Business Developer Circular Water Technology & Water and Ecosystem Services

VITO, one of Europe’s leading research centers with 1,300 employees, transforms scientific insights into groundbreaking technological innovations, AI-driven solutions, and policy advice. We do so to help the world thrive for at least another 1,000 years!

As a science-to-technology partner, we support businesses, governments, and society in their transition toward sustainability. With our multidisciplinary approach and unique laboratory, scaling, and testing infrastructure, we develop practical technological innovations. We accelerate progress toward a regenerative economy within the planet's boundaries, prioritizing electrification and circularity. Additionally, we create smart climate solutions for resilient and secure ecosystems and promote a healthy living environment where people, industry, agriculture, and nature coexist in harmony.

Within VITO’s Water and Energy Transition unit, more than 250 professionals work on solutions to tackle complex challenges driven by climate change and scarce resources.

To support our teams in Ostend, Kortrijk and Mol we are looking for a passionate Business Development Manager to strengthen our activities for our new water research facilities at Ostend Science Park.

Your responsibilities

• As a business developer, you will work closely together with R&D water professionals, and be part of the team of business developers for water and energy transition

• Anticipating future needs and translate them into specifications for setting up innovative services or products (in line with the product and process development goals in treatment technology and water process intelligence)

• Bringing technologies to the market by setting up co-development, technology transfer, and service agreements with companies.

• Taking the lead in defining the valorization strategy and implementing commercial actions.

• Participating in external and internal networking activities to scout for new contract research opportunities in existing or new application areas.

• Initiating and supporting targeted marketing activities for specific products or services together with the Lead Scientists and the central Marketing and Communications team.

• Supporting R&D proposal preparation together with Lead Scientists and negotiating R&D contracts.

• Being responsible for a smooth commercial process with internal stakeholders as well as external partners and customers. Your professional and social skills focus on maintaining excellent client relationships from first contact to project execution, and aftercare.

• You have a scientific master’s in engineering, Chemistry, Bioscience, … or related fields.

• You have proven experience in a commercial (or closely related) role in an innovation-oriented environment. Experience in commercial business development or a valorization role for R&D is a plus.

• You have good network relations in the Flemish water sector or beyond, complemented by a good knowledge of current challenges, trends, and opportunities in that field

• You can analyze market and technology trends and customers’ needs and translate these into innovative solutions (services, products).

• You are a strategic thinker with skills in customer relationship management and key account management.

• You can translate strategies into goals and concrete actions and plans.

• You enjoy working with colleagues from different fields and can adapt your style and way of working to the situation at hand.

• You have excellent communication and networking skills and are a promoter for internal and external collaborations.

• Good knowledge of Dutch and English languages is required in this position.

Offer

• You will have the opportunity to be part of an organization with an international reputation, known for its cutting-edge technological research and scientific consultancy.

• The opportunity to help to put Flanders on the international map as an active knowledge region and to contribute to sustainable development both locally and internationally.

• An attractive salary package supplemented with extra-legal benefits such as allowances, insurances and a modular holiday package.

• We work 'activity-based', our activities bring us to our location. The main water research locations are our new research facilities at the VITO campus in Ostend as well as our facilities in Mol, Kortrijk, and Antwerp-Berchem.

• As a business development manager, you also spent a significant portion of your time (on average 1 to 2 days a week) on external events and company visits.

• Innovation is our key asset, and we give our employees the opportunity to undertake additional training and keep up to date with developments in their specialist field. In fact, we expect this of them.

• Together with 1.300 VITO colleagues, you will be part of making the difference in the systemic change that is required to achieve a sustainable society.