VITO develops technology to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable society and economy. One of the key technologies applied in this context is Remote Sensing. The Remote Sensing Unit of VITO celebrates next year its 25th anniversary but Remote Sensing has never been more fascinating than today. With the increasing number of satellites, drones, processing facilities and technologies like artificial intelligence, the opportunities with remote sensing are larger than ever.

Meanwhile the Remote Sensing team of VITO counts more than 100 motivated scientists, IT engineers and project managers. To facilitate the growth of our ambitions we are looking for an extra colleague, more specifically a project & bid manager.

You will be full time employed as a project & bid manager in VITO’s Remote Sensing team. This means that you will manage large projects & offers for institutional clients like the European Commission, the European Space Agency, or the United Nations. While the majority of your portfolio will be institutional clients, also commercial clients could be part of your account. You will oversee projects from initiation till closing, making sure the work gets done efficiently and satisfactorily.

This function requires expert skills with respect to project & bid management. You should be able to handle large and complex projects & tenders, where you take the lead over an international partnership. This requires excellent management skills, negotiation power, planning & budgeting experience, and a delegating attitude. You should be a borne problem solver and in the end create the perfect environment for your internal and external R&D colleagues who perform the scientific work.

You don’t have to be an expert in remote sensing, GIS or data science. But a sound understanding of these domains and knowledge of the ecosystem in which we operate is a strong asset.

In VITO you will report on the progress of your projects to the Program Manager and the management team. Outside VITO you will communicate frequently with clients and partners. Hence, excellent writing and presenting skills are key.

We are looking for a senior profile, creative and highly motivated, with at least the following qualifications:

• A Master or PhD degree related to bioscience engineering, civil engineering, or environmental sciences;
• Proven knowledge and expertise in project and bid management. Experience in all core PM duties through project start up, design, procurement, execution and handover stages;
• Proven knowledge and expertise in effective Project Management techniques;
• A Project Management certificate is an asset;
• Knowledge on remote sensing, geo-information systems and data science, though you should not be the scientific expert in these domains;
• Strong customer focus;
• A born problem solver;
• The ability to make decisions, act on your own initiative and operate in a pro-active way;
• A proactive and flexible working attitude;
• A cool-headed attitude, also when things get difficult;
• Excellent writing and presentation skills in English;
• Excellent team/client interpersonal skills
• A strong interest to work in an international environment.

Offer

• We work 'activity-based', our activities bring us to our location. Our headquarter is in Mol. Part-time working from home or a satellite office in Antwerp-Berchem, Ghent or Ostend is possible.
• A competitive salary with a range of benefits, including allowances, insurance and a modular package of holidays.
• Innovation is our asset, so it goes without saying that we give our employees the opportunity to take additional training courses and stay up-to-date in their field. You will always have the opportunity to broaden your knowledge and discover new technologies.
• 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.
• With us, you will contribute directly to sustainable developments at local, national and global level through your innovative applications. You provide answers to contemporary societal challenges.
• Moreover, we highly value a good work-life balance at VITO! This is achieved by adopting a flexible attitude depending on your specific needs.