Research Leader – Advanced Battery Materials

Funditec; Madrid; Presencial; EUR 70.000 - 100.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Permanent contract

Flexible working hours

Remuneration aligned with experience

Flexible remuneration

23 working days of holiday

Descripción de la vacante

Funditec Foundation seeks a Research Leader to drive high-impact R&D projects in advanced materials for batteries. You will lead research lines, supervise teams, and coordinate European proposal efforts to secure funding and ensure successful execution of awarded projects.

You will coordinate international consortia, manage technical delivery, and contribute to publications, patents, and transfer to industry or society. This role offers strategic leadership and impact across EU priorities.

Formación

• Proven experience in drafting and coordinating European R&D proposals (Horizon Europe or equivalent).
• Strong scientific and technical writing in English (C1 level or higher).
• Ability to structure and lead international, multidisciplinary consortia.
• Strategic understanding of EU research frameworks, funding logic, and impact pathways.
• Excellent project management, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Leadership, integrity, and ability to guide a diverse research team.
• Results-oriented mindset focused on innovation, impact, and sustainability.

Responsabilidades

• Design, plan, and lead research projects within advanced materials area.
• Supervise researchers and staff, fostering collaborative environment.
• Generate publications, patents, and developments ready for transfer.
• Identify new research lines with division directors.
• Lead European proposals and coordinate partner consortia.
• Oversee technical execution, milestones, and KPI delivery.
• Manage budgets, governance, and reporting with PMs.

Conocimientos

European proposals

English writing

Consortium leadership

Strategic funding

Project management

Leadership

Sustainability impact

Educación

PhD in Materials Science or related

Descripción del empleo

Funditec Foundation is a non-profit applied research centre that promotes technological innovation as a driver of competitiveness and sustainability. With a practical, market-oriented approach, it develops solutions that address the challenges of digital transformation and ecological transition.

As a Research Leader at FUNDITEC, you will lead a research line and drive high-impact R&D projects aligned with European and international innovation agendas. You will be responsible for building and coordinating multidisciplinary consortia, preparing competitive proposals, and ensuring the successful technical and scientific execution of awarded projects. This role requires strategic vision, scientific leadership, and strong project management skills to translate research into tangible societal and industrial outcomes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Scientific & Technical Leadership

• Design, plan, and lead research projects within your area of expertise, ensuring technical excellence, innovation, and alignment with FUNDITEC’s strategic objectives.
• Supervise researchers and technical staff, fostering a collaborative and productive research environment.
• Generate high-quality scientific outcomes, including publications, patents, and technological developments ready for industrial or societal transfer.
• Identify and define new research lines in coordination with division directors and strategic priorities.

European Proposal Development

• Lead the preparation of competitive proposals under European programms (Horizon Europe, EIC, EDF, LIFE, CBE, etc.), including scientific writing (Excellence, Methodology, Impact sections).
• Coordinate consortium building, aligning industrial, academic, and institutional partners toward shared objectives.
• Ensure proposals align with European policy priorities (Green Deal, Net Zero, Circular Economy, Clean Industrial Deal, BATT4EU) and FUNDITEC’s mission.

Project Execution & Management

• Lead the technical execution of awarded projects, ensuring the timely delivery of milestones, deliverables, and KPIs. Supervise materials development and prototype testing.
• Oversee budget planning, governance structures, and reporting, in collaboration with Project Managers (PMs).
• Manage risks, ethics, and data according to EU standards and open science practices.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

• Proven experience in drafting and coordinating European R&D proposals (Horizon Europe or equivalent).
• Strong scientific and technical writing in English (C1 level or higher).
• Ability to structure and lead international, multidisciplinary consortia.
• Strategic understanding of EU research frameworks, funding logic, and impact pathways.
• Excellent project management, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Leadership, integrity, and ability to inspire and guide a diverse research team.
• Results-oriented mindset focused on innovation, impact, and sustainability.

SPECIFIC EXPERTISE – ADVANCED MATERIALS FOR BATTERIES

• PhD in Materials Science, Chemistry, Electrochemistry, Chemical Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong background in batteries and electrochemical energy storage.
• Experience in synthesis, processing and characterization of functional materials.
• Good understanding of electrochemical techniques such as cycling, CV and EIS.
• Ability to design and lead multidisciplinary R&D activities.
• Strong experience in cell development, capable of translating scientific concepts into a clear development pathway: Advanced Material → Electrode → Full Cell → Pouch Cell → TRL 4–5 Prototype.
• Publications, patents, or demonstrable technological outcomes in the field of advanced or sustainable materials.

Highly Valued

• Knowledge of solid-state or sodium-ion batteries.
• Advanced Li-ion materials, including LFP/LMFP and Si-based anodes.
• Post-Li technologies such as Li-S, Zn-ion or metal-air batteries
• Ceramic and hybrid solid electrolytes
• Surface and interface engineering
• Experience in coatings, ceramic materials or sol-gel technologies.
• Sustainable and critical-raw-material-free battery technologies
• Knowledge of scale-up, sustainability, circularity or Safe and Sustainable by Design approaches.
• Established European research or industrial network.
• Experience in consortium leadership, project coordination, and interactions with evaluators or Project Officers.
• Familiarity with EU budgeting criteria (unit costs, eligibility, exploitation, and IPR agreements).
• Participation in European technology platforms and clusters related to batteries and electrochemical storage systems.

What do we offer?

• Permanent contract.
• Flexible working hours so you can balance your personal life and professional development.
• Remuneration in line with your experience, training and development.
• Flexible remuneration.
• 23 working days of holiday + days as per agreement

What is it like to work at FUNDITEC?

Joining our team means working in a cutting-edge and unique environment that will allow you to participate in technological development and innovation, offering solutions adapted to current economic and social needs.

If you consider yourself a strong team player who also has a high degree of autonomy, if you are capable of contributing solutions and ideas and are an analytical person, don't wait any longer. This is the project for you, and we want to meet you!