Grant writer, built environment and urban systems

Do you want to help connect researchers and industry partners, build collaboration that leads to impactful research, and attract significant funding? LUT University is seeking a grant writer whose work will focus on industry collaboration and research funding acquisition, particularly in areas related to built environment development and urban governance and policy and their societal impacts.

What your work will be like

As a grant writer, you will not only write proposals but actively bring researchers and companies together. Your role will bridge scientific expertise in the built environment with policy, administrative, and social science perspectives to enable systemic, implementable solutions.

Your work will involve identifying funding opportunities, developing project concepts, and maintaining close dialogue with researchers and industry partners. The goal is to help identify shared interests and turn them into competitive, high-impact research projects.

You will work closely with our researchers, company partners, and the teams behind our research platforms. Your work will focus on understanding the needs of industry and translating them into funding applications that satisfy both rigorous scientific and real industry demands. You will be involved in the conception and planning of projects from the early stages, helping researchers structure project concepts, articulate impact, and align proposals with funders’ expectations.

Funding sources may be national or international, with a strong emphasis on EU funding and schemes connected to industry collaboration. The position is part of LUT’s Research Services, but you will be deeply involved in collaboration with researchers and companies on a daily basis. The role also offers opportunities to develop new ways of working more closely with industry partners and supporting research–industry collaboration in practice.

What we expect from you

We expect you to have experience in preparing funding applications and working with companies or industry partners. Your background may be in urban development, taking into account the special characteristics and structures of construction and the built environment, systemic solutions, and societal impacts. You may also have expertise in, for example, administrative sciences, urban planning, social sciences, or another relevant field. Most importantly, you understand how companies and society operate and are comfortable in professional dialogue with them.

You are proactive and service-minded, and you enjoy working with people. You are motivated by helping others succeed and by supporting high-quality research.

You do not need to have all the skills from the start. Grant writing, familiarity with funding instruments, and knowledge of the university environment can be further developed within the team. Finnish language skills are a clear asset, as collaboration with companies is central to the role. At the same time, much of your work will be in English, particularly with international and EU funding, so strong English skills are essential.

We require a relevant master’s degree and consider and a doctoral degree or experience in doctoral research an advantage.

Our goal is to establish an entirely new research area that anticipates future developments and enables radical innovation. We therefore assess candidates’ ability and potential to shape and steer this emerging field – to create new perspectives, solutions, and research pathways that do not yet exist today.

What we offer you

We offer an opportunity to work closely with leading researchers and industry partners and to influence how new research–industry collaborations and funded projects are created at LUT. You will be part of LUT’s Research Services.

You can be based in either Lahti or Lappeenranta. We offer a modern hybrid work model that combines flexibility with regular on-site collaboration across both campuses. The position follows the university’s 36.25-hour work week for expert and support staff. The hours are flexible and support work–life balance.

The position is full-time and permanent. The salary is based on the university salary system’s pay scale for expert and support staff, requirement level 10. The starting salary is approximately €3,900–€4,300 per month, depending on your experience and qualifications. Employment begins with a six-month trial period.

If you are motivated by building collaboration between researchers and industry and by turning ambitious research ideas into funded projects, we encourage you to apply!

Interested? Please submit your application through the link below by 10 April 2026 at 23:59 (Finnish local time, UTC+3). We will review applications on a rolling basis, and the position will be filled once a suitable candidate is found.

For more information about the position, call Mari Härkönen, funding advisor, Research Services, phone: + 358 40 827 2840, or Tanja Grönlund, director of Research and Innovation Services, phone: +358 40 083 8859, on 25 March between 10:00 and 11:00, 30 March between 9:00 and 10:00, or 7 April between 14 and 15:00. You can also send email to mari.harkonen@lut.fi or tanja.gronlund@lut.fi.

Read more about LUT as an employer.

Information for international staff

LUT University | LUT University seeks solutions to global issues with its expertise in technology, business, and social sciences. LUT is a trailblazer in promoting the energy transition and the regenerative use of natural resources and helps build resilient communities, industry, and businesses through data, research, and education. LUT’s campuses are in Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland, but its impact is global. Lut.fi/en

Technical support for using the recruitment system: recruitment@lut.fi.

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