Grant Officer

Grant Officer

EIT Food

Leuven, Belgium

ABOUT EIT FOOD

At EIT Food we accelerate innovation to build a future-fit food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for all. To achieve this, we are leading the world’s largest food innovation community. Through a missions-led approach, we put improving outcomes for people and planet as the starting point for our work.

Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, we invest in projects, organisations and individuals that share our goals for a healthy and sustainable food system. We unlock innovation potential in businesses and universities and create and scale agritech startups to bring new technologies and products to market. And we equip entrepreneurs and professionals with the skills needed to transform the food system and educate and inspire the next generation.

Our innovation projects are delivered with a combination of industry, education, and research partners to improve environmental and health outcomes, by developing solutions that align with our three missions: Healthier Lives Through Food, A Net Zero Food System, and Reducing Risk for a Fair and Resilient Food System.

EIT Food headquarters (HQ) are based in Leuven (Belgium) and it has 5 regional hubs in Europe (based in Poland, Spain, Germany, the UK and Netherlands), each working with and for partners in several EIT Food partner countries.

Visit our website: https://www.eitfood.eu.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Grant Officer will be an integral member of Business Operations team of EIT Food and will be reporting to the Head of Grants and Funding. Working with Grant Managers, you will contribute to the implementation of each stage of the grant cycle, from business planning through to reporting and support them to implement key processes in a timely manner.

You will work on:

• The implementation of the different Grant Agreements (mostly EIT funded but also other EU and non-EU funded grants where EIT Food participates);
• Business Planning of Activities and Grant preparation process;
• Contributing to the budgeting process related to grants;
• Management of the Financial Support to Third Parties (cascade funding);
• Reporting of Key Performance Indicators and other;
• Ensuring that the colleagues and participants have the necessary processes and tools to guarantee a smooth grant implementation;
• Supporting the Grant Managers to improve and continuously develop processes, raising red flags where needed and proposing solutions to manage risks;
• Contributing to the drafting of key documents such as business plans and monitoring reports;
• Implementing key grant cycle processes through mastering the use of the grant management IT platform.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Bachelor or Master degree in a relevant field with proven track record in EU funding or equivalent by experience;
• Between 1-3 years of relevant working experience;
• Experience in working with EU Funding Portal (e-grants), managing projects;
• Knowledge of the EU grant cycle, the EU’s Horizon Europe Programme;
• Experience in working with EIT grants management environment will be considered a strong asset;
• Excellent skills in data analysis;
• Logical thinker, motivated to drive continuous improvement based on sound analysis;
• Experience in process implementation, and respect for timelines and deadlines in a fast-paced environment;
• Great attention to detail;
• Can-do attitude, driven to learn and realise impact, a self-starter;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English (the working language is English);
• Very good knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (including Word and Excel), IT savvy, and willingness to adapt to new systems;
• Flexible to work both independently and in small (multi-national) teams.

WHAT WE OFFER

Working at EIT Food means joining a team of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to creating a better future through food innovation. We cultivate a culture of collaboration, inventiveness, inclusivity, and constructive feedback. All employees are encouraged to contribute their ideas and expertise towards our mission of creating a more sustainable and inclusive food system.

Together, we're making a real impact on the food industry and we're looking for talented individuals like you to join us.

As a valued member of our team, we'll provide you with a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

CONTRACT TYPE

Full-time permanent position.

LOCATION & TRAVEL FREQUENCY

EIT Food HQ, Leuven (Belgium) with the possibility for hybrid work.

Occasional travel within Europe.

Please note that all applicants must be legally authorized to reside and work in Belgium.

APPLICATION

We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. While the application deadline is 14/5/2025, we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we find the right candidate. We recommend submitting your application at the earliest opportunity to ensure consideration.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

At EIT Food we believe that diversity and inclusion make us stronger. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates, regardless of age, gender, background, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. We welcome applications from everyone and strive to create a workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to their fullest potential.

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