Are you looking for a new challenge at the intersection of innovation, European funding and business development?
In 2026, Zabala Innovation celebrates 40 years supporting organisations in accessing public funding for innovation. As part of this continued growth, we are looking for an EU Business Development Consultant to strengthen our activity in European markets, supporting both the Brussels office and the different EU teams at group level.
This position combines technical engagement, business development and market intelligence within the EU funded programmes’ ecosystem.
What is it like to work at Zabala Innovation?
With 40 years of experience, Zabala Innovation is one of Europe’s leading consultancies in public funding for innovation. With more than 600 professionals across 13 offices, we support organisations in accessing regional, national and European programmes. In the last four years alone, we have secured more than €7 billion in public funding for our clients.
We operate at the core of innovation strategy and funding, helping organisations transform ambitious ideas into funded projects.
In your day-to-day work…
Under the supervision of the EU Business Development Coordinator and in close collaboration with the European Department, you will contribute to structuring and expanding Zabala’s commercial activity in EU markets.
Your main responsibilities will include:
Lead & Pipeline Management
* Qualifying and systematically following up incoming leads.
* Ensuring structured tracking of opportunities, relationships and commercial actions in the CRM.
* Prioritising opportunities and maintaining clear visibility of the commercial pipeline.
Market Intelligence, Campaigns & Outreach
* Proactively analysing upcoming European programmes and funding priorities to anticipate market opportunities.
* Translating programme intelligence into targeted commercial actions and structured outreach campaigns.
* Identifying and segmenting high-potential organisations within the European innovation ecosystem.
* Managing campaign execution and follow-up in the CRM, ensuring traceability and continuity of engagement.
* Collaborating with the Marketing team to enhance the visibility and positioning of Zabala’s services (online campaigns, webinars and targeted communication initiatives).
* Regularly updating and refining commercial materials to reflect evolving market and programme dynamics.
* Representing Zabala at key European events, conferences and networking initiatives.
Client Interaction & Ecosystem Development
* Participating in commercial meetings with prospective and existing clients.
* Explaining Zabala’s services and the logic of European funding programmes.
* Actively nurturing and strengthening relationships within Zabala’s existing ecosystem of clients and partners.
* Analysing, tracking and strategically developing existing accounts to maximise long-term collaboration opportunities.
* Supporting account development in coordination with senior consultants and technical teams.
Tenders & Commercial Proposals
* Supporting the preparation of tenders and commercial offers for public and major clients.
* Contributing to positioning documents, capability presentations and strategic commercial materials.
What we consider necessary
We are looking for a professional who combines commercial mindset, analytical capacity and knowledge of European innovation funding.
* 2–5 years of relevant experience in EU Funding, consulting and business development.
* Practical knowledge of European funding programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe, IF, EDF, CEF, or similar).
* Ability to understand and explain the proposal preparation processes and funding logic to clients.
* Experience working with CRM tools in a structured and disciplined manner (pipeline tracking, lead qualification and follow-up management).
* Strong analytical skills and capacity to work with data to prioritise opportunities.
* Client-oriented mindset and confidence in professional interactions.
What we expect from you
* Structured and organised way of working.
* Proactivity and sense of responsibility.
* Ability to balance autonomous work with teamwork.
* Strong communication skills.
* Interest in innovation, technology and European ecosystems.
Education
* Master’s degree in engineering, Business, Management or related fields.
Languages
* Fluent English (C1 minimum).
* Additional European languages (Spanish, French, Italian or Portuguese) are an asset.
Location
* Brussels (no relocation package foreseen).
* Availability: As soon as possible
What we offer
* Open-ended Belgian contract with competitive salary package and benefits.
* International and dynamic working environment.
* Hybrid working model.
* Continuous professional development and training opportunities.
If you are interested in contributing to the growth of innovation-driven organisations across Europe, we look forward to meeting you!