Grant Coordinator

LIGENTEC; Ecublens; Hybrid; CHF 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office up to 2 days per week

Hybrid work environment

Job summary

Ligentec is seeking a Grant Coordinator to drive EU-funded projects (Horizon Europe, Chips JU) and manage technical work packages. You will work with our PMO, engineers, and consortium partners to ensure on‑time, high‑quality deliverables.

The role combines photonics know‑how with grant governance, audit readiness, and financial tracking, with a flexible European work setup and potential for hybrid arrangements.

Qualifications

• 5+ years coordinating EU-funded projects
• Strong background in integrated photonics or semiconductor tech
• Experience with EU grant frameworks and audits
• Proficiency with ERP systems, especially Odoo
• English proficiency; French a plus

Responsibilities

• Coordinate multiple funded projects in parallel as partner or consortium lead
• Draft and prepare technical sections for grant applications and deliverables
• Own the technical narrative of periodic and final project reports
• Oversee project resources, timesheets and budgets
• Ensure audit readiness with EU grantor regulations
• Represent Ligentec in international consortium meetings and workshops

Skills

Project coordination

Communication skills

Cross-cultural mindset

Problem solving

Education

Master’s or PhD in Photonics

Tools

Odoo ERP

Job description

About Us

We're a multicultural team of experts pushing the boundaries of what's possible in integrated optics.

Our mission is to make photonic integration accessible and industrially scalable.

We deliver best-in-class PIC platforms, design enablement, and integrated solutions that empower our customers to innovate faster and bring light-based technologies from concept to production.

About The Role

As a Grant Coordinator, you will play a key role at the intersection of deep-tech innovation, EU collaborative research, and strategic project management. You will coordinate high-profile publicly funded projects (notably Horizon Europe and Chips JU), drive the technical work packages owned by LIGENTEC, and ensure continuous audit readiness across all grant lifecycles. Working closely with our PMO, technical specialists, and international consortium partners, you will bridge the gap between cutting-edge photonics engineering and rigorous grant governance to maximize our impact in the global deep-tech ecosystem.

Key Responsibilities

• Project Coordination & Delivery: Manage and coordinate multiple funded projects in parallel (as partner or consortium lead), tracking deliverables, milestones, budgets, and project risks. Lead LIGENTEC-owned technical work packages, conduct alignment meetings, and drive technical progress to completion.
• Proposal Development & Bidding: Spearhead the drafting and preparation of technical sections for new grant applications (work package descriptions, impact, methodology, deliverables, and risk mitigation) under the guidance of the Grant Manager. Provide technical feasibility reviews, effort estimations, and input into Consortium and Grant Agreements.
• Technical Reporting & Content Ownership: Own the technical narrative of periodic and final project reports. Synthesize technical inputs, measurement data, and process outcomes from engineering teams, ensuring top-tier submission quality.
• Resource & Financial Tracking: Oversee project resource allocations, timesheets, and purchase orders within our ERP system. Monitor equipment depreciation, cleanroom/facility cost allocations, and project budgets against grantor benchmarks.
• Compliance & Audit Readiness: Build and maintain comprehensive audit trails (timesheets, deliverables, financial records, and meeting minutes) in full compliance with EU grantor regulations. Support internal and external audits, addressing technical and operational inquiries smoothly.
• Consortium & Ecosystem Engagement: Represent LIGENTEC in international consortium assemblies, review meetings, and technical workshops across Europe.

What You Bring

• Education: Master’s degree or PhD in Photonics, Optics, Physics, Microelectronics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• EU Grant & Project Track Record: 5+ years of relevant experience coordinating or managing EU-funded collaborative projects (Horizon Europe, H2020, Chips JU, or equivalent) as a Work Package Leader or Project Coordinator.
• Technical Acumen: Strong background in integrated photonics or semiconductor technology, enabling you to confidently review designs, process runs, and optical characterization results.
• Compliance & Financial Expertise: Practical mastery of EU grant frameworks (financial guidelines, personnel costs, timesheet regulations, and deliverable reporting), with proven experience preparing for or participating in formal project audits.
• Tools & Methodologies: Proven proficiency in project management frameworks and modern ERP environments (experience with Odoo is a distinct advantage).
• Soft Skills: Outstanding organizational and problem-solving abilities, high attention to detail, and a collaborative, cross-cultural mindset. Confident communicating across both engineering teams and executive/grantor stakeholders.
• Languages: Full professional proficiency in English (working language). Working knowledge of French is a strong plus.

What We Offer

A dynamic role at the heart of the deep-tech revolution where your technical expertise directly impacts product adoption. You will join an international team of specialists, gain deep exposure to market-leading photonic applications, and shape how photonic integration is deployed worldwide.

Practicalities

• Location: Ecublens (Lausanne area), Switzerland or Corbeil-Essonnes (Paris area), France.
• Work percentage: 100%.
• Languages: English is our working language, French or other languages are a plus.
• Home office: Up to two days per week.
• Start date: As soon as possible.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

If you have any questions, reach out to Manal Mohamed, HR Business Partner, at [e-mail]