Job Description

The Office of Resource Development creates and nurtures partnerships and raises funds from individual philanthropists, foundations and corporate partners to help advance EMBL’s missions. Events play a key role – they raise funds for priority projects, introduce prospective supporters to EMBL, bring them closer to our work and also serve to deepen our relationships with existing supporters. In addition to events, you will also coordinate and assist with the department’s stewardship activities – thanking and engaging donors, showing the impact of their donations and recognizing their support.

Your role

Events

• Working closely with the Head of Department, the Corporate Partnerships Programme Lead, the Friends of EMBL Officer and the other members of the team, you will be responsible for the organisation of ORD events. These include occassional gala events, Friends of EMBL events, Corporate Partnership Programme events, major donor cultivation and stewardship events, occasional campaign related events, occasional internal engagement events as well as visits from donors and prospective donors.
• You will work with the Head of Department and programme managers on conceiving a programme of events to best meet ORD’s strategic goals and to be tailored to current and prospective donors’ motivations and expectations.
• You will liaise closely with a number of key internal departments on coordinating the logistics of these events and organising these to the highest standards. You will also deal with a number of external contacts, such as senior volunteers.
• You will be the main liaison with other departments for non-ORD-led events to which current or prospective donors are invited, and you will manage and record invitations and RSVPs to these events.
• Using our Customer Relationship Management system, you will manage invitation lists and be responsible for recording all events related information.
• You will monitor the effectiveness of events through KPI tracking and systematic feedback gathering.

Stewardship

• We pride ourselves in providing a high level of donor care and strive to create lasting, deepening relationships with our supporters. Working closely with the Head of Department, the Corporate Partnerships Programme Lead, the Friends of EMBL Officer and the other members of the team, you will co-ordinate the implementation of the department’s stewardship plan for supporters at all levels – engaging our donors, showing the impact of their donations and recognizing their support. You will also support with providing tailored stewardship to major donors. You will assist with the acknowledgement and recognition of donors and the preparation of impact reports and other stewardship communications.
• The role will be based at EMBL’s headquarters in Heidelberg, but events may also be held at other EMBL site countries and beyond. There will be an occasional requirement to work evenings and – rarely – on weekends.

You have

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience of working at a nonprofit organisation, academic institution or a company, ideally in the area of event management, fundraising, customer relation management, communication or project management
• Documented experience in successful and independent organisation of events for various stakeholders
• Degree level education, other relevant qualifications and / or equivalent, appropriate experience is required
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Proficiency in Adobe InDesign or aquivalent Design Software

Skills

• Full fluency in English and at least intermediate German language proficiency are essential
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a welcoming attitude, commitment to relationship development
• Excellent time management and problem solving skills
• Able to work independently to contribute to achieving team’s goals
• Proven ability to multitask and perform under time pressure
• Strong organisational skills for timely and effective event management
• Strong written and verbal communication for provision of targeted messages
• Excellent attention to detail

• Interest in science and ability to quickly acquire new knowledge on variety of topics.

You may also have

• Background in life sciences and/or molecular biology or experience-based knowledge thereof
• Fluency in German, French, Italian and/or Spanish
• Experience in working with CRM software
• Experience in stakeholder management and reporting

Contract length:

3 years, renewable to a maximum of 9 years.

Salary: Grade 4 or 5 (monthly salary starting from €3.704,83 before personal pension and insurance contributions, plus additional benefits).

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation.

We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.

Enjoy lots of benefits:

• Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances

• Flexible working arrangements

• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)

• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays

• Relocation package including installation grant(if applicable)

• Campus life: Free shuttle bus (Heidelberg), library, subsidised on-site cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)

• Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances

• Benefits for international newcomers: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.

• For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Visit our International Applicants page, to find out more.

• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here

• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.

• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date

05/06/2026