Business Development Manager (Grants) in Edinburgh

Black Bull Biochar (BBB) is a growing UK company scaling the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material that improves soil health and removes carbon from the atmosphere. We exist to restore our environment, remove carbon and enrich our industrial and agricultural systems. The company is entering an exciting expansion phase and building a team that will define the future of regenerative agriculture, nutrient management, and carbon removal.

Location: Hybrid role. Open to candidates based in Edinburgh or Manchester.

Salary: £45,000–£55,000 (depending on experience)

About the role

This is a high-impact role for someone who combines strong writing ability, strategic thinking, and commercial awareness. As Business Development Manager (Grant Writer), you will lead BBB’s efforts to secure public and private funding that supports the company’s growth, R&D efforts, and product innovation efforts.

You will manage the full grant lifecycle identifying opportunities, shaping concepts, coordinating inputs across the business, drafting compelling proposals, managing submissions, and supporting post-award reporting. You will also play a broader role in business development, helping to build partnerships with universities, councils, agricultural groups, industry bodies, and climate-tech networks.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, purpose-driven environment; enjoys crafting narratives; and is energised by helping a mission-oriented company unlock new opportunities. You don’t need to know everything about biochar yet, curiosity and willingness to learn matter more than a perfect CV.

Key responsibilities:

• Identify, evaluate, and prioritise grant opportunities across UKRI, Innovate UK, DEFRA, DESNZ, local authorities, climate-tech funds, academic partnerships, and private innovation funding streams.
• Write high-quality grant applications, combining technical clarity, compelling storytelling, and strong commercial rationale.
• Engage with 3rd parties on collaborative grant applications.
• Coordinate internal stakeholders, gathering input from agronomy, operations, and product teams.
• Develop project plans, budgets, work packages, timelines, and risk assessments for submissions.
• Manage end-to-end grant processes, from opportunity scanning to submission and post-award compliance.
• Build relationships with universities, research institutions, public bodies, and industry partners.
• Support wider business development activity, including partnership proposals, pitch decks, and strategic collaborations.
• Represent Black Bull Biochar at relevant events, workshops, and consortium meetings.
• Feed insights into strategy, helping BBB identify emerging opportunities in carbon removal and regenerative agriculture.

What we are looking for:

• Strong written communicator: Clear, persuasive, structured, and able to translate technical ideas into human language.
• Experience with successful grant writing (e.g., Innovate UK, UKRI, Horizon Europe, DEFRA).
• Mission-driven mindset: Genuine interest in climate, agriculture, and environmental impact.
• Organised and reliable: Able to manage deadlines, coordinate stakeholders, and keep complex projects moving.
• Curious and proactive: Eager to learn about biochar, carbon removal, and agricultural systems.
• Calm under pressure: Able to handle multiple deadlines and changing priorities.
• Structured thinker: Comfortable building narratives, structuring arguments, and synthesising information.
• Comfortable with ambiguity and collaborative: Thrives in an early-stage environment where direction evolves as we learn.
• Experience in climate-tech, agri-tech, carbon markets, or environmental science is helpful but not essential. We value capability and mindset over a perfect background.

What you will get from us:

• A cross-cutting hands-on experience working in a purposeful, impact-driven, fast-paced start-up at the frontier of climate tech innovation.
• The chance to grow and shape an organisation in its early stages.
• Health insurance including dental, optical and mental health cover.
• 25 days annual leave a year, not including bank holidays.