Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations. GIZ promotes complex reforms and change processes, often working under difficult conditions. Its corporate objective is to improve people’s living conditions on a sustainable basis. GIZ International Services (InS) is the company’s business department offering services to international clients such as the European Commission.

We are currently looking for a Project Manager (m/f/d) for strengthening our Brussels unit, covering the implementation of supra-regional technical assistance projects. We are looking for a project manager who will be actively involved in developing the acquisition strategy and successful implementation of ongoing EU-funded projects.

The position is available for starting as soon possible. The workplace will be Belgium (Brussels), GIZ offers a Belgian employment contract (full time). Business travel to Germany and partner countries might be required.

Your tasks:

Project acquisition:

• Screen business opportunities in the tender market with focus on European Union and other donors.
• Guarantee sound early opportunities intelligence, assessment and establishment of contacts with potential consortium partners
• Conduct and finalize partnership negotiations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients within the European institutions and other donors.
• Prepare Letters of Interest and leading conceptual and methodological development of technical offers in line with tender specifications.
• Lead competitive financial proposals calculation in collaboration with the financial manager.
• Support in the identification and selection of experts and bid-writers, in collaboration with the HR recruitment team.

Project implementation:

• Overall responsibility for the implementation of the project (administrative and contractual matters, technical support).
• Project progress monitoring, including financial and technical reports as well as additional networking accompanying the implementation of cutting-edge professional projects.
• Consultation with clients, project partners and consortium partners.
• Liaison with beneficiaries, partners and experts, troubleshooting as well as mitigation strategies development in case of project issues.
• In cooperation with the Finance Manager, monitoring and follow up on invoices[LM2] , ensuring that audit relevant information is available
• In cooperation with the Procurement Manager, coordination, monitoring and following up of contracts with experts ensuring that all relevant information is available
• Coordination visits to partner countries; communication with Contracting Authority and support to project teams on site.
• Monitoring and evaluation of ongoing projects, including overseeing project reports to the client.
• Supervise the work of key experts, Identification of short-term experts and supervision of their missions[LM3] .
• Lead projects operational procedures and governance structures set up

The position requires continuous engagement in GIZ internal exchanges to promote knowledge sharing and ensure GIZ representation in and outside the portfolio.

Occasionally international business trips are required. All tasks will be performed under the supervision of the Portfolio Manager and in close collaboration with the extended team of Project Managers.

Your profile:

• At least a master’s degree in a relevant field, such as International Relations, Political Sciences, Sociology, Economics, Development Studies, or similar;
• At least 5 years of professional work experience in a related field and in a comparable position/with a similar scope of work;
• At least 3 years proven experience with EU technical assistance projects, including in business development / tender preparation and in EU project management and backstopping;
• Proven experience in contract negotiations with international cooperation partners;
• Previous experience managing projects in the areas of Climate, Environment and Energy will be considered an asset;
• Previous experiences in the management of tenders with logistical components like event management will be considered as an asset.

Other knowledge, additional skills:

• Full IT proficiency (current MS Office, including 365 cloud applications);
• Excellent knowledge (speaking and writing) of English;
• Knowledge of French or Spanish will be considered a strong asset;
• Flexible profile, able to work autonomously under high time pressure and workload;
• Intercultural skills, problem-solving minded and with a service-oriented attitude;
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, and keen on working in a team.

Notes:

• The position requires a work permit for Belgium, as the location of the work will be Brussels. Only applicants eligible to work in Belgium (already with work permit) will be evaluated.
• Applicants are asked to submit their updated CV together with a one-page cover in English, mentioning in the subject of the email “Project manager” and full name. The cover letter shall clearly outline the motivation and availability of the applicant. Your application and CV must not indicate your date of birth and must not include a photograph. You are required to make clear in the CV your nationality and countries of your last employment.
• Applications from persons with disabilities are most welcome.

If you are interested and comply with the requirements, please send your application latest by 01.07.2025 to InS.Brussels.recruitment@giz.de

About us:

We create prospects for people and with people. As GIZ has an international mandate, we offer a multicultural working environment. We are committed service providers and dedicated professionals, even under difficult circumstances. We take pride in enabling our employees to develop their professional and personal skills. There are plenty of reasons to join our motivated team – ranging from the diverse challenges you will face on a daily basis in one of our 130 partner countries, to the broad scope you will have for shaping your work.

Do not forget to mention that you found this job ad on the Euractiv Jobsite!