Technical Project Manager

Digital for Planet; Zürich; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40-hour work week

Flexible work arrangement (office/home

13th salary

Private phone and internet allowance

KTG ( Krankentaggeld) coverage

Halbtax annual travel card

Job summary

Digital for Planet seeks a technically seasoned Project Manager with hands-on experience in EU-funded R&I projects, primarily Horizon Europe. You will join the Lab, report to the Head of Lab, and drive technical delivery while cultivating acquisition and proposal activities.

Responsibilities include leading work packages, managing risks, drafting deliverables, and coordinating with partners. You will engage in technology scouting, roadmapping, and consortium negotiations in a multinational

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in EU-funded R&I projects, ideally Horizon Europe.
• Broad hands-on technical background across several areas (e.g. 5G/6G, cloud-edge-IoT, data protection and security).
• Proven experience in proposal writing and consortium work.
• Added value in one or more of: EU digital policy; hands-on software development; impact, exploitation and standardisation; sustainability and green digital technologies.
• Excellent written and spoken English; French, German and/or Italian are a plus.
• Strong organizational and prioritisation skills.

Responsibilities

• Delivering D4P’s technical work in EU-funded and commercial projects: planning activities, tracking deadlines, coordinating with the technical team and partners, and drafting deliverables and project documents.
• Acting as Task or Work Package Leader: reviews, risk management, reporting, QA and effort monitoring, and coordinating data management plans.
• Contributing to applied research and strategy: technology scouting, architecture and roadmaps.
• Proactively driving acquisition: identifying funding opportunities, building consortia, designing concepts and writing proposals.
• Steering technical discussions with consortium partners and negotiating D4P’s technical role in proposals and projects.
• Representing D4P in consortia, project meetings and events, and engaging with professional communities.
• Supporting presales, consulting and training on EU programmes, and contributing to dissemination and exploitation activities.

Skills

EU-funded R&I project experience

Horizon Europe experience

Proposal writing

Consortium management

English proficiency

French/German/Italian a plus

Organizational skills

Education

MSc or PhD in ICT, engineering or related field

Job description

Keywords: EU-funded R&I projects / Technical project management / Digital technologies / Proposal writing

Contract : Full time

Start date : January 2027

JOB DESCRIPTION AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are looking for a Technical Project Manager with solid, hands‑on experience in EU-funded Research and Innovation (R&I) projects and a broad technical background.

In this role, you will join our Lab and report to the Head of Lab. You will help win and deliver EU-funded R&I projects, mainly under Horizon Europe and Digital Europe, combining technical project execution with acquisition and proposal work.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Delivering D4P’s technical work in EU-funded and commercial projects: planning activities, tracking deadlines, working with the technical team and partners, and drafting deliverables and project documents.
• Acting as Task or Work Package Leader: preparing reviews, managing technical risks, overseeing reporting, quality assurance and effort monitoring, and supporting technical coordination and data management plans.
• Contributing to applied research and strategy: technology scouting, architecture and design, roadmaps and recommendations.
• Proactively driving acquisition: identifying funding opportunities, building consortia, designing concepts and writing proposals.
• Steering technical discussions with consortium partners and negotiating D4P’s technical role in proposals and projects.
• Representing D4P in consortia, project meetings and events, and engaging with relevant professional communities.
• Supporting presales, consulting and training on EU programmes, and contributing to communication, dissemination and exploitation activities.

In collaboration with the Digital for Planet team, you will contribute to the organisation’s continued success, in an advisory capacity and through valued professional contributions to other organisations, including the European Commission. Close collaboration is also expected with the activities and work led by Martel Innovate, the founding member of Digital for Planet.

You will work in a friendly international environment and take part in national and international R&I projects. In this respect, some travelling within and outside Europe will be entailed.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• MSc or PhD in ICT, engineering or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in EU-funded R&I projects, ideally Horizon Europe.
• A broad, hands‑on technical background across several areas (e.g. 5G/6G and non‑terrestrial networks, the cloud‑edge‑IoT continuum, data protection and security, applied AI, sustainable smart cities and energy), grounded in practical project experience, so you can shape technical concepts in proposals as well as deliver them.
• Proven experience in proposal writing and consortium work.
• Added value in one or more of: EU digital policy; hands‑on software development; impact, exploitation and standardisation; sustainability and LCA; or green and sustainable digital technologies (e.g. green cloud‑edge‑IoT, energy‑efficient AI).
• Excellent written and spoken English. French, German and/or Italian are a plus, for working with local and regional authorities.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Self‑initiative, responsibility and commitment.
• Ability to take ownership and lead tasks independently.
• Enjoyment in working in multicultural, distributed international teams, and in delivering high‑quality results under deadlines.
• Strong analytical thinking and problem‑solving capabilities. Attentive to details.
• Open, friendly and flexible mindset.

WE OFFER YOU

• 40‑hour work week with flexible working hours.
• Flexible work arrangement options (office/home office).
• 13th salary and monthly allowance for private phone and internet expenses.
• Full employer coverage of Krankentaggeld (KTG).
• Yearly half‑fare travel card (Halbtax Abo) paid by the organisation.
• Entrepreneurial and matrix‑organised environment with a non‑hierarchical mindset.

WHY D4P?

D4P provides a purposeful, creative, challenging, and dynamic multinational environment which encourages team spirit, cooperation and continuous learning. We offer exciting opportunities to take on new challenges and make a meaningful impact in the organisation and in society. We value innovation, open communication, and a strong sense of ownership in every role. At D4P, you’ll be part of an impactful, forward‑thinking nonprofit organisation. We support both personal and professional development, ensuring you grow alongside us and your work contributes to a more sustainable and equitable future.