EU R&D Proposal Specialis - Aerospace & Defence

Mission

As a Proposal Specialist, specialized in European-funded Research and Development (R&D) projects, your primary role is to oversee the successful proposal preparation funded by EU programs. You will be responsible for coordinating multidisciplinary consortia, defining project strategies aligned with EU priorities, drafting and reviewing technical and impact-driven sections, managing timelines and partner contributions, ensuring compliance with call requirements, and, upon funding, overseeing project implementation in accordance with the Grant Agreement and Work Plan. This includes monitoring progress, facilitating communication among stakeholders, and ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality results.#LI-MB4

Key Accountabilities

Proposal Development & Writing: Lead the preparation of competitive research proposals under EU-funded programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe, EDF), by drafting key sections, shaping the project narrative, and ensuring coherence across technical, impact, and management aspects.Strategic Project Design: Define the project concept and objectives in line with European policy priorities and technological trends. Ensure consistency with the company’s strategic positioning and identify the innovation’s expected impact on industrial and societal levels.
Workplan Structuring: Develop detailed work plans, including Work Packages, task breakdowns, GANTT charts, and project timelines. Coordinate input collection across disciplines to ensure a balanced and feasible project architecture.
Consortium Coordination: Identify and engage strategic partners across industry, academia, and public authorities. Define roles and contributions, ensuring complementarity and alignment with the project’s ambition and eligibility criteria.
Budgeting and Financial Planning: Lead the preparation of the project budget, aligning costs with activities and funding rules. Coordinate with internal departments and external partners to ensure financial soundness and justification of resources.
Risk Analysis and Mitigation: Conduct risk identification and mitigation planning both during proposal preparation and, if funded, during project execution. Ensure alignment with EU requirements for risk management and contingency planning.
Stakeholder Interaction: Maintain continuous dialogue with key stakeholders including consortium members, institutional contacts, and internal functions. Facilitate smooth coordination and ensure alignment between proposal strategy and broader RINA objectives.
Compliance and Quality Control: Ensure that proposals and project plans comply with call requirements and internal quality standards. Implement internal reviews and validation loops to ensure consistency, clarity, and accuracy in submissions.
Project Handover and Execution Support: In case of project approval, support the transition from proposal to implementation phase by preparing the Grant Agreement, coordinating the internal kick-off, and providing guidance to project managers during the initial phases.

Education

Qualifications

- +3 years of experience in European and international R&D projects
- Fluent in English
- A previous PHD in Space field con Holding a PhD will be considered a plus
- International experience will be considered as a strong plus
- Strong knowledge of EU funding programs (e.g., Horizon Europe, EDF, European Space Programme, Life, Digital Europe Programme). 
- Experience in grant compliance, financial reporting, and stakeholder coordination.
- Familiarity with risk management and quality assurance in R&D projects.
- Project Planning & Execution – Expertise in defining project scope, objectives, and deliverables.
- Grant Compliance – Strong understanding of European and international funding regulations.
- Budget & Resource Management – Ability to allocate resources efficiently and ensure financial control.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Experience in working with funding agencies, consortium partners, and internal teams.
- Risk & Quality Management – Ability to anticipate challenges and implement quality control measures.

Competencies