Institutional Partnerships Manager

Location
Vilnius, Lithuania
Department
Marketing & Business Development
Type
Full-time

Do you want to play a leading role in bringing European space programs to life? Are you excited by the idea of helping a fast-growing NewSpace company secure and manage major institutional partnerships across Europe?

At Kongsberg NanoAvionics, we design, build, and launch small satellite missions for customers worldwide. As we expand our institutional footprint, we’re looking for an Institutional Partnerships Manager to lead our engagement with key funding and research bodies such as ESA, the European Commission, and the European Defence Fund — and to oversee such programs once they are secured.

This is a highly strategic and cross-functional position, ideal for someone who thrives at the intersection of business development, program management, and institutional relations. You’ll help shape our participation in Europe’s most ambitious space initiatives, from R&D projects to defense and innovation collaborations.

The position reports to the Head of Business Development & Marketing and offers a chance to work closely with executives, engineering leads, and external partners at the forefront of European space policy and funding.

As Institutional Partnerships Manager, you will:

Identify and pursue opportunities across ESA, EC (Horizon Europe, CASSINI, etc.), EDF, and national funding programs
Build partnerships and consortia with other space companies, research institutions, and defense organizations
Represent NanoAvionics in institutional discussions, workshops, and industry groups
Track policy, funding, and tender developments across Europe and provide strategic insights
Lead proposal preparation and submission, coordinating input from engineering, finance, and management teams
Manage the lifecycle of awarded institutional programs — from contract signing to project closure
Ensure compliance with grant and co-funding requirements, including budgeting, reporting, and audit preparation
Serve as the primary point of contact for institutional partners and program officers
Monitor progress, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring alignment with technical and business objectives

We expect you to have:

Experience in institutional business development or program management
Understanding of European (ESA, EC, EDF, or similar) or national (Inovacijų Agentūra or similar) funding mechanisms
Great proposal writing, budgeting, and project coordination skills
Ability to autonomously navigate complex stakeholder environments and communicate clearly with both engineers and policymakers
A self-driven, organized professional who thrives in a fast-moving, international setting
Fluency in English (written and spoken)

Nice to have:

Previous experience in grant or project management under ESA or EC frameworks
Previous experience within the aerospace, defense, or R&D sector
A passion for space technology and Europe’s growing institutional space agenda

Salary

Salary starts from 3500 to 5000 gross/per month
The final offer will depend on the level of competencies and experience

Apply

PERKS & BENEFITS

We ensure

FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS, NOT REPETITIONS

Creating innovation without engaging in repetitive production.
PROFESSIONAL AUTONOMY & TRUST

Result-oriented working hours with the possibility to work remotely.
COLLABORATION WITH LEADING GLOBAL SPACE COMPANIES

Possibilities to cooperate with industry giants such as SpaceX and NASA.

We offer

GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

More than 75% of our leadership has developed within the company and more than 12% of employees have expanded their expertise through horizontal moves.
PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Workshops, global conferences and industry meetups.
TEAM CLUBS

From airsoft, motorsports to a pilot club - numerous interest groups based on team hobbies.