Grants Manager

At APM Terminals, a global leader in port and terminal operations, we enable global trade and drive sustainable growth. What drives us forward is a mindset of always improving — observing how work happens, identifying what creates value, and removing what gets in the way. We constantly look for smarter, simpler, and safer ways of operating. If you thrive in environments where people value learning and are committed to continuously improve daily operations, join us and be apart of our journey.

As an Interim / Freelance Grants Manager, you will play a key role in supporting the North Sea Terminal Bremerhaven (NTB) transformation. Based in Germany, you will lead the full grant lifecycle for eligible NTB projects, from identifying funding opportunities and assessing eligibility through application preparation, submission, award management, reporting, audit support, and close-out. You will focus primarily on Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding at EU level and BAFA programmes in Germany, supporting initiatives across terminal modernisation, electrification, energy efficiency, decarbonisation, infrastructure resilience, and sustainable transport.

This is a temporary self-employed / freelance assignment, with availability to start as soon as possible.

What We Can Offer

At APMT Terminals, we foster a dynamic learning and training culture that empowers our employees to excel. Our commitment to improvement is driven by Lean principles, ensuring that every team member has the opportunity to develop their skills and advance their careers. Experience a diverse, multinational workplace where your operational insights directly influence how we work.

• Contribute to a major terminal transformation focused on modernisation, decarbonisation, and infrastructure resilience.

• Lead funding activities that can support investment in electrification, energy efficiency, sustainable transport, and infrastructure.

• Work across NTB, APM Terminals, public authorities, external advisors, and internal functions.

• Take ownership of grant applications and funding governance within a complex transformation environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain an NTB grant funding roadmap aligned with terminal transformation, electrification, energy efficiency, decarbonisation, infrastructure, and sustainable transport priorities.

• Monitor relevant EU and German funding cycles, with a primary focus on CEF and BAFA opportunities.

• Lead end-to-end grant applications, including eligibility assessments, business case alignment, budget inputs, drafting, evidence gathering, stakeholder coordination, and submission.

• Manage grant documentation, agreements, reporting obligations, payment requests, audit trails, change requests, and close-out activities.

• Maintain grant governance covering decision gates, ownership, document control, risk tracking, and compliance monitoring.

• Build effective relationships with funding bodies, public authorities, external advisors, and internal stakeholders throughout the funding lifecycle.

• Ensure funding activities comply with applicable EU, German, APM Terminals, Maersk, and NTB governance requirements.

• Translate funding rules and requirements into practical actions while maintaining accurate documentation and meeting formal deadlines.

What We Are Looking For

• Continuous improvement mindset: we are looking for someone who brings a thoughtful improvement mindset—curious about how work gets done and motivated to make meaningful, sustainable improvements over time.

• Leadership expectation: We are looking for people who consistently puts customers first, leads by example with respect for people, delivers results with integrity, and drives continuous improvement by solving problems at the root, developing people, and raising standards every day.

• 5–7 years of experience in grant management, public funding, project finance, public administration, infrastructure funding, or a related field.

• Proven experience preparing, submitting, and managing EU, German federal, infrastructure, energy, climate, transport, or industrial funding applications.

• Strong understanding of CEF, BAFA, or comparable funding schemes, including eligibility, documentation, reporting, and audit requirements.

• Strong financial understanding, including budgeting, cost eligibility, co-funding, payment milestones, and documentation requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Public Administration, Law, Engineering, Sustainability, European Studies, or a related field; a Master’s degree is preferred.

• Structured, analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable managing strict deadlines, formal submissions, and complex stakeholder environments.

• Excellent English communication skills; German is strongly preferred and may be required for BAFA and authority interactions.

• Ability to work collaboratively across functions, cultures, and seniority levels with a strong focus on integrity and compliance.

#LIPOST

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

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