CMCC Position cod. *****
Research Grants & Contract Management Officer
Deadline: August 2nd, ****
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 and international research environment, with exposure to frontier research funding programmes.
Direct involvement in a broad portfolio of European and international research and innovation projects.
Opportunities for professional development and training in research funding, project management, and contract management.
Continuous professional development through participation in national and international research management networks (e.g. EARMA and APRE).
A newly created role, offering the opportunity to shape processes, tools, and best practices from the ground up.
A competitive compensation package, commensurate with qualifications and experience. Flexible working arrangements, in line with the Foundation's policies.
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
Consortium Agreement & Contract Management
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
FR Process
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.
REQUIREMENTS
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/H****) 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.
DURATION, COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
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 ****** and ****** 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.
PROTECTED CATEGORY
Belonging to legally protected categories (ex L. *****) will constitute a preferential condition.
Some fiscal benefits could be applied for repatriated workers or foreign researchers/professors, having the requirements defined by Dlgs ******** (for repatriates) or Dl ******* (for foreigners).
CMCC is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status, and other legally protected characteristics. Please omit from your CV any data you or we might consider discriminatory.
This job announcement is an invitation to express interest in the above-mentioned CMCC Position.
By submitting their application, candidates confirm that they have read, understood, and accepted the CMCC Personnel Recruitment Rules, available on the 'Fondazione Trasparente ' webpage, as well as the Privacy Notice regarding the processing of personal data, accessible at the following link .
We will keep your information on file for up to 1 year.
Applicants responding to this posting declare that they have read, understood and agreed to the .
We will keep your information on file for up to 1 year.

📌 12833 - Research Grants & Contract Management Officer (Surbo)
🏢 Cmcc Foundation
📍 Surbo