An European Project Manager in Artificial Intelligence

Fondazione Bruno Kessler is a private research institution devoted to excellence in research in numerous disciplines, including Artificial Intelligence, and designated to the role of keeping the Autonomous Province of Trento in the mainstream of European and international research. Each research area is assigned to a specific research center, of which there are twelve totals. Information regarding the research centers, their activities, and production is available at http://www.fbk.eu/research-centers.

Organisation Description

The Strategic Planning – European Affairs function operates at the intersection of research, policy, and funding, supporting FBK’s positioning in European frameworks such as Horizon Europe and the Digital Europe Programme, while enabling participation in strategic initiatives (e.g. AI-on-Demand Platform).

Job Description

The selected candidate will contribute to the design, development, and implementation of FBK’s European strategy in the field of digital technologies, with a focus on Artificial Intelligence, specifically regarding:

• Execution of strategic EU initiatives such as CoordinaTEF and DeployAI (AI-on-Demand Platform);
• Development of new project proposals under Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, and related programmes.

The role combines fundraising activities (e.g. hands-on proposal writing), project development, and project management, bridging research, policy, and funding opportunities.

In particular, the successful candidate will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Coordinate and implement strategic EU-funded initiatives (e.g. DeployAI, CoordinaTEF);
• Monitor and analyze European policies, programmes, and funding opportunities in digital technologies, with a focus on AI;
• Lead the preparation of competitive proposals (e.g. Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, and other national/EU instruments);
• Engage with internal FBK research centres to identify capabilities and align them with EU opportunities;
• Build and manage European partnerships and consortia, including academia, industry, and public sector actors;
• Contribute to project design, including impact definition, exploitation strategies, and innovation pathways;
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between scientific, administrative, and external stakeholders.

FBK actively seeks diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is also committed to promoting gender equality. To promote the inclusion of disabled staff as per law 68/99, the Foundation is available and interested in evaluating the applications received for technical-scientific domains that do not correspond exactly to this call.

Job requirements

The ideal candidate should have:

• Master’s degree in one of the following fields: Artificial Intelligence / Data Science, Engineering / Computer Science, Innovation Management / European Studies (with strong technical exposure);
• At least 3 years of experience in: Fundraising activities (e.g. proposal development and writing), European R&I projects (e.g. Horizon Europe, Digital Europe);
• Proven experience working in international consortia
• Strong knowledge of EU funding instruments and evaluation criteria
• Excellent knowledge of both written and spoken Italian and English languages
• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills

Furthermore, the following elements will be positively evaluated:

• Understanding of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence
• Experience in large-scale EU initiatives or flagship projects
• Experience in coordination roles (e.g. Work Package Leader, proposal coordinator)
• Experience working in multidisciplinary and international environments
• Familiarity with major European AI-related policies (e.g. AI Continent Action Plan, Apply AI Strategy)

Employment

Type of contract: fixed-term contract

Duration: 3 years

Working hours: full-time (38 h per week)

Gross annual salary: € 47.182 (plus objectives achievement bonus)

Start date: August 2026

Workplace: Povo, Trento (Italy)

Benefits: flexi-time, company subsidised cafeteria or meal vouchers, internal car park, welcome office support for visa formalities, accommodation, supplementary pension and health found, training courses, public transport, sports facilities, language courses fees. Further details at https://www.fbk.eu/en/work-with-us/.

Application

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application by completing the online form (https://jobs.fbk.eu/). Please make sure that your application contains the following attachments (in pdf format):

• Detailed CV;
• Motivation letter highlighting:
• Experience in EU projects
• Role in proposal writing
• Strategic interest in AI and European R&I policy

Application deadline: June 30th, 2026