In this business development role, you will focus on the acquisition and development of (large-scale) research and innovation projects and programmes, particularly in the field of sustainable food production. You will do this in collaboration with private and public partners, also ensuring societal engagement where needed.

This position is a combination of business development for AMS (Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions; a cooperation between WUR, TU Delft and MIT) and business development in the Amsterdam region for PSG (Plant Sciences Group of WUR; the research institute Wageningen Plant Research and the Department of Plant Sciences of Wageningen University).

AMS addresses urban challenges through experimental scientific research, education and entrepreneurship. This includes research topics such as shorter food chains, circular economy, and new production systems. Students, scientists and entrepreneurs experiment and learn in the city as a testing ground. They contribute their knowledge, network and experience to achieve impact: innovative solutions for metropolitan areas around the world to make them liveable, sustainable, resilient and equitable.

At AMS, your focus will be on initiating new and strengthening and expanding existing research programmes under the sub-theme 'Metropolitan Food Systems'. You will do this in collaboration with AMS Principal Investigators, colleagues from PSG, the City of Amsterdam and business partners.

At PSG, you will part of your time be involved in new business development for PSG in the region around Amsterdam (Noord-Holland, Flevoland). These activities are aimed at setting up new projects and collaborations in which the knowledge and experience of the Plant Sciences Group can be used for the development of the region.

Your duties and responsibilities as a business developer are:

• Staying up to date of metropolitan and regional developments and opportunities in and around Amsterdam and the aforementioned regions;
• taking the lead in translating societal and business needs into new, policy-relevant programme proposals;
• building an internal network within the business units and chairs of WUR Plant Sciences and beyond to know what knowledge, innovations and people can contribute to new initiatives;
• building a broad network in Amsterdam and the aforementioned regions with potential funders, cooperation partners and other stakeholders as a basis for new, innovative projects and programmes;
• developing successful business cases (national and international) within the cooperation between PSG and AMS, based on PSG's knowledge and expertise that can contribute to the interdisciplinary 'metropolitan solutions'. This will be done in consultation with the respective PSG business units and chairs;
• bringing together supply and demand within the above regions, initiating and shaping new projects/programmes with the involvement of PSG;
• having a shared responsibility for advising PSG management on strategy development in the field of urban and regional issues.

You will work here
You will be based 1 day a week in Wageningen and 3 or 4 days a week in Amsterdam, with the possibility of working 1 day from home (depending on the number of working hours).

Within PSG you will be part of a small Business Development team of 8 people. Within AMS you will work in the Program Development Team (12 FTE), where the connection to both WUR and TU Delft is important. Three other business developers from WUR are also part of this AMS team. Colleagues from both teams will be your sparring partners when needed. In both of these teams, you will be given a high degree of autonomy and responsibility.

You will have excellent networking and communication skills to generate new leads and turn them into concrete project and programme proposals. You're a connector, also within WUR, and an honest, accurate and persuasive team player with a sense of political relationships, who can organise processes effectively while respecting everyone's individual responsibility. You are curious, entrepreneurial and able to work with people and partners from different disciplines and with different roles, experience or responsibilities. Excellent verbal and communication skills in both Dutch and English are important for this position.

You also posses:

• Knowledge in relevant fields, preferably (also) in the field of plant sciences, and the ability to work outside your comfort zone and quickly master new developments;
• experience in initiating interdisciplinary innovation projects and programmes, including obtaining funding;
• at least 3 years of relevant work experience in business development in a research environment;
• good analytical and organisational skills, with the ability to work to tight deadlines;
• experience in valorisation of knowledge and IP is a plus, as well as an affinity for and experience in account management.

In our international working environment there is an increasing amount of communication in English. For this position it is about language level C2 for both Dutch and English, however training can also be provided.

You can see that there are plenty of challenges ahead of you. These challenges can also be seen as development opportunities. So if you do not yet have the track-record required in the vacancy, but do have solid work experience, we would also like to invite you to apply.

Wageningen University & Research offers excellent terms of employment. A few highlights from our Collective Labour Agreement include:

• working hours that can be discussed and arranged so that they allow for the best possible work-life balance;
• the option to accrue additional compensation hours by working more;
• sabbatical leave, study leave, and partially paid parental leave;
• there is a strong focus on vitality and you can make use of the sports facilities available on campus for a small fee;
• a fixed December bonus of 8,3%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary. We offer, depending on your experience, a competitive gross salary per month of between €4.001,- and €6.522,- for a full-time working week of 36 hours, in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research (scale 11-12). A contract for 32 or 28 hours per week can be discussed. You will initially receive a one-year contract, which will be extended to an open-ended contract upon in mutual enthusiasm.
Wageningen University & Research encourages internal advancement opportunities and mobility with an internal recruitment policy. There are plenty of options for personal initiative in a learning environment, and we provide excellent training opportunities. We are offering a multi-faceted position in an international environment with a pleasant and open working atmosphere.

You are going to work at the greenest and most innovative campus in Holland, and at a university that has been chosen as the “Best University” in the Netherlands for the 19th consecutive time.

Coming from abroad
Wageningen University & Research is the university and research centre for life sciences. The themes we deal with are relevant to everyone around the world and Wageningen, therefore, has a large international community and a lot to offer to international employees.

Our team of advisors on Dutch immigration procedures will help you with the visa application procedures for yourself and, if applicable, for your family.

Feeling welcome also has everything to do with being well informed. Wageningen University & Research's International Community page contains practical information about what we can do to support international employees and students coming to Wageningen. Furthermore, we can assist you with any additional advice and information about for example helping your partner to find a job, housing, or schooling. Finally, certain categories of international staff may be eligible for a tax exemption on a part of their salary during the first five years in the Netherlands.

Wageningen University & Research

Wageningen University & Research
The mission of Wageningen University & Research is “To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life”. Under the banner Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen University and the specialised research institutes of the Wageningen Research Foundation have joined forces in contributing to finding solutions to important questions in the domain of healthy food and living environment. With its roughly 30 branches, 7,600 employees (6,700 fte) and 13,100 students and over 150,000 participants to WUR’s Life Long Learning, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. The unique Wageningen approach lies in its integrated approach to issues and the collaboration between different disciplines.

Read the 5 reasons why your future colleagues enjoy working at WUR and watch this video to get an idea of our green campus!

We will recruit for the vacancy ourselves, so no employment agencies please. However, sharing in your network is appreciated.