CMCC Position cod. 12833
Research Grants & Contract Management Officer
Deadline: August 2nd, 2026

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Fund Raising Division is responsible for identifying, developing and securing competitive research funding from European and international programmes (Horizon Europe, bilateral cooperation programmes, and others), as well as managing relationships with institutional partners and co-funders.
In response to the growing volume and complexity of research proposals and project agreements in our pipeline, we are seeking an Research Grants & Contract Management Officer to strengthen our pre-award and negotiation capacity. The successful candidate will work alongside experienced FR staff and will play a key role in supporting proposal preparation, legal and contractual review, and management of consortium agreements.
The role serves as the operational bridge between the Fundraising Office (responsible for proposal development), the Legal Office (responsible for clause validation), and the Project Managers (who take over post-award), ensuring continuity of knowledge and contractual clarity across the full project lifecycle.

What We Offer:

The opportunity to join a dynamic international research environment with exposure to frontier funding programmes
Direct exposure to a broad portfolio of European and international research projects
Opportunities for professional development and training in research funding and contract management
Continuous professional development and participation in national and international Research Management networks (EARMA, APRE)
A newly created role, offering the chance to shape processes, tools, and standards from the ground up
Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience
Flexible working arrangements in line with Foundation policy


ABOUT US

CMCC Foundation is a cross-cutting scientific research center on climate change and its interactions with the environment, society, the world of business, and policymakers. Our work aims to stimulate sustainable growth, protect the environment, and develop strategies for the adaptation and mitigation of climate change. CMCC's core objective is to conduct cutting-edge science, to train the next generation of scientists at both national and international levels, and to be a beacon for climate modelling.

CMCC pursues fundamental and applied science with utmost scientific integrity, prioritizing data-driven science and providing data, information, and research results that can support informed public debate and decision-making processes. To achieve climate research objectives at the highest international standards, we invest in training all our talents, and strive to create a workplace where everyone can excel.

At CMCC you will find a strong, professional environment. Join an inclusive community that values diversity, where every voice is heard and respected. Help foster a culture of innovation and societal change, where individuals from all backgrounds can thrive and succeed.

Over the last decade, CMCC has experienced extraordinary growth. We are now embarking on a new chapter of our journey that will further boost CMCC’s global position in climate change research…Together!



To learn more about this opportunity and submit your application, please refer to the following:


ROLE

The Research Grants & Contract Management Officer reports to the Head of Fund Raising and is responsible for supporting the pre-award phase which demands dedicated, professional management of consortium agreements: from negotiating Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) clauses to collecting partner signatures, and ensuring seamless coordination between the Fundraising, Legal, and Project Management functions.


RESPONSIBILITIES

The Research Grants & Contract Management Officer will support the Fund Raising Team, with:

Pre-Award & Proposal Development
 

• Support the FR team in the preparation and submission of research proposals, ensuring compliance with funder legal requirements and internal procedures
• Coordinate with the FR team members, the Legal & Contract Advisory, the Principal Investigators (PIs), Project Managers (PMs), and internal units (research, finance, administration) during proposal development
• Draft and review pre-award documents including letters of intent, eligibility checks, due diligence questionnaires, and declarations
• Liaise with CMCC Legal & Contract Advisory team for the drafting and finalisation of Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), and other pre-contractual instruments required during the bidding phase
• Work with the Fundraising Office during proposal development to shape consortium governance structures and anticipate key negotiation issues
• Define, in collaboration with the Legal Office, the Foundation’s non-negotiable positions on IPR, liability, confidentiality, and consortium governance
• Create, maintain and update a FR knowledge base: model clauses, standard documents, funder guidelines, and best practices

• Lead the preparation and negotiation of Consortium Agreements for Horizon Europe projects, working from the DESCA model and other EU grant agreement standard clauses, and adapting them to project-specific requirements
• Manage negotiation sessions on IPR clauses (background IP, foreground IP, exploitation rights, access rights), identifying mutually acceptable solutions among partners with diverging interests
• Coordinate with consortium partners (national and international) throughout the negotiation process, managing specific requests, timelines and open issues
• Liaise with internal units (PI, PM, Legal & Contract Advisory, Finance, Administration) to finalise the consortium agreements
• Oversee the collection of signatures from partners’ legal and administrative offices, ensuring compliance with funder-imposed deadlines
• Support the management of other project agreements and contractual instruments within the agreed scope of the FR division
• Conduct legal due diligence on contractual documents, identify and flag legal risks at project level, and communicate legal nuances clearly to internal stakeholders and consortium partners
• Maintain an up-to-date repository of signed CAs and negotiation templates
• Ensure a structured post-award handoff to the Project Manager, transferring the contractual framework, negotiation positions, and any outstanding issues

• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of FR procedures and internal tools
• Participate in cross-functional working groups and contribute to the resolution of operational issues at the interface between FR, Legal & Contract Advisory, and other internal functions
• Provide guidance and training to FR team members on contractual and procedural matters

• Master Degree in Law, European Studies, International Relations or a related field. Additional training or certification in contract law is an asset. Postgraduate qualification or specialisation in European Project Management, Research Management, or Innovation Management (desirable)
• Minimum of 3 years of work experience in grant and contract management within a research institution, university, or similar environment.
• Very good knowledge of the English language.
• Accuracy and good analytical skills.
• Proven experience with Horizon Europe (or FP7/H2020) and other major European funding schemes, proposal preparation and/or consortium agreement negotiation
• Familiarity with the DESCA model consortium agreement and EU grant agreement standard clauses
• In-depth knowledge of Horizon Europe regulations and eligibility rules (Model Grant Agreement, Annotated MGA)
• Familiarity with EU submission and management tools (Funding & Tenders Portal, SYGMA)
• Sound understanding of IPR concepts in research: background/foreground IP, licensing, exploitation, knowledge transfer
• Ability to read and interpret contractual texts in English and Italian
• Knowledge of major research funding programmes (EU, Italian MUR, private foundations)
• Experience in coordinating multi-partner consortia and managing complex contractual negotiations
• Demonstrable track record in handling IPR matters in research and innovation contexts
• Experience liaising with legal and administrative offices of research organisations, universities, or companies in international settings
• Experience in public law or with publicly-funded institutions is preferred, in light of CMCC's nature as a research foundation operating under Italian public sector regulations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to convey legal nuances clearly to non-legal stakeholders and work effectively with diverse internal and external partners
• Strong analytical and drafting skills, with attention to detail in contractual and legal documents; ability to conduct legal due diligence, identify risks at proposal level, and translate complex legal concepts for non-specialist audiences (researchers, PMs, international partners)
• Negotiation skills: ability to conduct complex multi-party negotiations, reaching consensus while protecting the CMCC's interests
• Working knowledge of Intellectual Property (IP) provisions in EU Grant Agreements, including background/foreground IP, access rights, and exploitation obligations as defined under Horizon Europe rules
• Awareness of data management and data stewardship requirements in EU-funded research, including GDPR compliance, data management plans, and open data obligations
• Cross-functional collaboration: ability to work effectively across different functions (Legal, Fundraising, Project Management, Finance)
• Managing complexity: capacity to track parallel processes involving many stakeholders and competing deadlines, maintaining accuracy and quality of output in a fast-paced, proposal-driven environment
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken) – English is the working language for most project documentation; Italian is required for internal coordination
• Good command of standard office tools; familiarity with document management platforms and collaborative workspaces
• Familiarity with AI tools and large language models (e.g. Claude, ChatGPT); demonstrated ability or willingness to develop and refine AI-assisted workflows for contractual and grant management tasks, including prompt design and knowledge base development

• Please note that this opportunity will be issued both internally and externally.
• The Research Grants & Contract Management Officer will be based in Milan (or Lecce, if preferred by the selected candidate) CMCC offices.
• The contract offered for this position will be a Coordinated and Continuous Collaboration or a Fix-Term contract (commensurate with experience), starting from and lasting for 1 year with possibility of extension.
• The National Collective Labour Agreement for the Tertiary, Distribution and Services Sector (Confcommercio) shall apply to the contract.

• The gross annual salary range for this position is between 35.000 and 50.000 Euros. The salary offered within the range will be determined based on years of relevant experience, level of seniority, specific technical skills, applying objective and gender-neutral criteria.
• Welfare package of 2,000 Euro per year.
• Flexible working time as per internal policies.

• Support during the immigration process, if needed.

Applicants responding to this posting declare that they have read, understood and agreed to the “Official Rule for the CMCC Personnel recruitment".

We will keep your information on file for up to 1 year.