Valorisation Director ‘Environmental Intelligence’

Within the Environmental Intelligence unit, about 350 motivated employees are committed to provide answers to real-world challenges, to safeguard our planetary and human boundaries. We do that by offering ground-breaking scientific insights and solutions to our customers for a range of societal and economic questions. We combine data and advanced technologies to develop and share valuable information, insights and models of our environment (land, climate, air, water ...) and our health with governments, other research institutions, companies, ... Communicating clearly and accessibly about our activities, projects and insights is important and contributes to our main goal: promoting a sustainable and secure society.

We are hiring a Valorisation Director to join us in shaping the future of sustainable solutions.

The Valorisation Director steers the unit and ensures the implementation of the strategy, together with the Unit Director and the Research Program Director. They are jointly responsible for achieving the unit objectives and for its sustainable growth.

Within the unit, the Valorisation Director is responsible for the definition and execution of the valorisation strategy, ensuring integration with the Research Program strategy, collaboration with the counterparts in the other units and strong alignment with the VITO-wide strategy.

The director leads the commercial team of the unit and works closely together with the program managers of the unit, VITO’s directors, the marketing communication team, the Intellectual Property team and VITO’s Tech Transfer Office.

The director is governed by policies, processes and frameworks provided by the corporate services, and supported by the Project Management Office of the unit.

Valorisation strategy (unit)

• You take responsibility for implementing the valorization strategy for the unit. You formulate the strategy in terms of economic and societal impact and identify, evaluate, and structure key actions to ensure continued sustainable growth and maximum value creation through the R&D lifecycle, focusing on optimal valorisation.

• You take the lead in the unit valorisation processes, defining, executing, and evaluating the valorisation roadmap and commercial action plans.

• You follow-up on the stage gate processes and you identify opportunities for spin-offs and tech transfers within the unit. You collaborate with the corporate Tech Transfer Office to bring these opportunities to realization.

KPIs (key performance indicators), Business Planning & Budgeting

• You are responsible for realizing the strategic KPIs for the unit on valorization; contract research revenues, technology transfers, licenses, and spin-offs. You monitor the progress of the KPIs, and you define actions where needed to support the research teams to achieve the goals.

• You contribute to the development of annual and longer-term business plans for the unit, ensuring alignment with the strategy. You align with the unit management team on the goals and timing of the Strategic Basic Research program, both from a technology push and market pull perspective.

• You decide on financial and resources contributions for the research teams, from a valorisation perspective, as part of the overall unit budgeting.

Portfolio management

• You contribute to the portfolio management within the unit, from the perspective of product/service definition and valorisation. Together with the unit directors, you are responsible for the products and services in the unit’s portfolio.

Business development and marketing communication

• You lead the business development, account management and sales team within the unit. You organize the cross-unit alignment, and you drive the market development and sales process within the unit.

• You are responsible for the pro-active key account management for strategic customers for the unit. You identify synergies, foster strategic collaborations, and increase the impact of valorization efforts through key account management.

• You develop marketing plans and organize the marketing communication actions for the unit (content, media, channels, presentations, events...), together with the corporate team and aligned with the counterparts in the other units.

Customer Relationship Management

• You coordinate the engagement of the unit with the customers ensuring an effective two-way flow of information and resolution of issues. You align and improve the use of the corporate CRM-tool to support the relationship management within the unit. You further build key relationships at national and international level.

Network & Representation

• You represent VITO and the unit in external partnerships and strategic alliances. You focus on industrial and governmental networks and parties. You will be the Key Account Manager for high level entrances in industry and public bodies. 

Team leadership & coaching

• You lead, motivate and develop the commercial team, fostering a collaborative and market-driven and innovative work environment.

• You are a coach and mentor for others, supporting the development of the organizational commercial talent pool.

• You hold a master’s or PhD degree in a relevant domain.

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

• You have proven experience in valorization roles (or related fields), preferably in an innovative, scientific context. Experience in a commercial leadership role or business development role within R&D is a plus.

• You have a good understanding of marketing communication actions and activities.

• 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 show strong leadership skills focusing on valorization, impact, and growth. You can lead and manage a multidisciplinary commercial team effectively and you are experienced in coaching and mentoring team members.

• You can adapt to changing circumstances and are a promoter for (internal and external) collaborations.

• You have excellent communication and networking skills.

What can we offer you?

• The opportunity to be part of an organization with an international reputation, known for its cutting-edge technological research and scientific advice.

• A competitive salary supplemented with various extra-legal benefits including allowances, insurance and a modular holiday package.

• Innovation is our most important asset, so it goes without saying that we give our employees the opportunity to learn & further develop themselves both on the job and through training.

• We work based on activities within VITO. Your activities determine your work location, with your home office also being part of a possible work location (e.g. 1 to 2 days a week given the nature of the position). Work location in case of physical presence is mainly Mol. Requested presence in our other offices is exceptional.