Senior European Grants Consultant: Innovation & Funding

PNO Innovation GmbH; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

PNO Innovation seeks a Senior Consultant to strengthen our European Grants team in France. You will guide innovative organisations on European funding strategies and lead complex grant applications for major R&D and innovation projects.

You will collaborate across Horizon Europe and other programmes, transforming complex projects into compelling funding narratives while managing client relationships and supporting junior consultants.

Qualifications

• Several years of experience in European funding, innovation consulting, or R&D project development.
• Excellent written and spoken French and English.
• Proven experience with major European funding programmes (Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, LIFE, CEF) and grant proposals.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of complex European funding applications (Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, LIFE, CEF).
• Assess R&D/innovation projects and advise on funding strategy.
• Structure compelling narratives covering excellence, innovation, impact and European value.
• Interview senior stakeholders to extract information for proposals.
• Coordinate proposal development: work plans, budgets, deadlines, quality reviews.
• Manage client relationships as a trusted advisor through the funding process.
• Review proposals and contribute to internal quality standards.
• Support development of junior consultants and growth of PNO Innovation’s European Grants activities in France.

Skills

European funding

Grant writing

Strategic consulting

Project management

Stakeholder interviewing

Education

Master’s degree or PhD in science/engineering/economics/innovation

Job description

We are looking for a Senior Consultant to strengthen our European Grants team in France.

You will advise innovative companies and organisations on European funding strategies and lead the development of complex grant applications for major R&D, industrial and innovation projects.

The role combines strategic consulting, project analysis, proposal writing and client management. We are looking for someone who can independently transform complex projects into compelling funding strategies and high quality European proposals.

What are you going to do?

Help ambitious organisations secure European funding for high impact innovation projects by combining strategic advice, technical understanding and excellent proposal development.

• Lead the development of complex European funding applications under programmes such as Horizon Europe, Innovation Fund, LIFE and CEF.
• Assess R&D and innovation projects, identify the most appropriate funding opportunities and advise clients on funding strategy.
• Structure compelling project narratives covering excellence, innovation, impact, implementation and European added value.
• Interview senior client stakeholders, scientists, engineers and technical experts to extract and challenge the information required for successful proposals.
• Coordinate the complete proposal development process, including work plans, consortium inputs, budgets, deadlines and quality reviews.
• Manage client relationships independently and act as a trusted advisor throughout the funding process.
• Review and improve proposals prepared by other consultants and contribute to internal quality standards and methodologies.
• Support the development of junior consultants and contribute to business development and the growth of PNO Innovation’s European Grants activities in France.

Do you have any questions about this position? I’d love to tell you more about it! Please contact me.

What do we offer you?

• Lead major European funding projects with innovative companies and organisations.
• Work across technologies, sectors and European programmes rather than being limited to a single funding instrument.
• Join one of Europe’s largest specialist innovation and funding consultancies.
• Work with an international network of more than 600 colleagues and European funding specialists.

About you

• Master’s degree or PhD in a scientific, engineering, technical, economic or innovation related discipline.
• Several years of relevant experience in European funding, innovation consulting, R&D project development or a closely related environment.
• Proven experience with European funding programmes, ideally including Horizon Europe and/or other major programmes such as Innovation Fund, LIFE or CEF. Demonstrated experience writing or leading high quality grant proposals.
• Excellent written and spoken French and English.

About us

PNO Innovation is the leading innovation and funding consultancy in Europe. With our broad sector expertise, generative AI tools and more than 40 years of experience in national and European grants, we help give space to good ideas and make innovation happen.

PNO Innovation employs more than 600 professionals across offices throughout Europe: Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and the UK. What started more than 40 years ago as a student project in the Netherlands has grown into a European industry leader with a focus on creating sustainable impact.