Experienced Innovation Consultant

Position for an innovation consultant with hands-on experience in EU proposal writing.

A hybrid position located in Madrid to become part of the team long term.

Competitive salary range depending on candidate experience and training (fixed wage + bonus).

• EXPERIENCE LEVEL: intermediate (3+ years of experience, development of 4-5 EU proposals).
• AREA THIS POSITION BELONGS TO: proposal writing and project management.
• MANDATORY: C2 English & Spanish level. Scientific university degree at master's level (agricultural engineering, environmental sciences, biology…etc). Experience in the writing of 2 full collaborative EU proposals (+10 partners) from beginning to end (H2020 / Horizon Europe / BBI JU / CBE JU…etc).
• APPLICATION: Candidates will be reviewed on weekly basis, do not wait to apply
• KEYWORDS: #ProposalWriting #ProjectManagement #HorizonEurope #Agrifood #bioeconomy

This position is ideal for a professional who can lead the preparation of EU proposals end-to-end with limited supervision, collaborating closely with senior colleagues and external partners across Europe. At Innovarum, innovation consultants contribute to both:

• Proposal writing, including proposal conceptualisation, consortium building, benchmarking, work plan development, and proposal coordination.
• Project management, supporting implementation, reporting, and coordination activities when proposals succeed.

You will progressively take more ownership over proposals, client relationships, and strategic positioning, depending on your strengths and development path.

Key responsibilities:

This position is meant for an experienced proposal writer able to carry out a full proposal writing on its own with limited supervision.

1. Leading the drafting of EU proposals (Horizon Europe, H2020, BBI JU, CBE JU—especially Cluster 6 and related areas).
2. Designing work plans (WPs, tasks, deliverables, milestones), budgets, and partner contributions.
3. Preparing technical benchmarking and state-of-the-art analyses to support project ambition.
4. Developing market studies, exploitation pathways, & innovation/business plans (as required by the call).
5. Coordinating inputs from multiple partners and ensuring proposal consistency, quality, and compliance with call requirements.
6. Supporting project implementation and reporting (technical and financial) depending on project needs.
7. Contributing to proposal strategy: topic screening, consortium building, and positioning of innovation concepts.

We are seeking a candidate who combines strong scientific foundations with the ability to translate research and innovation into compelling, fundable proposals. The ideal profile is proactive, structured and comfortable working in fast-paced environments, with strong attention to detail and a clear understanding of how EU evaluators assess excellence, impact and implementation. You enjoy working with international consortia, coordinating inputs from multiple partners and ensuring high-quality, coherent submissions that tell a convincing story from concept to impact.

MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS

1. Minimum 3 years of relevant experience, with proven hands-on EU proposal writing experience. Overall track record of 4–5 EU proposals (H2020 / Horizon Europe / BBI JU / CBE JU…).
2. Experience in the writing of 2 full collaborative EU proposals (+10 partners) from beginning to end: idea conceptualisation, consortium building, overall writing supervision and integration, budget and work packages development, and submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal.
3. C2 level English and Spanish, written and oral.
4. MSc (or equivalent) in Agricultural Engineering or related scientific/technical disciplines (environmental sciences, biology, etc.).
5. Experience in technical roles requiring strong writing skills (reports, scientific documents, technical documentation).

NICE TO HAVE (BONUS POINTS)

1. Experience in EU grant management, including technical and financial reporting.
2. Some extra background in business/economics.
3. Strong understanding of European R&I funding structures and evaluation logic.
4. International experience (e.g., living abroad).Additional languages

We offer a full-time hybrid position based in Madrid within a well-established European innovation consultancy, with long-term professional growth opportunities. The role includes a competitive salary package (€32,000–€36,000 gross/year, depending on experience) complemented by a performance-based bonus, as well as a clear development path towards greater autonomy, leadership in complex proposals, and strategic responsibilities. You will work in a collaborative and international team, enjoy remote work flexibility, and be involved in innovation projects aligned with ethical, climate-positive and environmentally sustainable objectives, combining scientific excellence with real-world impact.

Benefits & ways of working:

• Hybrid (2 days/week office)
• 38h/week (40h contract)
• Structured recovery time after major submissions
• Extra leave: birthday (when Mon-Fry) + Dec 24 & Dec 31
• Fully remote periods (summer month + Christmas)
• Team celebrations & 2 annual team-building events

Join us at Innovarum and be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of the agri-food sector and bioeconomy.