Innovation Funding Specialist

QED (https://qed.ai) is a tech company building data systems and AI for agriculture and health, in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. We provide mission-critical support for many international projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, collaborating with organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Gates Foundation, CIMMYT, and USAID.

Many challenges in food security are road-blocked by the scarcity of sufficient environmental data for making decisions. Most agricultural players have no means of rapidly assessing the health of their soils, plants, seeds, and fertilizers, particularly in rural areas.

Consequently, QED is developing novel hardware sensors for collecting environmental data more affordably and easily, using techniques such as infrared spectroscopy and automated chemistry. Our work lies at the intersection of mechatronics, chemistry, physics, and computing.

QED is looking to hire Innovation Funding Specialists with a solid background in the natural sciences (e.g., physics, chemistry, agronomy) to assist with grant proposal writing, pitch deck preparation, and communication with funding bodies and partners.

Key responsibilities:

• Monitor and identify national and international funding opportunities (EU, global agencies, foundations, etc.).

• Write and submit high-quality grant proposals, including technical and non-technical content.

• Conduct desk research on relevant scientific and funding topics.

• Collaborate with internal teams (technical, R&D, business) to gather input and align funding strategies with company goals.

• Prepare promotional and communication materials (pitch decks, articles, whitepapers, project summaries, one-pagers).

• Maintain a database of grant opportunities, submission deadlines, and reporting requirements.

• Maintain communication with partners, funding agencies, and collaborators as needed.

• Support scientific outreach and visibility of the company in relevant scientific and innovation ecosystems.

Requirements:

• Excellent writing skills in English, especially in scientific and technical communication.

• Critical thinking, write logically. 

• Proven experience in grant writing, research communication, or fundraising at least 3 years.  

• Be ahead of time with proposal submissions. 

• Communicate easily with people from different backgrounds and timezones. 

• Strong analytical and online research skills.

• Ability to translate complex scientific ideas into clear, persuasive narratives.

• Organized, proactive, and capable of managing multiple deadlines.

• Familiarity with Horizon Europe, EIC, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, or similar funding schemes is a plus.

• English fluency: B2 or higher (hard requirement)

• English typing speed >= 40 words per minute

Nice to have: 

• Degree (min. MSc) in a relevant scientific field: agronomy, biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, or similar.

Compensation is competitive and commensurate to experience. 

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Online application form: https://jobs.qed.ai 

For special inquiries, e-mail: jobs@qed.ai