Impact Developer Sustainable and Smart Industry
Are you passionate about developing research into real-life solutions? Do you enjoy developing innovative ways of collaboration between researchers and the public or private sector in order to develop a value for our society? The Strategic Business Development (SBD) team at the University of Twente can offer you that opportunity.
Job description
To further develop our UT proposition in the field of Sustainable and Smart industries, we are looking for an impact developer. Industry is transforming rapidly. Faced with a labour shortage, companies need to improve their productivity, while simultaneously making their operations more sustainable. At the UT, more than 25 research groups across all faculties are working on research to support the large transitions industry is facing. A wide range of research and development collaborations are ongoing ranging from developing new fundamental concepts to applying them to address industrial challenges related to energy and resource efficiency, circularity, sustainable manufacturing systems, change management and many more.
In this position, you are working in the Impact Development team of UT’s Strategic Business Development department and will collaborate closely with lead researchers, other business developers and institute colleagues.
Your main activity is to identify the key stakeholders inside and outside UT, to connect these and to further develop collaborative and lasting programs. This involves that:
- You are jointly responsible for establishing and putting together sustainable relationships with major industrial partners, governments and networks, including the development of propositions/roadmaps and acquisition of external funding
- You support, advise, and guide researchers and consortia within the organization, and expand the network of contacts.
- You create, in close collaboration with the lead researchers and management, a vision and future plan for a selection of relevant topics.
- You create support for your plans at all levels and you are closely involved in their implementation and evaluation.
- You are initiating and maintaining relevant industry relations
Information and application
Your application, accompanied by an up-to-date CV and cover letter, can be sent via the "apply now" button. The application deadline is May 17, 2024.
A reference check or an assessment can be part of the procedure.
About the department
The SBD team develops partnerships between the university and its stakeholders with the objective of growing the university’s impact. For our impact development activities, we are seeking partnership developers, stakeholder manager, and business developers to strengthen our growing team.
Can you add a new perspective to our team? We are excited to meet you!
About the organisation
The Strategic Business Development (SBD) team works to increase the economic and social impact of the University of Twente by connecting the university’s outstanding research capabilities with the market and wider society, both in the Netherlands and beyond, in ways that are effective and distinctive.
SBD contributes specifically to the university’s broad knowledge transfer objectives by both increasing and expanding its strategic and sustainable partnerships with companies, funds, Top Consortiums for Knowledge and Innovation (TKIs), non-profit organisations such as hospitals, and government bodies at regional, national and international level.
SBD operates proactively, creating and responding to opportunities as they arise in order to generate impact and achieve the ambitions expressed in ‘Shaping 2030’. SBD acts in response to society’s demands and supports scientists in the initial phase of their collaborations.
SBD also provides expertise to the university’s organisation and its stakeholders with a view to shaping collaboration, ensuring that promising initiatives find their way within relevant faculties and/or research groups.
SBD creates new opportunities for the University of Twente, connecting external parties with the right scientific domains and positioning the Chief Development Officer as a leading ambassador for the organisation.
SBD believes in the power of collaboration both within and beyond the university. SBD’s role is one of facilitation, while providing direction and coordination wherever necessary, all in close collaboration with research institutes, faculties, research centres, Novel-T, HTT, and other parties.
In terms of organisational structure, SBD consists of a Chief Development Officer, Managing Director, Grants Office, Project Management Office, Impact Development Office and a secretariat. The team sources internal or external expertise as necessary. The Chief Development Officer works on a creative and cooperative footing with the directors and managing directors of the faculties, Novel-T and HTT. All of the groups and individuals involved engage in close and structured collaboration in multidisciplinary teams.
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