Project Leader - European Synthetic Cell Initiative

Lead the new European programme SynCell nExUs, shaping the future of synthetic cell research and connecting top scientists across Europe.

Job description

You will be project leader of SynCell-nExUs, a new pan-European postdoctoral excellence programme on the topic of synthetic cell research and technology. Your workplace will be at the Coordination Office of the European Synthetic Cell initiative (SynCellEU), faculty of Applied Sciences,TU Delft. You will work independently in close collaboration with the program manager of SynCellEU -  which is the TU Delft partner in the project- as well as the scientific coordinators of the SynCell-nExUs which are located at the Max Planck Society in Germany.  

In this varied job you will be responsible for the successful implementation of the SynCell-nExUs postdoctoral programme, ensuring the successful execution of all the work packages, deliverables and milestones. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project, keeping track of the progress and ensuring compliance with Horizon Europe rules and the Grant Agreement. This entails:

• Preparing and managing the complex selection and recruitment process of the 40 postdoctoral fellows, acting as liaise with the selection committees and ensuring transparent evaluation procedures
• Providing administrative and logistic support throughout the recruitment process, including training and instructing selection committee members on the proper use of the recruitment system and ensuring that the selection process is carried out in compliance with project guidelines.
• Serving as the primary point of contact for selection committee members and for the TU Delft Recruitment Assistant supporting the process, as well as for the postdoctoral fellows and their hosts with respect to the programme activities.
• Organizing the programme activities, e.g. events, training, meetings, workshops.
• Collaborating with the other partners in the project, establishing and maintaining contacts with external parties.
• Developing dissemination, communication and exploitation strategies and maintain visibility of the programme, in collaboration with the SynCellEU Communication Officer.
• Reporting to the internal Management Team of the programme and preparing the periodic reporting to the European Commission on the programme, including financial reporting.
• Ensuring ethical compliance, open science practices and IP management.

Job requirements

• HBO+ or an academic degree.
• Strong analytic, organizational and operational process management skills. Management of similar European projects (e.g. Horizon Europe/MSCA), is an asset.
• Experience with delivering activities within set timelines and resources to achieve project objectives. Willingness to take on a hands-on approach.
• Experience with stakeholder management, preferably within a complex academic environment
• Experience with data management and the ability to retain overview while working with large numbers of candidates and committee members.
• Strong communication, coordination and teamwork skills. An excellent command of the English language is a must; Dutch is an advantage.
• Strong computer skills; experience with common institutional software systems and Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is an advantage.
• After your onboarding period, you are able to work independently, recognize what needs to be done and proactively initiate discussions when needed.

You are available to start preferably in August 2026. Only candidates from EU countries or with a Dutch work permit can be considered for this vacancy (due to Dutch regulations).

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) 

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. 

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Applied Sciences 

With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers. 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences. 

Conditions of employment 

• Duration of contract is 2 years Temporary
• A job of 32-40 hours per week. 
• A salary based on Scale 10 of the CAO for Dutch Universities with a salary between €3546 - €5538 gross per month based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.  
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP. 
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year. 
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages. 
• Flexible working week. 
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget. 
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses. 
• Partially paid parental leave 
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program. 

Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Dr. Stefania Usai, Programme manager SynCellEU, via s.usai@tudelft.nl.

Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 8 April 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:

• CV
• Motivational letter

You can address your application to Dr. Stefania Usai, Programme manager SynCellEU.

Please note:

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.