Business Developer Energy – Energy Markets

Fully immersed in energy markets? Does your heart beat faster when talking about the sustainable technologies of tomorrow? Are you a communicative ambassador who eagerly seeks new opportunities and knows how to make an impact through your expertise? Then keep reading — you might be the Business Developer Energy Markets we’re looking for!

A hot topic, now more than ever:

The energy system and energy markets are undergoing a major transition due to the increasing integration of distributed renewable energy sources. These developments have significant consequences: there is a growing need for smart control of flexible consumers, energy storage, and dynamic market mechanisms. Energy markets play a crucial role in matching supply and demand at any given moment, with corresponding price formation through market mechanisms. Flexibility in the energy system can thus be activated and valorized in various ways across different markets.

VITO/EnergyVille explores how the current and future energy system can operate in a cost-efficient, sustainable, and reliable manner, and what challenges and opportunities this brings for grid operators (TSOs and DSOs), market players, energy communities, and end consumers/prosumers.

Within VITO/EnergyVille, we are looking for a driven Business Developer to help realize this ambition. In this role, you will help shape the future, engage with diverse new research projects, and act as an ambassador for our sustainable technologies to the outside world.

Your tasks and responsibilities:

• From within the commercial team, you initiate and support national and international commercial trajectories based on your R&D product portfolio.

• You build a contract portfolio by actively prospecting for new opportunities. Drafting and coordinating proposal processes and monitoring market developments are also part of your responsibilities.

• You aim for successful valorization of research.

• In collaboration with the commercial team, you ensure a smooth commercial process. You can rely on the support of a multidisciplinary team of researchers, project managers, administrative assistants, and other business developers for preparing proposals and research plans.

• Together with the R&D product managers, you define commercial strategies and valorization plans for our products and services. You initiate and coordinate actions to successfully implement and follow up on these plans (contract research, licenses, etc.).

• You position our research in external bilateral and multilateral contacts and inspire companies and research centers to engage.

• You are responsible for commercial results and report to the Energy Valorization Director.

• You hold a master’s degree or have equivalent experience. You have strong commercial interest and proven competencies, along with experience in business development and sales within the energy sector.

• You are passionate about research in the field of sustainable energy.

• You are familiar with the transition to sustainable energy supply and the role of policy and industrial actors. Experience with value chain thinking is a plus.

• Preferably, you have affinity with (early-stage) software development and ICT, as well as with energy markets and the various actors in the value chain, from a commercial perspective.

• Experience with licensing contracts for innovative energy technologies is an asset.

• You have experience with client interactions and project acquisition.

• You are a strong communicator and capable of clearly presenting and reporting project results, technologies, and valorization strategies.

• You are entrepreneurial, driven, and able to motivate others in building our contract portfolio. You are an excellent team player but also work well independently.

• You are flexible and willing to make short international business trips.

• Excellent command of English and Dutch is required. Knowledge of other languages is a plus.

Offer

• We work 'activity-based': your activities determine your workplace. On average, you are expected at our office in Genk twice a week. Hybrid work arrangements and/or working in a satellite office in Antwerp-Berchem, Leuven, Ghent, Ostend or Mol is possible.

• 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 it.