Financial Engineering Officer

OVERALL PURPOSE

The Financial Engineering Officer reports to the Head of Finance and Administration. He will also work closely with the Programme Unit team, as well as Hydrogen Europe and N.ERGHY. He is responsible for developing close interactions with various sources of additional financing, such as the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), national and regional funding programmes, the European Innovation Institute (EIT) and other financing mechanisms (non-subsidy) which can specifically help to strengthen local, regional and national research and innovation capabilities in the area of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen and underpin smart specialisation efforts. This includes advice and support to prospective participants to FCH 2 JU calls for proposals in order to combine (cumulative or consecutive) funding from various programmes and optimize structured finance operations.

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

We are looking for a dynamic and proactive person with a strong entrepreneurial talent to identify and successfully propose and realize the funding /co-funding of FCH activities with additional sources of funding or financing, with a strong commitment to and interest in the FCH sector and with a high level of ability to perform tasks with minimum supervision.
 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

He/she will

• Provide support for structuring complex projects, aiming in particular at identifying the most suitable funding and possible combination of various funding programmes
• Work closely with private industry and research stakeholders to develop a compelling business plan and attract additional external investment for the commercialisation of FCH technologies
•  Analyse and disseminate information with regards to synergies between H 2020 and other EU, national or regional programmes
• Develop links with other funding programmes (TEN-T/CEF, structural funds, national funds)
• Develop links with EIB, aiming in particular at enabling and facilitating opportunities of the European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI) for funding investments in the FCH area
• Stimulate dialogue and cooperation between the stakeholders involved in the management of these funding programmes
• Analyse and follow-up on possibilities to coordinate funding with other Joint Undertakings’ programmes, in particular in the aeronautics & rail sectors
• Develop the role of the FCH 2 JU as a “hub” or platform for information, advice, best practice examples, practical solutions with regards to synergies between funding opportunities
•  Follow-up on studies, facilitate the development/strengthening of coalitions of stakeholders to support the commercialisation of FCH technologies in the transport and energy sectors

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Candidates will be considered for the selection phase on the basis of the following criteria to be fulfilled by the closing date for applications:

• Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least 4 years attested by a diploma and, after having obtained the diploma, at least 9 years full-time of appropriate professional experience;

OR

• Have a level of education which corresponds to completed university studies of at least 3 years attested by a diploma and, after having obtained the diploma, at least 10 years full-time of appropriate professional experience;
• Have a thorough knowledge of one of the official EU languages and a satisfactory knowledge (at least B2 level or equivalent) of another of these languages to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties (candidates are invited to specify in their CV any language certificates they have obtained which can demonstrate their language skills);
• Be a national of a Member State of the European Union;
• To be entitled to his or her full rights as a citizen;
• To have fulfilled any obligations imposed by the applicable laws concerning military service;
• Meet the character requirements for the duties involved;
• To be physically fit to perform the duties linked to the post

SELECTION CRITERIA

Candidates selected on the basis of the above eligibility criteria will then be evaluated according to the following selection criteria:

Essential

• At least five years of experience in organizing the financing of innovation/industrial projects: structuring complex projects combining funding from different subsidy programmes and/or banking finance (debt) and/or equity through venture capital funds, development banks etc.
• Direct experience related to the financing of innovative technologies
• Sound knowledge and experience in EU and/or national financing programmes for research, innovation and competitiveness gained either as project promoter or as staff member of these programmes.
• Professional experience in working in a multicultural and multidisciplinary environment;
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills;
• Sound business judgement skills;
• Ability to establish and develop good inter-personal relations with a broad range of stakeholders in cross-cultural environments;
• Excellent team spirit;
•  Excellent negotiation and networking skills;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English;
• Strong ability to use electronic office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet, etc).
   

Advantageous

• Knowledge of the FCH sector
• Knowledge of the energy and/or transport sectors.

Supporting documents

• Job supporting document