Join our institute and become part of the VLIZ Marine Observation Centre!
The Marine Observation Centre (MOC) is dedicated to performing essential, long-term, and multidisciplinary observations of the marine environment, enhancing our understanding of the dynamics and functioning of marine and coastal ecosystems. MOC focuses on developing, operating, and optimizing innovative, integrated, and cost-effective observation systems to gather high-quality data crucial for marine research.
VLIZ is hiring, for immediate employment, a Researcher-Project Manager Marine Biodiversity to help coordinate and/or support our contribution to a number of European projects dealing with digital innovation to biodiversity observation and analysis (iMagine, ANERIS, Marbefes, Marco-Bolo, DTO-BioFlow); and to continue the long-term phytoplankton timeseries in the Belgian Part of the North Sea through imaging and AI supported classification.
This position falls under the research line ‘understanding and optimizing novel biodiversity observations’. This team studies changes and dynamics of coastal ecosystems by applying and optimizing high throughput techniques such as plankton imaging and marine genomics and driving digital innovation to biodiversity observation and analysis.
Our offer
- A contract for immediate employment with a fixed term until the end of 2026 (with a positive outlook for extension) in a vibrant and international environment at the Marine Station Ostend and the InnovOcean Campus in Ostend.
- A competitive remuneration package based on the candidate's qualifications and experience according to the salary scales set forth by the Flemish Government on 01-01-2009.
- Additional benefits: holiday allowance, end-of-year allowance, meal vouchers, bicycle allowance, free public transport between home and work, a working from home allowance and the possibility of bike lease.
- A good work-life balance through a generous leave package, flexible working hours within a 38-hour working week.
- The possibility to work partly from home after an induction period.
- Opportunities for personal development (training).
Your tasks
You will work closely with internal teams, project partners and stakeholders, managing the VLIZ commitments in various European projects related to biodiversity observation. You will also support ongoing research into plankton dynamics in the Belgian Part of the North Sea.
- You will conduct general project management in consultation with the project team.
- You lead the project team and contribute to the project tasks where needed: internally managing and following up with project employees for specific tasks, adjusting and delegating if necessary.
- You report on project progress in line with the organization's structure and project partners (working hours, tasks performed, status, deadlines) + communication at national and international levels.
- You organize, participate, report on and follow up on project and network meetings, workshops and conferences.
- You coordinate and/or execute measurement campaigns, sampling campaigns and/or experiments, including preparation.
- You coordinate and/or execute the collection of the necessary data and the scientific processing and analysis of this data.
- You coordinate and/or execute manuscript writing for A1 publications, book chapters, and conference proceedings and you do the monitoring of the publication process.
- You stay up to date with the scientific state of the art in the field of marine biodiversity and ecosystem research.
- You contribute to outreach activities to stakeholders and the general public in line with the VLIZ communication strategy.
For each function, VLIZ considers enthusiastic involvement, service minded, excellent professionalism and integrity as important characteristics.
Your profile
- You have a PhD or master’s degree in exact sciences (e.g. biology) or applied sciences (bioscience engineering).
- You are a highly motivated professional, capable of managing complex R&I-projects autonomously, while also collaborating effectively within a team.
- You have strong affinity for marine sciences and biodiversity research.
- You have knowledge of marine plankton research.
- You have strong skills in organization, planning and management of projects.
- You have strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- You are willing to spend time at sea for multiple days.
- You are willing to work in an international context.
- A sense of humor is appreciated.
Following skills or experiences are considered an asset:
- Experience with scientific project management.
- Experience with plankton imaging or marine genomics.
- Proven experience in data analytics in R or Python.
- Proven publication and report writing skills.
- Experience with collaborating in European projects.
- Knowledge of data handling or management.
- Sea-going experience.
About us
Over the last 25 years, the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ) has become a knowledge institution indispensable to the marine research landscape. What started as an institute focusing on science support, has evolved into a national and international point of contact for marine research. VLIZ initiates and carries out multidisciplinary research and supports marine experts by providing research infrastructure, data, information and knowledge. VLIZ supports the blue economy and reaches out to a broad public. VLIZ further broadens its marine horizons and aims at becoming a world player in the field of marine and coastal research.
A stimulating working environment forms the base of our flourishing knowledge institute. The well-being of our employees comes first. VLIZ is looking for colleagues who, with their passion and knowledge, want to strengthen our growing institute and face the blue challenges of the future.
Additional information
For more information concerning this vacancy, please contact Klaas Deneudt at +32 (0)479/66 02 76 or at klaas.deneudt@vliz.be.
Does this vacancy appeal to you?
Send in your cover letter and CV no later than Monday 14 April 2025 by mail to jobs@vliz.be with subject “Vacancy 2025_008_Researcher-Project Manager Marine Biodiversity”.
VLIZ promotes equality and diversity in the workplace. You will be recruited based on competencies. Qualities of people are decisive, regardless of gender, religion, ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation or any disability.
Do you have a disability? Please attach a document to your application so that we can adapt our selection procedure where necessary. This information will be handled with discretion.
Procedure
Based on the received cover letters and CV’s; a select group of candidates will be invited for a job interview. You will be informed by email.
The job interviews take place in the offices of VLIZ or online via Teams on Tuesday 6 May 2025.