Call for applications: Expanding the BESTPRAC Core Group

We are excited to announce that we are planning to expand the BESTPRAC core group by inviting 3 new members to join our team. This is a volunteer opportunity aimed at strengthening our efforts and driving our mission forward.

The open positions include:

• WG1 Chair Deputy
• WG2 Chair Deputy
• Social Media Manager

These roles are essential for the smooth operation and growth of our working groups and community engagement. If you are passionate about contributing your skills and time to a collaborative and dynamic environment, we encourage you to apply.

Join us in shaping the future of BESTPRAC!

BESTPRAC is run by a Core Group of volunteers whose Core Actions/ Responsibilities are the following:

• Representing the core principles of BESTPRAC: Fostering community building and sharing best practices among research managers throughout Europe, with an inclusive and diverse approach.
• Organising two events annually, one in-person and one online, to unite the entire BESTPRAC community, facilitating the exchange of best practices and offering short-term training and networking opportunities. 
• Monitoring and fostering collaborative work within the BESTPRAC Working Groups. 
• Mobilising and representing BESTPRAC community members in national and international discussions regarding the professionalisation and recognition of science management as a profession. 
• Advocating for the interests of the BESTPRAC community in EARMA strategic meetings and other decision-making activities.
• Maintaining constant communication and collaboration with the EARMA Board, Secretariat and other EARMA Thematic Groups. 
• Developing an annual activity plan for the thematic group to present and discuss with EARMA. 
• Promoting continuous engagement of the BESTPRAC community by sharing updates via the mailing list and BESTPRAC's social media channels. 
• Organising 2 dissemination events for the wider EARMA community per year together with the EARMA executive office. These can be online and/or in-person and the core group is encouraged to propose suitable locations. 
• At the end of their term, the coordinating group is responsible for organising the call for the next BESTPRAC coordinating group.

Mandate

The coordinating group should organise their collaborative work in quarterly regular meetings or whenever necessary e.g. needed more frequently close to a group event. All decisions of the coordinating group are made by a majority vote.
  

Call for the BESTPRAC Core Group

Until December 31, 2025, a call is open for new members of the BESTPRAC thematic group. The call is open to all research managers and administrators who are also EARMA members and who are interested in energising and coordinating BESTPRAC according to the above-mentioned terms of reference. Candidates should send a CV and brief motivational letter (max. 1 page) outlining their interest and potential plans for actions/strategic vision within the coordination of the BESTPRAC thematic group via email to cost.bestprac@gmail.com. 

Current core group members

Núria Parera (Chair, ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain)
Primož Petek (Vice-Chair, Slovenian Forestry Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia)
Cláudia Barbosa (Leader of WG1, Instituto de Telecomunicações, Portugal)
Katarina Božanić Sviličić (Leader of WG2, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Split, Croatia)
Begüm Özcan (Communications Manager, Koç Üniversitesi, Istanbul, Türkiye).