General Manager for Spin-off

As one of Europe's top research centres, VITO converts scientific insights into ground-breaking technological innovations, AI solutions and policy advice with its 1,300 employees. We do so with one objective: to give our world a future to look forward to.

VITO injects knowledge, intellectual property, and sustainability into the economy. In doing so, VITO strengthens the Flemish economy, which lies at the heart of its mission. Technology is commercialized through technology sales, licensing, spin-offs, or joint ventures. Each technology transfer is unique, and the process is tailored on a case-by-case basis.

For a newly created spin-off, we are looking for a General Manager.

This new spin-off will further develop the Characterize-to-Sort technology (click for more information) and expand this into new applications. The business model of the spin-off is to license this technology further to commercial companies with international reach.

The first application area and commercialization partner has been identified already, and an important task will be to streamline the collaboration with this partner. The spin-off will be responsible for the further development of the AI software which will be licensed to the end-users via a SAAS model. Therefore, Software Product Management and second-level support need to be set up.

Next to this, new R&D activities should be started with the vision on new royalty schemes, and business development will be needed to create and monitor the market.

Initially all the work will be outsourced to the partners in the joint venture, it is the task of the General Manager to coordinate between all those teams.

We are looking for an ambitious, pragmatic, vision-driven leader with the flexibility to work in an agile way towards a marketable goal.

As General Manager, you are responsible for the day-to-day management of the JV and direction of the JV’s business activities.

Your responsibilities:

• You will steer and coordinate all activities of the venture, including sales, R&D, P&L and business administration, and you report to the Board of Directors.

• You will lead and coordinate the execution of the collaboration with our first commercialization partner.

• You will coordinate and steer further R&D work and you will create new business plans for the commercialization of the new developments.

• You are responsible for Software Product Management: understanding the needs of the market and translating this into specifications for new developments.

• You will work on business development to identify new prospects and work with our commercialization partner to obtain clear specifications for implementing the technology at the customer.

• You will coordinate the tech transfer from the JV partners towards the commercialization partner.

• You will negotiate new commercialization contracts with existing or new partners.

• You will oversee and co-ordinate the interface between software development and industrial implementation, ensuring our solutions are deployable and effective in real factory environments.

• You will drive the identification and evaluation of new opportunities for applying our technology to sorting lines in recycling and appliance dismantling.

• You will foster collaborations with industrial partners to enhance the JV’s capabilities in automated sorting systems.

• You will contribute to building a long-term R&D roadmap in line with market and regulatory evolution in the recycling sector.

• Your initial market is Europe.

• You are a born entrepreneur with the drive and competences essential to build an independent business. You preferably have experience in leading a business, ideally in an environment of young growth businesses, but you also understand how a multinational is organized, because they will be the commercialization partners.

• Commercial business development is one of your strengths.

• Understanding software business and IP licensing is a must.

• Through your strong people skills, you generate impact and involve all stakeholders in building and implementing the business strategy. You can lead and inspire a small team of the early-stage venture, initially formed by people from the JV partners.

• You have strong project management skills and a structured approach to coordinating across multiple stakeholders.

• You are experienced in the industrial implementation of production lines, preferably within recycling, electronics, or -related industries.

• You are familiar with manufacturing environments and the practical realities of deploying technology within operational production settings.

• You have knowledge of recycling processes, and safety/environmental considerations linked to those.

• You bring a relevant professional network in the circular economy landscape that can be leveraged for partnerships, insights, or business development.

• Ideally, you have a track record of working with or in technology-driven ventures focused on automation, recycling, or advanced materials processing.

• You can make the link between technical developments and the market: you understand both.

• You are eager to build a great business that has a positive, lasting impact on society.

• You speak and write English fluently.

• This function requires a physical presence in Belgium.