Experienced Grant Writer & Mentor

Job Opening: Experienced Grant Writer & Mentor — Defense Technology

Location: Remote
Organization: Defense Tech for Ukraine (DTU)
Employment Type: Full-time / Contract
Compensation Structure: Base Salary + Milestone Performance Bonus
Base Salary: $800–1,200 USD per month
Performance Bonus: Up to $200 USD per month upon successful award and initial disbursement of at least 33% of target grant(s)
Point of Contact:

About the Role

Defense Tech for Ukraine (DTU) is seeking an experienced Grant Writer to support Ukrainian defense technology companies in accessing European, NATO, US, and other international funding opportunities.

DTU works directly with Ukrainian defense manufacturers, engineers, military units, and international partners to accelerate the deployment and development of technologies supporting Ukraine's defense.

In this role, you will identify relevant funding opportunities, assess applicant eligibility, develop competitive proposals, coordinate supporting documentation, and help Ukrainian defense companies navigate complex international funding programs.

You will also play an important mentoring and coordination role, supporting a small team of junior Grant Writers recruited from the Ukrainian veteran community. Part of your responsibility will be to help train them, review their work, explain grant-writing methods and requirements, and progressively help them become autonomous contributors.

This position can be performed fully remotely.

Key Responsibilities

1. Grant Research & Opportunity Assessment

Research, monitor, and evaluate relevant funding opportunities across international defense and innovation programs, including:

• European Defence Fund (EDF)

• European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP)

• EU Defence Innovation Scheme (EUDIS)

• NATO innovation and defense programs

• European Commission funding programs

• International programs supporting Ukrainian defense technology

• Relevant US and partner-country defense and security funding opportunities

For each opportunity:

• Assess eligibility and strategic fit.

• Identify consortium or partnership requirements.

• Interpret call documentation and evaluation criteria.

• Identify documentation, compliance, technical, and financial requirements.

• Recommend whether an application should be pursued.

2. Proposal Development

Lead or support the preparation of competitive grant applications, including:

• Project narratives

• Technical descriptions

• Work packages and milestones

• Impact statements

• Implementation plans

• Budgets and financial narratives

• Consortium and partner descriptions

• Risk assessments

• Supporting and compliance documentation

Work directly with defense technology founders, engineers, operational users, and DTU staff to transform technical information into clear, persuasive applications.

3. Junior Grant Writer Coordination & Training

Coordinate and support DTU's junior Grant Writers, including Ukrainian veterans entering the grant-writing profession.

Responsibilities will include:

• Help onboard junior Grant Writers into DTU's grant processes and tools.

• Explain the structure, logic, and requirements of international grant applications.

• Assign and coordinate research, drafting, documentation, and follow-up tasks.

• Review drafts and provide clear, constructive feedback.

• Help junior team members improve their writing, research, analytical, and compliance skills.

• Share practical methods, templates, and good practices.

• Adapt explanations to different experience levels and learning styles.

• Support junior writers progressively toward greater autonomy.

• Maintain quality and consistency across applications prepared by the team.

We are therefore looking for someone who is not only technically strong in grant writing, but also patient, pedagogical, and comfortable teaching less-experienced colleagues.

4. Partner & Consortium Coordination

• Identify potential European and NATO-country partners for Ukrainian defense companies.

• Coordinate information collection between consortium members.

• Support partnership and consortium documentation.

• Maintain communication with applicants, partners, program representatives, and relevant institutions.

• Track deliverables and submission requirements across multiple stakeholders.

5. Grant Administration & Compliance

• Maintain a pipeline of active and upcoming funding opportunities.

• Track deadlines, submissions, evaluations, awards, and reporting obligations.

• Support post-award reporting and compliance.

• Ensure project documentation aligns with funding-program requirements.

• Help funded companies establish appropriate reporting and project-management processes.

Qualifications & Requirements

Required

• Previous professional grant-writing experience.

• Demonstrated ability to develop structured funding proposals.

• Strong professional written English.

• Ability to communicate confidently in English with international partners and applicants.

• Experience interpreting complex application guidelines and eligibility requirements.

• Excellent research, writing, organizational, and project-management skills.

• Ability to manage several applications and deadlines simultaneously.

• Strong attention to detail.

• Comfortable working independently in a remote international environment.

• Ability to mentor, train, and coordinate junior colleagues.

• Patience and strong communication skills when explaining complex requirements to people with limited grant-writing experience.

• Ability to provide constructive feedback and help others improve their work.

Highly Valuable

Experience with one or more of the following is particularly valuable:

• European Commission grants

• European Defence Fund

• NATO programs

• Horizon Europe

• EIC / EUDIS

• Defense or dual-use technology

• Deep-tech or engineering companies

• International consortium applications

• Ukrainian organizations or companies

• Public-sector or institutional funding

• Training, mentoring, team leadership, or editorial review

Ukrainian language is an advantage but is not required if the candidate can operate effectively in English.

Compensation

• Monthly Base Pay: $800–1,200 USD per month, depending on experience, schedule, and responsibilities.

• Milestone / Disbursement Bonus: Additional performance compensation linked to successful grant awards and initial disbursement.

How to Apply

Send an email to  with:

1. A brief introduction describing your grant-writing background and availability.

2. Your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is DTU's preferred method for reviewing applicants.

3. Your CV/resume.

4. A short description of grants or funding programs you have previously worked with, including successful applications where applicable.

5. A brief note about any previous experience mentoring, reviewing, training, or coordinating junior colleagues.

Subject: Application: Experienced Grant Writer & Mentor – [Your Name]