International Research & Climate Finance Expert

We are looking for a passionate, independent & dynamic professional to join the Global Research Office team. The candidate will lead our efforts in exploring and accessing international climate, developing & innovation finance channels, funds, and bilateral & multilateral initiatives. The ideal candidate will be responsible for identifying and prioritizing global funding opportunities, navigating funder requirements, procedures and protocols, and proactively mobilizing resources to support our international research initiatives. This individual will serve as the primary point of contact for all international funding inquiries and will coordinate efforts to leverage climate financing to further fulfill our international ambition.

Responsibilities:

Explore and mobilize international research funding to support VITO’s international research portfolio:

• Proactively scout, assess, and unlock international funding opportunities aligned with our strategic priorities.

• Build and maintain deep expertise in international climate, innovation, and development funding ecosystems (e.g., multilateral institutions, international programs, philanthropic funds).

• Translate funding opportunities into actionable strategies and support proposal development in collaboration with Business Development Managers and Program Managers.

• You develop strategic guidance for VITO’s future funding routes based on in depth understanding of funding sources trends and shifts by means of an annual funding report/analysis that is embedded in the strategy cycle of VITO.

Serve as the internal focal point for international funding mobilization:

• Act as the go-to expert and advisor within the organization on international funding opportunities, instruments, and processes.

• Build in-house knowledge and skills for new funding channels through strategic tools, analyses, insights & internal training

• Facilitate communication and coordinate across departments to align funding strategies with research and innovation priorities.

• Monitor progress and provide updates on funding initiatives to senior management and relevant stakeholders.

Key Fund Management - pro-active relationing and mobilization of international funding

• You establish personal relationships with fund owners to understand and drive fund specifics forward, prior to their public release.

• Position the organization as a trusted partner through targeted outreach, networking, and representation in international forums.

• You recommend optimized fund distributions based on income diversification, success rates, deal size and VITO growth ambitions.

• You ensure all necessary steps are undertaken to develop the above as an established corporate asset and competence, surpassing your individual know-how and career.

• You have at least 5-10 years' experience in a similar role and/or experience in similar fields such as project and program management.

• Strong understanding of international funding landscapes (e.g., EU, multilateral development banks, global climate funds).

• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills.

• You bring an active professional network in relevant international funding and climate finance ecosystems.

• You have an advocacy track record and have experience in pro-active mobilization funding.

• Affinity with international cooperation, especially on the relation Europe-Africa is a plus.

• Collaborative, Pragmatic, flexible and result oriented characterize you.

• You have a customer-oriented attitude and know how to enthuse others.

• You are willing to attend networking activities and conferences. Making short trips abroad is among the possibilities.

• You are communicative and speak and write fluent Dutch and English – French is a plus.

Our offer to you

• The possibility to work activity-based: your activities determine your work place. On average, you are expected at our office in Mol and Antwerp-Berchem twice a week. On the other (3) days you can work from home or from other VITO locations (Mol, Antwerp, Genk, Ostend), depending on the needs of the activities and your team.

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

• A great deal of freedom and flexibility in your job that enables you to achieve an attractive work-life balance.

• Innovation is our core value, we give our employees the opportunity to educate themselves and keep up to date within their field of expertise, moreover, we expect this.