Grant Portfolio Manager

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 Portfolio Manager, you will own the public funding strategy and pipeline that finances LIGENTEC’s multi-year technology roadmap. Bridging the gap between deep-tech R&D, corporate finance, and international innovation consortia, you will identify high-impact non-dilutive funding opportunities and steer them from proposal to completion. In this senior, high-impact role reporting to the PMO Manager, you will build strategic partnerships across Europe, establish audit-proof compliance frameworks, and directly empower our teams to scale groundbreaking photonic solutions.

Key Responsibilities

* Funding Strategy & Pipeline: Own and drive a multi-year funding roadmap matching technology milestones with European (Horizon Europe, Chips JU, ESA) and national/regional schemes (Innosuisse, Bpifrance, Belgian regional agencies). Conduct systematic opportunity scans, assess strategic and IP fit, and recommend go/no-go decisions to leadership.

* Strategic Partnerships & Synergies: Build consortia that open customer, supplier, and research access-leveraging public funding programs as a business development channel. Align grant projections with internal R&D, CAPEX, corporate budgets, and investor communications.

* PMO & Roadmap Alignment: Collaborate closely with the PMO Manager and technical leads to forecast critical resource needs (engineering talent, cleanroom, and fab capacity), proactively resolving allocation bottlenecks before proposal submission. Track funded project shares, resource allocation, and margin impact across verticals.

* Audit Readiness & Governance: Establish and maintain the overarching grant management framework, standardized templates, and workflows. Define audit-readiness standards across all cost categories, oversee funder audits, and lead remediation efforts.

* Contractual & Technical Oversight: Own technical reporting submissions, Consortium Agreements, and Grant Agreements in close coordination with legal and finance stakeholders.

* Function Ownership & Leadership: Set strategic priorities and quality benchmarks for proposal drafting, submission, and reporting. Supervise and guide Grant Coordinators and Project Managers while serving as the primary liaison for funding bodies and EU project officers.

What you bring

* Proven Track Record in Public Funding: 8+ years of experience securing, managing, and closing complex public funding programs, including major EU instruments (Horizon Europe, Chips JU, or equivalent) and national/regional grants (Innosuisse, Bpifrance, or Belgian agencies).

* Deep-Tech / Industry Experience: Solid background working in a technology-driven environment, preferably within semiconductors, photonics, microelectronics, or advanced hardware.

* Audit & Compliance Expertise: Demonstrated success steering and closing financial and institutional audits end-to-end, with deep command of cost eligibility, timesheet governance, and evidentiary standards.

* Academic Background: University degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or equivalent) in Engineering, Science, Business Administration, or a related field.

* Systems Proficiency: Hands-on working knowledge of modern ERP tools and project/timesheet tracking systems (experience with Odoo is a distinct advantage).

* Leadership & Cross-Border Collaboration: High level of autonomy, excellent negotiation skills, and proven ability to lead and collaborate effectively across remote, multi-country teams (Switzerland, France, Belgium).

* Communication & Mindset: Analytical, innovative problem solver with an open mindset. Fluency in English is required; French language skills are a 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: Lausanne, Switzerland.

* Work percentage: 100%.

* Languages: English is our working language, 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.

Please submit your application through our career page as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, reach out to Manal Mohamed, HR Business Partner, at [email protected]