Med Campus Coordinator – Mediterranean University (M/W) full-time NEW

Mission description
Under the hierarchical supervision of the Deputy Head of the Education, Higher Education and Research Unit France (Paris), with a close functional link to the Project Secretariat (Rome). The Coordinator of the Expertise France component – MED CAMPUSES – corresponds to the focal point of Expertise France within the Project Secretariat and vis-à-vis the Steering Committee.

Based mainly at the Expertise France office in Rabat, with regular missions to countries of intervention (Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, and Libya) and participation in project governance bodies (Rome/Brussels).

The Coordinator oversees the entire MED CAMPUS component, the centerpiece of the project South anchorage. They represent Expertise France within a tripartite consortium comprising MAECI-Italy FIAP-Spain, and EF-France, operating under the “Team Europe” framework. The ability to work effectively within a consortium and maintain strong institutional relationships—with the European Commission as donor; Italian partners (MAECI/EUTALIA/Uni-Italia); Spanish partners (FIAP); and key stakeholders, including the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and UNIMED—is critical to the project’s success.

The position requires a confirmed project management profile, with proven expertise in setting up and monitoring grants (sub-granting mechanisms towards MED Campus, leveraged grants at Téthys), in multi-budget management country, and a real diplomatic and partnership capacity to navigate between donor, implementing partners and higher education institutions. Knowledge of the academic sector is an asset but not the heart of the position: it is above all an operational, financial, and institutional steering post.

Key responsibilities

Strategic management and governance

Oversee and manage the entire programmatic cycle of the 8 MED Campus (selection, needs assessment, development of action plans, deployment of technical assistance and grants);
Ensure programmatic consistency across the 8 MED Campuses and alignment with the strategic directions approved by the Steering Committee and the Secretariat;
Oversee the operationalisation of the Intra-MENA Mobility Scheme within the Expertise France component;
Lead, in collaboration with Téthys, the programmatic and financial dimension of the crosscutting gender equality and inclusion project.
Team management and coordination

Supervise the Grant Officer and ensure the functional coordination of the Higher Education expert and experts mobilised in the short term on the component;
Work in close coordination with the Project Support Unit (PSU) and with the headquarters in Paris.
Institutional and partnership relations

Represent Expertise France within the Secretariat and before the Steering Committee; maintain relations with the Directorate-General for the Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf (DG MENA) of the European Commission (donor);
Ensure institutional coordination with the Italian unit (MAECI) and FIAP on the Spanish side, and develop partnership relations in a “Team Europe” consortium approach;
To be the privileged interlocutor of Expertise France with the French institutions involved in the project — the Téthys network (Aix-Marseille University), Campus France, and the MESR — and ensure that their respective contributions are properly coordinated with the implementation of the MED Campus;
Maintain regular dialogue with UfM, UNIMED and other academic partner networks.
Administrative, financial and grant management

Manage and arbitrate the EF component budget, oversee administrative, financial and procurement procedures (in liaison with the USP team in Rabat);
Supervise the grant mechanism at MED CAMPUS and the grant to Téthys (setup, contracting, financial monitoring, compliance) in conjunction with the Grant Officer;
Reporting and accountability

Ensure all the narrative and financial reporting for the component, in coordination with the Secretariat and the other Team Europe units, including the preparation of the inception report and the semi-annual reports;
Ensure internal reporting at Expertise France (progress reports, alerts, monitoring indicators) in collaboration with headquarters.
Project or context description
The Mediterranean University project is a Euro-Mediterranean initiative jointly led by three entities: the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) as lead consortium, FIAP for Spain, Expertise France for France, in indirect management of the European Commission. The project is 36 months, with a budget of €12.2 M in total (including €2.6 M for EF including €100,000 in co-financing from the MEAE), covering all countries in the Mediterranean basin, including 10 Southern Neighbourhood partner countries.

This initiative aims to sustainably strengthen cooperation in the fields of higher education, research and innovation between the European Union and partner countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean. It is part of the Pact for the Mediterranean, which makes education and youth priorities for rapprochement between the two shores.

The action is based on the establishment of the Secretariat of the “Mediterranean University”, in charge of coordinating two complementary pillars:

University Consortiums: already mature alliances (North-South) quickly delivering joint degrees, mobility, and mutual recognition—piloted on the Italian.
The MED Campus: hosted by universities on the southern shore, organized around 8 thematic priorities linked to the Pact for the Mediterranean, aiming to build these universities’ institutional capacity so that they eventually become consortium leaders (“seeds” of the next generation of consortia).
Expertise France’s role is specifically concerned with the overall coordination of the MED Campus component as described below.

Operational and administrative management of support provided to the 8 thematic MED Campus, methodological consistency between them and with the program’s strategic directions;
Grants linked to the action plans of each campus;
Support for the operationalization of an Intra-Mena Mobility Scheme;
Technical assistance on request to selected institutions;
Strategic articulation with key partners: Tethys (university network coordinated by Aix-Marseille Université, 100+ universities/22 countries), the MESR, among others;
Steering, with Téthys, the cross-cutting gender equality and inclusion project
This is a first phase that will notably allow for the establishment of common governance, launch two university consortia and up to eight MED Campuses, and lay the foundations for a larger-scale deployment of the initiative. A second phase could be expected after these three years.

Required profile
Higher education (Bac+5) in international project management, international relations, political science or equivalent;
Proven experience (8-10 years) in managing EU-funded international cooperation projects, ideally in indirect management;
Solid expertise in grant management and sub-granting mechanisms, multi-country budget management;
Excellent capacity for negotiation and management of multi-stakeholder partnership relations (donors, ministries, counterpart agencies);
Experience working in an international consortium and a multicultural environment;
Knowledge of the higher education sector is desired but not essential;
Current imperative English (working language of the project); French and/or Arabic are assets;
Availability for regular trips in the region.
How to apply
Workplace: Rabat, Morocco
Contract information: the contract duration is 12 months (renewable until the end of the project). We offer an Expertise France contract with a competitive salary and benefits package.
Desired start date: as soon as possible.

Applications

Documents to be provided:

A CV
A cover letter
Three professional references including contacts by email and phone
Candidates interested in this opportunity are invited to submit their application as soon as possible. Expertise France reserves the right to pre-select candidates before the recruitment deadline.

Deadline for application : 2026/11/09 23:55
Please apply on Expertise France official website : https://expertise-france.gestmax.fr/cv/upload/vacancy/16334/media/1