Program Manager Applied AI (maternity leave replacement)
UMCG – Groningen | 28–32 hours per week | July 2026 to January 2027
Do you want to use your program management experience to embed Artificial Intelligence in healthcare, research, education, and business operations? And would you like to contribute to smarter, safer, and more people-centered working in an academic hospital? Then this temporary role as Program Manager Applied AI at the UMCG is for you.
About the Applied AI program at the UMCG
The Applied AI program at the UMCG aims to roll out AI applications in a pilot phase, so that we learn how to deploy them safely, effectively, and responsibly within the domains:
... - Concern
- Business Operations
- Research
- Education & Training
The implemented AI solutions contribute to:
- optimizing work processes and increasing efficiency and capacity
- reducing administrative burdens and increasing job satisfaction
- improving the quality of care, diagnostics, clinical decision support and support services
The program started in 2024. The vision, strategy, governance, and working methods have been developed; various projects are underway in six focus areas. You are therefore joining a program that is established, but still fully in development.
Your role
As Program Manager Applied AI, you are responsible for the day-to-day management of the program and lead the Program Management Team. You ensure coherence between the various projects and monitor progress towards the central objectives.
You:
- leads the program team (3 project leaders and 7 developers) and is the point of contact for the program
- manages and controls the program and maintains an overview of all activities and dependencies
- facilitates the implementation of the annual program plan (already drafted) and makes adjustments where necessary
- prepares and presides:
- program team meetings
- core team meetings
- steering committee meetings
- sounding board group meetings
- triage of new applications/initiatives
- ensures proper planning and guarantees the capacity and availability of resources
- monitors the progress, quality, and coherence of the projects and reports thereon
- monitors the program budget and manages the efficient use of resources
- conducts active risk management: identifies bottlenecks and assesses whether objectives remain realistic and achievable.
- maintains intensive stakeholder management with, among others, healthcare professionals, researchers, management, and (external) partners
In short: you ensure that the right things happen at the right time, with the right people, and that the impact of Applied AI at the UMCG becomes visible in practice.
Who are you?
You are an experienced program manager who feels at home at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and organizational development. You switch easily between strategic, tactical, and operational levels and know how to bring people along in change.
You recognize yourself in the following:
- You have a completed and relevant university degree.
- You have demonstrable experience with program management in a complex organization, preferably in healthcare, the public sector, or a similar knowledge-intensive environment.
- You have an affinity for digitalization and preferably specific experience with data/AI projects or other technological innovations.
- You are strong in stakeholder management and can connect interests across disciplines and organizational units.
- You focus on results, but with an eye for people, workload, and job satisfaction.
- You communicate clearly, are organizationally sensitive, and can prepare decisions and convey them firmly.
- You work in a structured manner, maintain an overview, and know how to set priorities in a dynamic context.
What do we offer?
- A temporary appointment for the duration of maternity leave, from July 2026 through January 2027.
- Employment for 28–32 hours per week.
- Based in Groningen; you are present on location for at least 3 days a week.
- You will be working in a multidisciplinary and driven team that is further shaping AI at the UMCG.
- A work environment where innovation, collaboration, and social relevance are central.
