professional who enjoys operating at the intersection of strategy, operations, people, and research. Essential Qualifications And Experience Master's degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant field. Demonstrated experience in operational, programme, project, or research management within a complex organization. Strong organizational and coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders simultaneously. Proven ability to translate strategic objectives into operational plans, processes, and measurable outcomes. Experience managing budgets, financial planning, project administration, and reporting processes. Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with academics, researchers, administrators, and external partners. Strong analytical skills and judgement, enabling informed decision-making and problem-solving. Excellent command of English, both spoken and written. Dutch is considered an advantage. Desirable Experience Experience in a university, research institute, innovation ecosystem, or R&D-intensive environment. Familiarity with European, national, or industrial research funding programmes and project governance requirements. Experience supporting collaborative projects involving multiple partners and stakeholders. Experience contributing to strategic planning, organizational development, or change initiatives. Personal Qualities Strategic thinker with a strong operational orientation. Able to see both the big picture and the practical steps required to achieve it. Highly proactive, structured, and solution-oriented. Diplomatic and collaborative, with strong interpersonal sensitivity. Comfortable working in a dynamic and international environment. Curious about science and technology and motivated to help researchers maximize their impact. What Matters Most You do not need to be an expert in photonics, telecommunications, quantum technologies, or semiconductor systems. What matters is your ability to organize complexity, connect people, strengthen operations, and help translate opportunities into successful outcomes. If you do not meet every requirement but are excited about the opportunity and believe you can bring value to ECO, we encourage you to apply. Conditions of Employment An exciting position within an international yet personal university. You are right in the middle of the students, on a green campus within walking distance of the central station. Besides beautiful architecture, you will find varied workplaces and excellent sports facilities. We Also Offer You Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 12, ranging from €5,932 to €7,573 gross base salary per month (full-time), depending on your knowledge and experience. In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary. Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time. As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%. A favorable arrangement for more holidays or a sabbatical. A selection model for additional fringe benefits. Working hours in consultation for an optimal work-life balance. Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate. We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training. Scope for your talent with advancement prospects and excellent development opportunities such as mentoring, workshops and coaching. Partially paid parental leave and reimbursement for commuting expenses, working from home and the internet. On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e! About ECO The Electro-Optical Communication (ECO) group in the Department of Electrical Engineering has led scientific and applied research into the use of light for communication systems for more than 40 years. With deep connections to industry and academia worldwide, ECO offers new members the opportunity to work alongside the next generation of leaders in optical, wireless and quantum communications and networks. ECO takes a systems approach to communication, sensing and computation, with photonics as its central enabling technology — spanning several laboratories (HCOT, ANL, QTS, PWCL, PNN, SONL, APSL, MMOF) and six strategic areas, from AI-native datacenter networks and quantum communication to space communications and photonic systems-on-chip. The group is housed in the FLUX building on the TU/e campus and supported by more than 300 m² of experimental laboratory space. ECO's research portfolio is anchored in national and European programmes — including Horizon Europe, NWO, QuantumDelta NL, PhotonDelta, EuroQCI and Chips JU — and in flagship infrastructure such as the Quantum Communications Testbed NL (QuCT NL), connecting TU/e with the High Tech Campus Eindhoven and beyond. About Us We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here. Information Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to have more information about the position, please contact Prof.dr.ir. Idelfonso Tafur Monroy [email protected]. Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact Kevin Caris, [email protected]. Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page. Application If you are interested, please use the ‘apply’ button to send us your CV and letter of application with your motivation and a description of your qualifications. Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications. Screening of candidates begins as soon as applications are received and continues until the position is filled. Where applicable, internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates where they are equally suitable. We look forward to receiving your application! Please note You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines. Important for non-EU applicants: Please be aware that for this position, specific residence permit requirements apply. If you are a non-EU national, you may not be eligible to legally work in this role under current Dutch immigration regulations. We strongly advise you to contact our Staff Immigration Team ([email protected]) before applying to check your eligibility and to receive further guidance. Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Core Responsibilities

Lead ECO’s operational activities and strategic coordination, including planning, project portfolio oversight, resource allocation, risk management, and process improvement. Coordinate proposals, partnerships, contracts, finances, reporting, and governance while providing analysis and recommendations to support leadership decisions.

Requirements

A master’s degree or equivalent professional experience is required, along with demonstrated operational, program, project, or research management experience in a complex organization. Candidates should bring strong planning, coordination, financial, analytical, and stakeholder-management skills, excellent written and spoken English, and the ability to turn strategic goals into measurable operational outcomes.

Benefits

• Holiday Allowance
• Year-End Bonus
• Paid Leave
• Pension Scheme
• Additional Leave Or Sabbatical Options
• Flexible Working Hours
• Sports Center Access
• Mental Health Support
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Partially Paid Parental Leave
• Commuting Expense Reimbursement
• Work-From-Home Expense Reimbursement
• Internet Expense Reimbursement