Senior Project Developer
About us
We started Brainster 10 years ago to tackle the difficult challenges in education.
At Brainster, our mission is clear: we’re dedicated to supporting the global digital transformation and creating a better future for people around the world. We believe that education is the key to empowering individuals and bridging the gap between today’s skills and tomorrow’s opportunities.
About the job
We are seeking a highly driven Senior Project Developer to lead the development of international and national funding proposals, build and nurture partnerships, and drive the project development pipeline across Brainster Group entities (Brainster, Brainster Next College, and NU Academy). This role is ideal for someone who combines excellent analytical and writing skills with a strong network and business development mindset. You will play a key role in identifying opportunities, building consortiums, coordinating inputs, and crafting competitive project applications that align with our mission in education, innovation, and digital transformation.
Responsibilities:
- Monitor and maintain an up-to-date overview of relevant funding opportunities, current and upcoming, at the local, regional, and international levels (e.g., EU programs, bilateral donors, international foundations).
- Identify and evaluate suitable calls for proposals, grants, and tenders for Brainster Group.
- Be fully informed at all times about the funding strategies, policies, work plans and other documents of relevant donors, aligning Brainster Group development strategy, project ideas and partnerships accordingly.
- Provide strategic recommendations on funding opportunities aligned with each entity’s goals and capacities.
- In close collaboration with the Head of International Cooperation, build and maintain a strong network of international and local partners (academic institutions, companies, NGOs, public institutions) for joint project applications.
- Lead and support partnership development discussions, ensuring strategic alignment, mutual value creation, and long-term collaboration potential.
- Proactively seek out and facilitate the inclusion of Brainster Group entities as consortium partners in externally led projects by universities, innovation hubs, NGOs, companies, and international networks.
- Actively promote the expertise, services, and capacities of each Brainster entity to strengthen their positioning as valuable and reliable project partners and increase visibility within key stakeholders.
- Represent the organization in relevant networks, matchmaking events, and conferences to foster new collaborations.
- Lead the development of project proposals from concept to submission, including narratives, budgeting, workplans, and administrative requirements, with 100% compliance with donor rules and requirements.
- Coordinate and supervise contributions from external experts, technical consultants, and project partners during the proposal development phase.
- Ensure timely and quality delivery of inputs from all contributors to meet donor expectations.
- Collaborate with internal teams to gather information, align project ideas with institutional priorities, and ensure feasibility.
- Anticipate emerging trends in education, technology, and entrepreneurship to inform new project ideas.
- Maintain clear documentation of all project development activities, partnership engagements and submitted applications.
- Prepare internal briefings and reports on funding pipelines, project development progress and success metrics.
Qualifications:
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in international project development, fundraising, or business development.
- Proven track record in writing and winning international project proposals, e.g. Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, IPA, national innovation funds.
- Strong understanding of the donor landscape and funding mechanisms relevant to education, digital innovation, and entrepreneurship.
- Excellent networking and partnership-building skills, with experience in leading consortia and stakeholder engagement.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Familiarity with the thematic areas relevant to Brainster Group (tech education, digital skills, innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship).
- University degree in a relevant field (international relations, business, public policy, education, economics).
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite and Generative AI tools.
- Passion for talent development, education, and career growth initiatives.
Benefits we offer:
- Private Health Care
- Flexible Working Hours
- L&D Opportunities
- Unlimited Vacation Days
- Work From Anywhere
- FitKit Subscription
- Pet friendly office if you decide to work from office
*some of the benefits are available to our team after certain period of employment
For this particular role, a project development portfolio indicating success rates (number of submitted vs. approved projects), a list of references and a short written task will be required in advanced stages of the hiring process.
Apply now by sending your CV to [email protected], with a subject “Senior Project Developer”
