Innovation Consultant

About Us

PNO Innovation is one of Europe's leading innovation and funding consultancy groups, helping companies, research organisations, and public institutions turn ambitious ideas into successful projects. With a strong international presence and multidisciplinary teams across Europe, we support our clients in accessing public funding, developing innovation strategies, and building partnerships that drive technological and industrial progress.

At PNO Innovation Portugal, we combine local expertise with a European network to help organisations navigate complex funding opportunities and bring innovative technologies to market.

As we continue to grow, we are looking for a Medior Innovation Consultant to strengthen our expertise in European funding programmes, strategic technologies, and industrial innovation.

Job Summary

We are looking for an experienced and technically minded Medior Innovation Consultant with at least three years of professional experience in European and public funding.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in developing competitive EU funding proposals, particularly within Horizon Europe (Clusters 3 and 4), the European Defence Fund (EDF), the Digital Europe Programme, or similar European funding instruments.

You will work with companies, research institutions, and industrial stakeholders in strategic sectors such as resilience, security, defence, advanced materials, space, and manufacturing.

This is a predominantly proposal-writing position, with approximately 75% of your time dedicated to developing and coordinating European funding applications. We are looking for someone who can work independently, lead technical discussions, and contribute to building strong European partnerships.

You will join our Portuguese team, report directly to the Director of PNO Innovation Portugal, and collaborate with colleagues across our European offices.

Your Mission

Your mission will be to help ambitious organisations secure European funding for innovative projects that strengthen Europe's technological capabilities, industrial competitiveness, and resilience.

You will transform complex technical ideas into compelling funding proposals, connect the right partners, and support clients throughout the funding acquisition process.

Beyond writing successful proposals, you will contribute your technical expertise, industry knowledge, and professional network to identify new opportunities and strengthen PNO Innovation's position within the Portuguese and European innovation ecosystems.

Your Tasks

• Lead the preparation, writing, and coordination of competitive European funding proposals, from initial concept development to final submission.
• Identify and assess funding opportunities under Horizon Europe, EDF, Digital Europe, and other relevant European programmes.
• Work closely with industrial clients, research organisations, and technology developers to understand their innovation objectives and translate technical concepts into strong project proposals.
• Build and coordinate international consortia, identifying suitable partners and establishing effective collaborations.
• Develop proposal strategies, work packages, technical narratives, impact pathways, and implementation plans aligned with programme requirements and evaluation criteria.
• Monitor European policy developments, funding priorities, and emerging opportunities in strategic technologies, industrial resilience, and competitiveness.
• Maintain and develop relationships with relevant companies, research institutions, industry associations, and innovation stakeholders in Portugal and across Europe.
• Contribute to business development by identifying potential clients, supporting project acquisition, and leveraging your professional network to create new opportunities.

Your Profile

• At least 3 years of professional experience in European funding, innovation consulting, or closely related activities, with demonstrated involvement in competitive funding applications.
• Proven ability to independently develop, write, and coordinate EU funding proposals, ideally including Horizon Europe Clusters 3 and 4, EDF, or Digital Europe.
• A technical or engineering academic background, combined with relevant professional experience in industry or consulting, enabling you to understand complex technologies and engage confidently with technical stakeholders.
• Strong technical understanding of one or more relevant sectors, such as industrial innovation, manufacturing, defence, security, resilience, space, advanced materials, or emerging technologies.
• Good knowledge of European funding mechanisms, innovation policies, and strategic priorities, including technological sovereignty, industrial competitiveness, and supply-chain resilience.
• Experience in consortium building, stakeholder coordination, and leading technical discussions with industrial or research partners.
• An established professional network within the Portuguese innovation ecosystem, particularly among industrial companies, research institutions, or technology organisations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Portuguese and English, and residency in Portugal, with the ability to work independently in a remote-first environment.

Additional assets: Experience with Portuguese funding programmes or other European instruments supporting strategic technologies and industrial competitiveness.

Why Us

• Meaningful impact: Work on ambitious European projects addressing technological sovereignty, security, industrial resilience, and emerging technologies.
• International collaboration: Join a European consultancy group and work alongside experienced colleagues and partners across multiple countries.
• Professional autonomy: Take ownership of complex funding proposals and contribute directly to strategic innovation projects.
• Diverse projects: Collaborate with leading industrial companies, research institutions, and technology innovators across different sectors.
• Career development: Expand your expertise in European funding, innovation consulting, and strategic industrial technologies.
• Remote-first flexibility: Work from anywhere in Portugal, with approximately 1–2 in-person meetings per month at our Porto office.
• Competitive compensation: Annual gross salary between €32,000 and €38,000, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Growing team: Join an expanding Portuguese operation where your expertise, ideas, and professional relationships can make a tangible difference.