Manager Projects and Strategic Funding & Grants

• Position: Manager Projects and Strategic Funding & Grants
• Company: Graphenix Development B.V. (GDI)
• Full time position
• On site – But with Flexibility (Included as a benefit)
• Location: Groningen / Eindhoven (NL), The Netherlands
• Preferred Years Experience: 4-9 years
• Salary: Competitive Salary based on years of experience

Your mission:

As a member of GDI’s team, you’ll have a critical role in the contribution to the performance of GDI’s Si anode technology, scaling the technology to gigawatt scale, and joining our effort in the fight against climate change. 

The Manager Projects and Strategic Funding & Grants will manage internal innovation and scale-up projects, including planning, resourcing, progress tracking, and risk management.

Facilitate cross-functional project teams and ensure milestones, budgets, and deliverables are met. Develop and implement project governance structures, reporting tools, and decision-making frameworks.

The manager will own and manage the full lifecycle of projects, subsidies and grants cycles. From identifying relevant opportunities to preparing proposals, coordinating internal and external stakeholders, ensuring compliance, and overseeing reporting. You will act as the central point of contact for all funding-related activities, playing a key role in securing financial support for GDI’s R&D, scale-up, and commercialization projects. 

Your responsibilities:

• General Project Management
  • Initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close strategic company projects (grant-funded and non-grant-funded).
  • Translate strategic objectives into clear project scopes, KPIs, schedules, and budgets.
  • Identify and mitigate technical, financial, and operational risks.
  • Report project status to leadership and stakeholders and escalate bottlenecks where needed.
  • Support continuous improvement in project management methodologies across the company.
• Strategy & Scouting
  • Identify and assess relevant subsidies, grants, and public funding programs at the regional, national (The Netherlands & Germany), and EU levels.
  • Develop and maintain a strategic funding roadmap aligned with the company’s R&D, pilot production, and scale-up plans.
• Proposal Development
  • Coordinate the end-to-end application process, including drafting, reviewing, and submitting high-quality funding proposals.
  • Collaborate with internal teams (R&D, operations, finance, legal) to gather technical, financial, and business input.
  • Manage partnerships and consortia where required for collaborative EU projects,
• Grant & Project Management
  • Act as project manager for all awarded grants, ensuring compliance with program rules and timely submission of reports.
  • Oversee documentation, deliverables, and financial reporting in cooperation with finance and project leads.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build strong relationships with relevant funding bodies, agencies, and partners at regional, national, and EU levels.
  • Represent the company in relevant subsidy and innovation networks.
  • Keep senior management updated on opportunities, risks, and progress.

Requirements:

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, engineering, or related field.
• Experience managing complex, cross-functional projects.
• Strong understanding of project management methodologies (e.g., PRINCE2, PMP, Agile); certification is a plus but not required.
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and manage competing priorities.
• Proven ability to deliver projects on time and on budget.
• Experience in managing subsidies, grants, or public funding programs, preferably within the energy, battery, cleantech, or high-tech sector.
• Strong knowledge of Dutch and EU funding landscapes (e.g., RVO, Horizon Europe, EIC, IPCEI, regional innovation funds).
• Extensive network in the EU-battery ecosystem
• Proven track record of successful grant applications and project management.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English and Dutch, German is a welcome addition.
• Ability to work independently, while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Applicants must have the right/required visa to live and work in the job location.

Interpersonal skills:

• Stakeholder management – ability to engage, influence, and maintain strong relationships with funding bodies, research partners, consortia members, and internal teams.
• Collaboration & teamwork – works effectively across disciplines (R&D, finance, legal, operations) to gather input and align priorities.
• Persuasive communication – can translate complex technical ideas into clear, compelling narratives for non-technical audiences (grant reviewers, policy officers).
• Negotiation skills – able to balance the company’s interests with consortium or program requirements and reach win-win agreements.
• Diplomacy & cultural awareness – tactful in dealing with EU-level stakeholders and multinational project partners.
• Networking ability – builds a strong presence in relevant innovation ecosystems, connecting the company with new opportunities.
• Adaptability & resilience – stays calm and resourceful under shifting deadlines, changing program requirements, or competitive funding environments.
• Attention to detail & accountability – ensures accuracy in reporting and compliance while maintaining trust with funders and partners.
• Influence without authority – can motivate and coordinate colleagues and partners even when not in a direct reporting line.
• Strategic mindset with pragmatism – sees the “big picture” of funding strategy but remains practical in execution.
• Leadership without formal authority — able to guide teams and set priorities across departments.
• Conflict resolution and alignment — comfortable mediating between teams with different objectives.
• Structured decision-making and facilitation — keeps momentum and clarity in complex stakeholder environments.

Travel:

• This position might involve limited travel in the EU and occasionally to the US.