Public Funding Coordinator (f/m/d) at Focused

Focused Energy is building the future of clean energy through laser-driven inertial fusion. Backed by our $240M Series A — the largest fully secured Series A in the global fusion industry — we are scaling rapidly across multiple geographies.

Based in Germany and the US, we have brought together the top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale. Focused Energy is working to realize game-changing scientific innovation that promises to deliver a clean, sustainable and abundant source of power globally.

Your Role
We are looking for a dedicated Public Funding Project Coordinator (f/m/d) to coordinate the full lifecycle of publicly funded projects in Germany and the EU, from opportunity assessment and application through financial administration, reporting, and close-out. Working closely with Technology & Engineering, Global Corporate Affairs, Finance, and project partners, you will translate funding requirements into clear plans and keep budgets, documentation, and deadlines on track. This is a hands-on, AI-first role for someone who combines financial rigor with practical project coordination, resolves issues early, and improves the tools and processes that make funding delivery reliable.

What You’ll Do
Funding Opportunities & Applications

• Own the end-to-end coordination of assigned public funding projects, from opportunity assessment and application through financial administration, reporting and close-out.

• Lead the consolidation of funding applications, translating requirements into clear workplans, responsibilities, and deadlines when the company decides to pursue an opportunity.

• Enable informed funding decisions by maintaining a transparent opportunity pipeline with clear information on eligibility, deadlines, and required inputs.

Financial Administration & Compliance

• Drive timely payment requests and financial reporting by bringing together accurate inputs from Accounting, technical project owners, and project partners.

• Ensure eligible expenditure is tracked and reconciled, and that compliance risks or budget deviations are identified and escalated early.

• Build and maintain complete, audit-ready project records, including funding conditions, supporting evidence, reporting obligations and correspondence.

Project Coordination & Process Improvement

• Partner with Finance, Technology & Engineering, Global Corporate Affairs, project partners and funding bodies to resolve questions and keep milestones on track.

• Improve workflows, templates and data quality, establishing well-organized project information and using data- and AI-enabled tools where appropriate.

What You Bring

• Practical experience in public funding administration, including assessing new funding opportunities, preparing funding applications, payment requests, reporting, financial documentation, or related grant-management activities. Around five years of relevant experience would be helpful, but we value hands-on capability over a fixed number of years or a particular qualification.

• Experience with German federal or state funding programmes, particularly those supporting research, innovation or industrial development.

• An understanding of funding conditions, eligible-cost requirements and audit-ready documentation, with the ability to translate these into practical project plans.

• A structured, hands-on working style: you manage multiple deadlines, maintain accurate records and follow through on missing information without needing to be chased.

• Confidence working with spreadsheets and financial or project data, including consolidating inputs and checking information for accuracy and completeness.

• Fluent German and English, with the ability to explain funding requirements clearly to colleagues, project partners and funding bodies.

• Ownership and sound judgment: you resolve routine issues independently, communicate risks early, and collaborate effectively across teams without formal authority.

  
  Nice to have

• Experience in a public-funding consultancy, research organization, public administration, or a startup or scale-up environment.

• Familiarity with financial or ERP systems such as NetSuite and an interest in improving workflows through data and AI-enabled tools.

What We Offer

• Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.

• Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career.

• Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers and professionals passionate about solving global challenges.

• Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges and shaping the future of our company.

• Your Success is our Success: We offer a competitive salary and company ownership in the form of stock options, giving you a direct stake in our success and ownership in what we build together.

• Vacation Days: We support your work-life-balance by granting you 30 days of vacation per year.

• Snacks and Drinks: Our office fridges are never empty. Enjoy our healthy snacks and drinks. Our Darmstadt office even offers a canteen with delicious lunch options daily.

• Retirement Plan: If you decide for a private pension plan, we will finance 20% on top of your monthly contributions, plus loyalty incentives.

• Equipment: We offer state-of-the-art Windows or Apple Laptops. In addition, you will receive a keyboard, mouse and headset so you are fully equipped from day 1.

• Events: We organize regular events to foster team bonding, encourage collaboration, and build a strong, supportive company culture. Connect with colleagues across departments, share ideas, and have fun together, both in and outside of the workplace.

• Mobility with NAVIT: We partner with NAVIT to support your flexible commuting needs—whether it’s a public transportation ticket, taxi rides or car-sharing you choose what fits your lifestyle.

• Fitness with Wellhub: We care about your health. Get access to a wide range of gyms, fitness studios and wellness services across Europe through our partnership with Wellhub.

Focused Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Focused Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, benefits. 

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