HEAD OF PROJECT & PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

FUNCTION: R&D, Strategic Programs & Delivery

We're looking for a Head of Project & Program Management to own our roadmap and strategic programs so that we deliver the right milestones, at the right time, with no surprises to executives, investors, and funding bodies.

This role will build and run the operating system that keeps our most critical R&D, product and funded programs on track - from roadmap definition to delivery - while enabling scientists and engineers to do their best work.

Own a single, integrated roadmap across R&D, engineering, product, and pilot deployments.

Turn high-level strategy into clear milestones, decision gates, and dependencies (e.g. tape-outs, system builds, algorithm milestones, customer milestones).

Lead the planning and delivery of major funded programs end-to-end, from proposal handover through to final reporting and audits.

Coordinate internal and external partners (industry, universities, labs) to hit technical and non-technical deliverables.

Own schedules, milestones, risk management, and change control for each program.

Ensure all reporting, documentation and compliance obligations are met - proactively, not at the last minute.

Design and run a lightweight but robust governance model: weekly program syncs, monthly reviews, quarterly roadmap reviews.

Provide clear, concise reporting to the CEO, leadership team, board and funding bodies.

Create and maintain a risk register across major programs, with clear owners and mitigation plans.

Establish standards for status reporting, milestones, and documentation that are actually used by teams.

Make sure there's one trusted, up-to-date view of our key milestones and program status.

Build and lead a small PMO/program team as we scale.

Manage expectations with national and European funding bodies, partners, and key customers.

8+ years in project/program management, with at least 3-5 years leading complex, multi-year technical programs.

Strong experience in deep-tech, hardware, semiconductors, advanced computing, or research-heavy environments.

Direct experience running or being central to grant-funded or multi-partner programs (e.g. EU Framework, EuroHPC, ESA, Horizon, DTIF, national R&D grants, etc), or similarly complex multi-stakeholder programs.

Demonstrated track record of building or maturing program governance and reporting in a growing company.

Able to translate strategic goals into milestones, critical paths, and decision points - and to explain these to both engineers and executives.

Comfortable with uncertainty: you know how to plan around R&D risk, long lead times, and experimental outcomes.

Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills; concise and calm under pressure.

Strong grasp of project/program tools (Jira, Notion/Confluence, spreadsheets, etc.) but pragmatic about process and tooling.

Leadership capabilities: have led a small team or PMO, and enjoy coaching others.

If you are a highly motivated and experienced Head of Project & Program Management looking for a new, challenging and very rewarding role, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

At Equal1, you'll be at the forefront of quantum computing innovation-working alongside world-class scientists and engineers to shape the future of this transformative technology. Your work will have real impact, contributing to groundbreaking research and the advancement of unified quantum-classical computing. You'll thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment that values curiosity, creativity, and continuous learning. With opportunities to engage in cutting-edge projects, partner globally across academia and industry, and grow both personally and professionally, Equal1 offers a uniquely rewarding place to do meaningful, world-changing work.