In view of the possible opening of a position of Strategic Program Officer for the Virgo LAB, the European Gravitational Observatory is seeking expressions of interest by potential candidates interested in joining our community.
We are looking for a candidate who have to play a pivotal role in advancing the mission, coordination, and governance of EGO and VirgoLab. This position is designed for a professional who combines analytical insight, policy awareness, and institutional coordination skills to actively support and guide decision-making processes at the highest levels of EGO’s and Virgo’s organizational structure.
Interested individuals should submit their expressions of interest by email at jobs@ego-gw.it , using Strategic Program Officer in the subject line, and including: a cover letter motivating their interest in the call (1 page maximum) and a CV with a complete list of previous achievements and experiences relevant for the call.
TIMELINE: We will start reviewing expressions of interest on 24/11/2025 untill 31/01/2026.
All correspondence and expressions of interest will be kept strictly confidential. Knowledge of the Italian language is preferable but not required, excellent knowledge of English is mandatory.
The European Gravitational Observatory guarantees equal opportunities in recruitment and career to women and underrepresented minorities.
DISCLAIMER: this is not yet a job vacancy advertisement. Based on the expressions of interest collected through this call, the European Gravitational Observatory will determine whether and when to open a public competition for this position.
Position: Strategic Program Officer
Location: EGO, Cascina, Italy
Expected Start Date: 31 March 2027
Term: Two years renewable
The European Gravitational Observatory (EGO) is seeking a Strategic Program Officer to play a pivotal role in advancing the mission, coordination, and governance of EGO and VirgoLab. This position is designed for a professional who combines analytical insight, policy awareness, and institutional coordination skills to actively support and guide decision-making processes at the highest levels of EGO’s and Virgo’s organizational structure.
As the liaison among these bodies, the Program Officer will act as the main point of contact between the EGO Council—the governing body that oversees EGO’s operations—and the EGO Directorate and VirgoLab Executive Board. The Program Officer is responsible for overseeing the implementation of EGO Council decisions, facilitating transparent communication among all governance structures, and ensuring structured reporting to the EGO Council. This role is critical to translating strategic direction into coordinated action, reinforcing the governance structure, and enabling transparent, timely, and informed decision-making within a complex international research environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive governance coordination by ensuring alignment between the EGO Council, EGO Directorate, and VirgoLab Executive Board, and by proactively following up on strategic decisions and actions.
- Oversee and structure institutional reporting to the EGO Council and other governance bodies, ensuring that communications are accurate, timely, and effectively support strategic oversight.
- Oversee and monitor ongoing activities of the Virgo detector and its site, and prepare briefing materials for EGO Council (and EGO DT and VirgoLab EB??) accordingly.
- Support high-level planning and execution, including contributing to the development and monitoring of strategic plans of EGO and VirgoLab.
- Act as a trusted advisor and information broker, synthesizing technical, operational, and policy-related input into briefings, position papers, and decision-support materials.
- Foster internal communication and knowledge flow, helping ensure that strategic decisions, institutional updates, and key milestones are effectively communicated across EGO and VirgoLab by EGO Council.
Candidate profile
- Advanced degree in a relevant field such as physics, engineering, public administration, science policy, or management. A background in science (e.g. physics) is highly valued, particularly in a research infrastructure context.
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in scientific governance, project coordination, or institutional policy roles, ideally in an international research or intergovernmental environment.
- Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex scientific and organizational information into clear, actionable formats for senior stakeholders.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience working across organizational boundaries and cultural contexts.
- Excellent writing, briefing, and presentation skills, with the ability to adapt tone and content for technical, strategic, and policy-level audiences.
- Fluency in English is essential.
- Self-driven and organized, with a capacity to manage multiple priorities and to operate with sound judgment and discretion in a high-stakes, high-visibility environment.
Terms
The terms of this position will depend on the identified candidate, who should envisage to devote at least 0.5 FTE to this position, with an expectation to travel frequently including to the EGO site in Cascina, Italy and involve working in an international and interdisciplinary working environment.
The position of the VirgoLab Program Officer can be either held by someone with a position in an Organisation or University with a secondment from EGO or by a limited duration Collaboration Contract with EGO.
The Initial appointment would be 2 years, renewable based on performance and organizational needs.