Head of European Programmes

Head of European Programmes - Research & Innovation Funding (HEP-RIF)

• Part-time, unpaid during the early phase
• Hybrid work model (remote and/or on-site in Milan, Doha – Qatar, or Boston)
• Travel and meeting expenses will be reimbursed upon approval
• An NDA must be signed

This position may evolve into a full-time EU Research Director or Head of European Funding & Policy , depending on performance and programme success.

About Institute Itech:

Institute Itech is an early-stage multinational company committed to building a new model of society grounded in education , advanced technology , and social development .

We are launching several innovation projects, including:

• Memoria™ – AI-powered MedTech platform for cognitive health
• Oxyleaf™ – Synthetic plant systems for urban energy and environmental regeneration
• Terra™ – Underground environmental sensor networks for agriculture and climate
• Whiteboard™ – Smart desks and adaptive learning tools
• Polaris™ by IFE – AI-driven platform for economic and geopolitical intelligence

The company is legally incorporated (USA, Italy) and is building a Research & EU Programmes Department to secure large-scale funding for innovation.

About the Role:

We are seeking a Head of European Programmes to lead Institute Itech’s strategy for EU funding acquisition, research programme development, and multi-partner project coordination .

The role is central to identifying, designing, and submitting proposals to major European funding frameworks such as Horizon Europe, LIFE, Innovation Fund, Digital Europe, Erasmus+, CEF, EIC , and national/regional R&D instruments.

The selected candidate will define the long-term architecture of EU-funded innovation for Institute Itech.

Responsibilities:

• Identify, assess, and prioritise European funding opportunities aligned with Institute Itech’s strategic objectives
• Lead the full preparation of project proposals, from concept note to final submission
• Write and coordinate scientific, technical, impact, and implementation sections
• Organise consortium building with universities, research centres, industries, institutions, and municipalities
• Develop budgets, Gantt charts, work packages, deliverables, KPIs, and impact strategies
• Ensure compliance with EU guidelines , ethics requirements, and programme criteria
• Coordinate internal teams across the Memoria™, Terra™, Oxyleaf™, Whiteboard™, and Polaris™ projects
• Build relationships with EU agencies, National Contact Points (NCPs) and innovation clusters
• Support long-term alignment between EU strategy and Institute Itech’s R&D roadmap

Requirements:

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in EU project design, management, or coordination
• Demonstrated success in securing funding under Horizon Europe or equivalent frameworks
• Excellent scientific and technical writing skills
• Strong knowledge of EU budgeting, eligibility rules, and proposal structure
• Ability to manage multi-partner and international consortia
• Fluency in English (Italian is a strong plus)
• High level of autonomy, precision, and analytical thinking

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in science, engineering, public policy, or innovation management
• Experience with large-scale R&D or multi-country strategic projects
• Familiarity with evaluation criteria (Excellence – Impact – Implementation)
• Network with universities, EU clusters, innovation agencies, or NCPs
• Previous experience in research-driven startups or tech-based organisations

Benefits Provided:

• Reimbursement of travel and EU meeting expenses
• Access to professional EU funding platforms and internal resources
• Strategic leadership role in shaping Institute Itech’s European presence
• Potential evolution into Director-level or C-level research leadership
• Direct involvement in high-impact innovation projects

How to Apply:

Please send:

• Your CV
• A short letter (max 1 page), in English or Italian, explaining:
• Your experience in EU programmes
• Key projects or funding successes
• How you plan to structure Institute Itech’s EU funding strategy

E-mail:

Subject: WE2025 Job – Head of European Programmes – (Name Surname)

Time Commitment

This is a non-paid position during the startup phase , with a minimum commitment of 4–6 hours per week .

We are seeking a highly skilled EU funding strategist who can transform innovative concepts into competitive and fundable European projects.