Grant & Project Manager (Senior)

Lead complex EU projects from proposal phase to execution and reporting. You will coordinate international consortia and interface with funding bodies.

This senior role is central to the company's European R&D strategy. You will take ownership of high-value proposals across Horizon Europe, ESA, EDF and national programmes, managing multi-partner consortia and ensuring project delivery to the highest standards.

We are looking for someone with a proven track record in winning and managing EU-funded projects who can mentor junior team members and represent the company at the highest institutional level.

• Lead end-to-end proposal preparation for Horizon Europe, ESA (BASS, InCubed, ARTES, ScaleUp) and EDF programmes
• Manage running projects: reporting, deliverables, financial tracking, consortium coordination and EC/ESA communication
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with universities, research centres, agencies and industrial partners across Europe
• Represent the company at agency meetings, brokerage events, info days and review meetings
• Align funding strategy with business development and technology roadmap
• Mentor and supervise junior grant management staff
• Oversee financial compliance and audit preparation for EU-funded projects
• Maintain structured databases of calls, deadlines, partner contacts and project documentation

• Minimum 4 years of hands-on experience in EU grant management and project coordination
• Demonstrated track record: at least 3 successful proposals to Horizon Europe, ESA or EDF
• Deep knowledge of European funding ecosystems, evaluation criteria and project lifecycle management
• Excellent written and spoken English (C1+); Italian is a strong plus
• Proven ability to lead consortia, manage cross-functional teams and work under strict deadlines
• Availability for business trips across Europe (5-10 per year)
• Strong organisational skills and structured approach to documentation

• Experience with European Defence Fund (EDF) or dual-use programmes
• Network of contacts within ESA, European Commission, ASI, CNES or DLR
• Background in aerospace, sensing, AI or environmental sciences
• Experience with cascade funding and FSTP mechanisms
• PMP or PRINCE2 certification

• Strategic thinker who sees grant management as a growth engine, not paperwork
• Self-driven, able to work autonomously and reach targets without supervision
• Excellent communicator: clear, persuasive and professional at all levels
• Resilient under pressure with the ability to deliver quality under tight deadlines
• Leadership potential with genuine interest in mentoring and team building