Public Funding Coordinator (f/m/d)

Kurz zusammengefasst

Focused Energy is a fast‑growing clean‑energy company developing laser‑driven inertial fusion to deliver commercial‑scale power. Backed by a $240 million Series A round, the firm operates from Germany and the United States and brings together leading scientists and engineers to turn fusion research into a sustainable energy source. The Public Funding Coordinator will manage the entire lifecycle of publicly funded projects across Germany and the EU. Core duties include assessing funding opportunities, preparing and submitting applications, and overseeing financial administration, reporting, and project close‑out. The role requires translating funding requirements into detailed work plans, maintaining a transparent pipeline of opportunities, and ensuring that budgets, documentation, and deadlines stay on track. Coordination with Technology Engineering, Global Corporate Affairs, Finance, and external partners is essential to keep milestones moving and to resolve any issues that arise. Successful candidates must have hands‑on experience in public‑funding administration, such as evaluating opportunities, drafting applications, handling payment requests, and producing audit‑ready reports. Experience with German federal or state programmes that support research, innovation, or industrial development is specifically required. Applicants need a solid grasp of funding conditions, eligible‑cost rules, and the ability to embed these into practical project plans. A structured, proactive work style is essential: managing multiple deadlines, keeping accurate records, and following up on missing information without prompting. Proficiency with spreadsheets and financial or project data, as well as fluency in both German and English, are mandatory. The role also calls for strong ownership, sound judgment, and the capacity to communicate risks early while collaborating across teams without formal authority. Nice‑to‑have attributes include prior work in a public‑funding consultancy, research institution, public administration, or a startup/scale‑up environment. Familiarity with financial or ERP platforms such as NetSuite and an interest in leveraging data‑ and AI‑enabled tools to improve workflows are also valued. The position is based in Darmstadt, offering a modern office with a canteen, 30 days of vacation, stock‑option participation, a 20 %‑matched private pension contribution, and a full set of equipment from day one. Employees benefit from a collaborative, international culture and ample opportunities for career development as the company scales its groundbreaking fusion technology. What the role asks for: - Practical experience in public funding administration - Around five years of relevant experience (helpful) - Experience with German federal or state funding programmes - Understanding of funding conditions and audit‑ready documentation - Structured, hands‑on working style managing multiple deadlines - Confidence using spreadsheets and financial/project data - Fluent German and English - Ownership and sound judgment in issue resolution - Nice to have: experience in public‑funding consultancy or similar environment - Nice to have: familiarity with NetSuite or other ERP systems - Nice to have: interest in data and AI‑enabled workflow improvement