Senior Advisor International Affairs

As a senior advisor International Affairs, you contribute to the development and implementation of UMC Utrecht's international ambitions. You provide strategic advice, develop policy, identify opportunities and risks, and build connections across internal and external stakeholder groups to support shared goals. With your experience, sound judgement, and commitment, you help strengthen and expand UMC Utrecht’s international position, strategic partnerships and societal impact. You take a leading role in shaping policy, advising decision-makers, and advancing strategic international initiatives across the organization. You identify opportunities to collaborate with key partners across research, education, care and innovation, and translate these opportunities into long-term partnership strategies and policies. You work closely with colleagues across the organization, Utrecht Science Park partners, universities and other national and international stakeholders to build and maintain these partnerships. In addition, you contribute to the further development of the International Affairs function, decision-making and the implementation of UMC Utrecht’s internationalization strategy, working at the intersection of strategy, policy, and implementation. Your work includes: Advising leadership and stakeholders on international developments, opportunities, partnerships, strategy, policy, implementation and risks. Developing, implementing, and evaluating practical guidelines, procedures and policies that standardize the organization of international activities, visits and business travel, making future collaborations more effective and consistent. Monitoring international, societal, geopolitical, and policy developments and translating insights into strategic advice, management information, and concrete actions. Building, maintaining, and strengthening partnerships, networks, and stakeholder relationships across UMC Utrecht and with local, national and international partners, translating these relationships into long-term partnership plans. Contributing to strategic partnership governance, collaboration agreements, mobility programs, and international visits and delegations. Leading or contributing to multidisciplinary projects and organization wide initiatives that strengthen UMC Utrecht's efficiency, international position and visibility. Monitoring external opportunities to strengthen funding, collaboration, and the utilization of UMC Utrecht’s expertise, capacity, and infrastructures.

At least 5 years of experience in international collaboration and stakeholder management, preferably in an academic and/or healthcare setting. Academic or higher education level of thinking and working. Experience in policy development, project leadership, and strategic advisory roles. Well-developed relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills. The ability to translate opportunities into concrete actions and measurable results. Organizational awareness and sensitivity to governance, culture, and international dynamics. The ability to gather, analyze, and present information, and translate insights into strategic advice and sustainable solutions. Knowledge of policy development, governance, decision-making processes, and organizational dynamics. Excellent communication skills in both Dutch and English. The ability and willingness to operate across strategic, tactical and operational levels. The ability to connect stakeholders across disciplines and organizational levels, build support, and help initiatives move forward. A proactive, accurate, and hands-on mindset, with the ability to take ownership, manage multiple priorities, and move initiatives forward while maintaining stakeholder engagement. Willingness to travel abroad.

A salary between € 4.987 and € 7.684 gross per month (salary scale 11-12, based on your experience and expertise), based on full-time employment (36 hours). The position will be for 32-36 hours a week for a period of 1,5 years. Continuation beyond this period will depend on future budget availability and organizational opportunities. Further clarity is expected early 2028. Year-end bonus of 8.3% and holiday allowance of 8%. Pension insurance with ABP. We take care of approximately 70% of the monthly contribution. 100% public transport reimbursement. Are you coming on foot, by bike or by car? You will then receive a reimbursement of € 0.18 per km (by car up to a max. of 40 km one way). Possibilities to develop yourself personally and professionally. Cao à la carte: The option to select additional employment benefits in exchange for gross salary, such as purchasing a bicycle and memberships.

You will be part of a small and growing International Affairs (IA) team within the Research Office, which will become part of cluster Research & Innovation Services and Expertise within the Research & Innovation Center next year. The team currently consists of a coordinator and an advisor IA. We facilitate a multidisciplinary IA network of colleagues, experts and leaders across UMC Utrecht. Collaboration is central to how we work. We value an open and supportive team environment where colleagues share knowledge, keep each other informed, and learn from diverse perspectives. We all actively contribute to a positive and professional environment, support one another and believe the best results are achieved together. Together, we strengthen the strategic coherence and impact of UMC Utrecht's international activities by, e.g.: Establishing and developing the IA function, including central coordination and the development and implementation of the internationalization strategy. Facilitating strategic decision-making on international initiatives across our core tasks. Building and expanding international partnerships, networks and stakeholder relationships. Coordinating visits, delegations, our travel grant program and other key international activities. Strengthening international positioning and visibility, identifying funding opportunities and increasing utilization of our expertise, capacity and infrastructures.