Location:

Barcelona Office (Spain)

Date of publication:

19/02/2026

The National Center for Genomic Analysis (CNAG) is one of the largest genomic sequencing centers in Europe.

CNAG is a non-profit public consortium promoted by the General State Administration, through the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MICIU), and the Generalitat of Catalonia (GC).

CNAG carries out genome sequencing and analysis projects in various areas such as human disease (cancer, rare diseases, immune-mediated diseases), microbial genomics, biodiversity, evolutionary studies, and the improvement of species of agricultural and livestock interest.

CNAG's annual turnover exceeds 12 million euros.

Job Objective

The Grants Manager will lead the competitive grant management area, with direct responsibility for Pre-award processes and cross-cutting supervision of the full life cycle of funded projects. Their role includes acting as a liaison between research groups, funding agencies, and management, as well as the continuous improvement of processes and the supervision of the technical team (2-3 people).

Main Functions

1. Supervision of the Grants Area

• Coordinate and plan the activity of the scholarships and competitive grants area, aligned with strategic objectives.
• Act as a technical and organizational reference for the team, leading a team of grants officers (2 people).
• Ensure efficient and proactive management of the complete project life cycle, leading the Pre-award phase.

2. Coordination of the Project Life Cycle with emphasis on the Pre-award area

• Identifying suitable funding sources and opportunities for internal dissemination to the scientific community.
• Analyse grant guidelines, eligibility criteria, and funding priorities to determine alignment with the organization and the researchers.
• Review and analyse budget proposals to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with grantor guidelines.
• Providing support to researchers during the application process: requirements, proposal writing, budget review.
• Manage the process from grant awarding to negotiation and signing of agreements.
• Supervise the execution and closure of projects, in coordination with grants officers and finance.
• Take responsibility for responding to funding agencies’ requirements and audit requests.

3. Team Management

• Guide, coordinate, and supervise the technical grants team.
• Ensure proper task distribution and functional versatility in pre- and post-award tasks.
• Detect training needs and promote the continuous improvement of the team.

4. Strategic Liaison

• Represent the area before public and private funders, as well as internal management bodies.
• Collaborate closely with Management, Direction, Legal Counsel, Principal Investigators, and other key areas of the organization.

5. Process Improvement

• Design, update, and standardize internal procedures related to grant management.
• Drive digitalization, traceability, and operational efficiency within the area.

Requirements

Education:

• University degree in a scientific, technical, economic, or management field. A PhD in a scientific area related to CNAG's activity will be valued.
• Specific training in the management of European competitive projects.

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in the management of competitive projects in R&D environments, grant management, or public/international funding programs.
• Experience in research centers within the healthcare field will be valued.
• Experience in writing, managing, and monitoring projects and grants funded by national and/or European funds.
• Experience in leading technical teams and managing public calls.

Knowledge:

• Mastery of national and international calls (AEI, ISCIII, Horizon Europe, ERDF/FEDER, PRTR, etc.).
• Knowledge of the legal and administrative framework for public procurement.
• Proficiency in platforms such as FACe, PLACSP, and other official tools.
• High level of English (especially technical and administrative).

Competencies:

• Leadership and strategic vision.
• Organizational capacity and results orientation.
• Technical rigor and orientation toward regulatory compliance.
• Excellent communication and technical writing skills.
• Collaborative work and interdepartmental coordination capacity.
• Adaptability and proactivity.

The Offer

• Contract duration: Permanent (Indefinite)
• Estimated gross annual salary: Salary is commensurate with qualifications and consistent with our salary scale.
• Planned start date: March / April 2026

Application Procedure

All applications for the job offer must contain:

• A complete CV including contact details.
• Contact details for two reference persons.

All applicants must send an email, including their CV, to: mireya.fernandez@cnag.eu With the subject: Grants Manager application

Deadline: Please submit your applications before 20/03/2026

Process: Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an in-person interview at CNAG.

Check all our job offers in the "Jobs" section of the CNAG website: https://www.cnag.eu/jobs

#sequencing for a better life