Grant manager

NIL Technology ApS; Region Hovedstaden; On-site; DKK 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

NIL Technology seeks a Grant Manager to own the public funding portfolio, from strategy to proposal development and project closure. You will lead a small team and collaborate with technical and finance units to secure and deliver funded projects that advance NIL's deep-tech roadmap.

Based in Denmark, you will drive partnerships with universities and industry, manage budgets, and ensure compliance across programs like Horizon Europe and Eurostars. English fluency is essential.

Qualifications

• MSc or PhD in Engineering, Physics, Optics, Photonics, Materials Science, Innovation Management, or related.
• Proven experience preparing grant applications and managing publicly funded R&D projects.
• Leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund Denmark, EIC, Eurostars, or similar schemes.
• Excellent project and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Experience budgeting and financial reporting.
• Strong written and verbal English.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain NILT's public funding strategy with management.
• Lead grant applications, consortium building, budgeting, and submissions.
• Build strategic partnerships with universities, industry and funding bodies.
• Oversee funded projects: contract mgmt, milestones, reporting, closure.
• Ensure financial and regulatory compliance with audits and time tracking.
• Lead and develop the Grant Management team.

Skills

Leadership

Grant management

Proposal writing

Stakeholder management

Project management

Budgeting & reporting

English proficiency

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic fundraising

Education

MSc or PhD in Engineering/Physics/Optics/Photonics/Materials Science/Innovation Management

Job description

Grant Manager

Are you passionate about transforming ambitious technology ideas into successful, publicly funded innovation projects? Do you combine strategic thinking with excellent proposal writing, project leadership, and stakeholder management skills? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity for you to join NIL Technology as our Grant Manager.

At NIL Technology (NILT), we develop next-generation meta-optical elements and modules that enable advanced optical applications across a range of industries. Public funding plays a key role in accelerating our technology development and strengthening collaboration with leading industrial and academic partners worldwide.

We are looking for an experienced and proactive Grant Manager to take end-to-end ownership of NILT’s publicly funded innovation portfolio. In this role, you will lead the entire grant lifecycle, from funding strategy and opportunity scouting to proposal development, consortium building, project governance, financial oversight, reporting, and project closure.

As Grant Manager, you will also be responsible for leading a small but highly impactful team consisting of a Project Manager and yourself, ensuring effective execution of funded projects and continuous improvement of our grant management processes. You will collaborate closely with technical project managers, R&D teams, Finance, external partners, and funding authorities to secure and successfully deliver strategically important innovation projects that support NILT’s growth and technology roadmap.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and expand NILT’s public funding activities while combining hands-on grant management with team leadership in a dynamic, international deep-tech environment.

You will be part of an ambitious company where we win together. Team spirit and mutual success are key components in our everyday work culture.

Tasks and responsibilities

Drive NILT's Funding Strategy

Develop and maintain NILT's public funding strategy in collaboration with management and build a strong pipeline of relevant national and international funding opportunities.

Lead Grant Applications

Work closely with technical teams to transform innovative technology concepts into compelling grant proposals. Lead proposal preparation, consortium building, work package development, budgeting, compliance reviews, and submissions.

Build and Maintain Strategic Partnerships

Develop and maintain relationships with universities, research institutions, industrial partners, and funding organizations to support collaborative innovation projects.

Manage Funded Projects

Oversee publicly funded projects throughout their lifecycle, including contract management, milestone tracking, deliverables, partner coordination, reporting, and project closure.

Ensure Financial and Regulatory Compliance

Work closely with Finance and Project Management to monitor budgets, resource allocation, eligible costs, time registration, audits, and compliance requirements. Support intellectual property, dissemination, risk management, and exploitation activities where relevant.

Team Leadership & Development

Lead and develop the Grant Management team, ensuring effective planning, prioritization, and execution of grant-funded projects. Foster collaboration, support professional development, and continuously improve processes and project delivery.

Skills, experiences and qualifications we are looking for

• MSc or PhD in Engineering, Physics, Optics, Photonics, Materials Science, Innovation Management, or a related discipline.
• Proven experience preparing grant applications and managing publicly funded R&D projects.
• Leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of funding programs such as Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund Denmark, EIC, Eurostars, or similar schemes.
• Excellent project management and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Experience preparing and managing project budgets and financial reporting.
• Strong written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly and persuasively.
• Excellent spoken and written English.
• Ability to work effectively across technical, commercial, and administrative functions.
• Experience from a deep-tech, optics, photonics, semiconductor, or advanced technology environment is considered an advantage.

Questions You are welcome to reach out to hiring manager: Ulrich Quaade, VP Optics. [e-mail]

About NIL Technology

NIL Technology (NILT), founded in 2006, is an optical solutions company designing, developing, and manufacturing optical elements and components using high-precision nanoscale features. NILT creates competitive advantages with flat optics (meta-optics) in optical applications for 3D sensing, consumer electronics, machine vision, autonomous vehicles, telecommunication, and AR. With its background in mastering for nanoimprint, the company produces masters and offers nano-foundry services. NILT is based in Denmark and has offices in Switzerland, Sweden, US, and a manufacturing in Malaysia. Visit us at www.nilt.com. NILT is owned by Radiant Opto-Electronics Corporation (www.radiant.com.tw).