Governance manager

Who we are At Catalyxx, we combine biofeedstock with a petrochemical process to produce identical chemicals...only better.Catalyxx transforms bioethanol into drop-in, cost-competitive, carbon-negative chemicals. We enable our customers to de-risk their supply chain and reduce CO2 emissions without sacrificing profitability, existing infrastructure, or product performance.Summary of the position Reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer, the Governance Manager will create the infrastructure to liaise with the European Union and country-level project officers, who are backing our first-of-its-kind chemical plant. This role offers exposure to very senior management and investors (both public and private). The Governance Manager will serve as the liaison between project execution and the public organizations supporting the project. Thus, it requires a mature professional who excels in translating PM metrics, business development progress and financial analytics into graphs, presentations and reports to justify the progress and expenditure of our investors' funds. Tasks and ResponsibilitiesLead governance and stakeholder management with investors, funding authorities, and strategic partners involved in EPC industrial projects. Coordinate compliance with governance, reporting, and monitoring requirements of public funding programmes, especially Horizon Europe and Innovation Fund. Oversee project governance frameworks ensuring alignment with internal procedures, EU regulations, and investor expectations. Serve as the Catalyxx point of contact with EU Project Officers, ensuring a very satisfactory engagement across the lifecycle of the project. Gather information from the Project Managers, Business Development team and Finance Managers to convert into reports for investors, translating project management metrics into the milestones, WPs and deliverables agreed upon with those key stakeholders. Manage risk governance and decision-making processes, including escalation pathways, risk logs, and steering committees. Prepare and lead high-level presentations for investors, EU bodies, and internal executives. Review and validate technical, financial, and organizational documentation required for project approvals and audits. Monitor contractual and regulatory compliance across all phases of EPC activities. Act as the main governance liaison between engineering teams, procurement units, legal advisors, and external institutional stakeholders.Minimum requirementsEngineering degree (Industrial, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Civil, Energy, or equivalent). 10+ years of experience in large-scale industrial plant projects. Proven track-record managing projects financed with European public funds such as Horizon Europe or Innovation Fund. This includes serving as the primary point of contact with Project Officers. Understanding of EPC project cycles and governance structures. Certified Associate or Practitioner of any Project Management methodology such as PMI, PRINCE2, or IPMA. Experience interacting with European Commission, European Investment Bank and/or industrial investors. Knowledge of EU taxonomy, CSRD, sustainability reporting, and environmental compliance. Professional proficiency in English (C1 or above). Professional proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese (C1 or above)SkillsGovernance and stakeholder management with investors and EU institutions. Strong project management and organizational skills. This includes generating Gantts and impactful presentations Excellent communication and negotiation abilities. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities in complex regulatory environments. Technical literacy to understand engineering deliverables and EPC documentation. Strategic thinking and ability to implement governance processes.Desirable RequirementsMaster's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Public Administration, or related fields. Professional certifications such as PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile. Experience in EPC of industrial plants, renewable energy, hydrogen, or chemicals sectors. Portuguese fluency is highly desired