​Responsibilities

• Research & Innovation Management: Map and track potential innovation opportunities of expansion, influencing Smartex product roadmap and aligning with funding opportunities.
  
  
• Grants & Opportunity Management: Map out funding opportunities across public and private sectors. Maintain a comprehensive pipeline of active and prospective projects, ensuring timely follow-ups and strategic alignment with company objectives.
  
  
• Intellectual Property Management: Oversee all aspects of Smartex’s IP portfolio, coordinating with external legal counsel to manage ongoing patent processes and ensure timely filings. Drive the submission of new patents in alignment with R&D outputs and strategic priorities. Maintain accurate documentation of IP assets, track deadlines and renewal requirements, and support internal teams in understanding IP implications on innovation and commercialization efforts.
  
  
• Documentation & Technical Writing: Prepare and review technical documentation for patents and grant applications, ensuring compliance with application requirements and legal standards.
  
  
• Analytics & Reporting: Ensure robust analytics via our ERP and grant-specific dashboards. Monitor project KPIs and financial performance, supporting data-driven decision-making.
  
  
• Stakeholder Communication: Communicate directly with external stakeholders, including the ROC (Regulatory Oversight Committee), to ensure clarity and compliance ahead of payment requests. Respond to clarification requests in a timely, professional manner.
  
  
• Financial Oversight: Keep detailed track of payment schedules, manage budgets in collaboration with the finance team, and ensure timely disbursement of funds. Collaborate with consultants to ensure financial and project goals are aligned.
  
  
• Project Governance:Implement and maintain structured project management practices across multiple initiatives. Ensure timelines, deliverables, and compliance requirements are met through rigorous coordination and documentation.
  
  
• Strategic Engagement: Represent Smartex in relevant working groups, partnerships, and industry associations. Actively contribute to thought leadership and alignment with sector-wide innovation goals.

Skills & Experience

• +7 years’ experience in public funding, grants coordination, or project management roles, preferably in a tech or innovation-oriented environment.
  
  
• Strong knowledge of budgeting, project tracking tools, and grant compliance frameworks.
  
  
• Experience with ERP tools such as Odoo, and other digital tools such as ChatGPT, google tools, notion, slack, etc. is a major plus.
  
  
• Experience managing external consultants and multiple stakeholders across departments.
  
  
• Strategic mindset with strong analytical and organizational skills.
  
  
• Prior participation in European Union, Portugal-based, or global grant initiatives.
  
  
• Familiarity with technical patent documentation and IP strategy.
  
  
• High-level understanding of machine learning concepts, hardware development lifecycles, and the textile manufacturing industry, enabling effective alignment between innovation strategy and technical execution.
  
  
• Experience with public-sector reporting tools or dashboards (nice to have).
  
  
• Excellent written and spoken English - capable of crafting persuasive, accurate technical documents.
  
  
• Availability to travel for external events. 
  
  

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