As the Business Developer of Thematic Cluster 2 you will become part of a dynamic national network of Business and Impact Developers within the Biotech Booster programme. You will be a member of the VU IXA-GO team and you will operate within the TC2 Office and central Biotech Booster Office in Utrecht. Within the TC2 office there will be interaction with the four other TCs and their Business/Impact Developers and the Biotech Booster team. Your main focus area is: Biotechnology in Agri & Food.

Biotech Booster
Biotech Booster is a national programme to support commercialisation of biotechnology findings in The Netherlands. The Biotech Booster program offers mentorship, financial support and networking opportunities, to guide founders from the idea stage to developing an investable/commercial proposition.

Biotech Booster poses an excellent opportunity for scientists and entrepreneurs in the biotech sector to valorize their ideas and grow a successful business. The ultimate goal is to make sure that the benefits of biotechnology will have more and faster impact on society. To establish expert guidance, 5 Thematic Clusters (TC’s) have been created following the biotechnological focus areas:

• White: Industrial Biotechnology & Production (TC1);
• Green: Agrifood biotechnology (TC2);
• Red: Human health, diagnostics, therapeutics (TC3, 4 & 5).

Each level one project will work with the best fitting TC. Check the link for more information about Biotech Booster.

Thematic Clusters
Thematic Clusters (TCs) facilitate collaboration and connect people to bring needs, opportunities and ideas together and further develop propositions. TC2 supports commercially and value-driven biotechnological innovations that are applied in a sustainable value chain for the agricultural sector and food production. Examples are the use of micro-organisms for a healthy lifestyle and the improvement of the human microbiome, and innovations contributing to a vital soil and climate and pest resilient plants and crops. The focus is also on the use of biotechnological innovations for the protein transition as well as new biotechnological options in plants or cultured meat, as is supported by the European Commission. This constitutes an important playing field that has a direct influence and impact on consumers and our environment. The Coordinator of TC2 is Wageningen University & Research (WUR). TC2 is managed by a TC office, consisting of the TC manager, Project Support and several Business/Impact developers.

Tasks & Responsibilities
Your main responsibilities are scouting for, application of and the guidance of TC2 Projects throughout Level 1 (proof of principle) and 2 (proof of concept). Overall, for Level 1 projects this means: Supervising, guidance, developing and monitoring Projects and ensuring correct reporting, documentation and administration. In Level 2 projects the Business or Impact Developers stay involved in the project to facilitate continuity in access to facilities, know-how and expertise in the TC and gain experience. The responsibilities of the Business Developers further include activities on:

• Networking and connecting for the purpose of scouting TC2 projects:
  
  • Within the IXA Amsterdam knowledge institutes (VU, UvA, AUMC, HvA), regionally and nationally
  • Within the TC2 Office and between the other TC Offices
  • Between knowledge institutions (students and employees) and companies
  • By visiting companies (particularly SMEs), knowledge institutions, interest groups, conferences, network meetings, student challenges, hackathons, slush festivals, summer schools, etc.
• Supporting the development of the projects from application (activity plan, business plan, etc.) to completion
• Facilitating co-creation with SMEs
• Staying up to date with relevant developments in the field of Biotech, Agri & Food Valorisation and Impact, and Society.

As a Business Developer you’re a connector by heart and you act as the link between research, society and business. You’re pro-active, entrepreneurial and service-oriented and you thrive in facilitating and coaching researchers and start-ups. Furthermore, you have:

• a Master/PhD degree in a topic relevant to TC2
• at least 2 years of business development experience in a field relevant to TC2
• a proven experience in (project) management of teams of professionals
• specific knowledge and/or affinity with biotechnology topics and their economic and/or social impact
• professional experience in working with Dutch academic researchers and have a network within the Dutch Biotech ecosystem
• an analytical mindset, capable of quickly grasping the essence of research and project idea
• an excellent knowledge of Dutch and English in speech and writing.

Fixed-term contract: 18 months.

IXA-GO offers you a challenging position within a professional and motivated team and in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and creating impact for a better world. We offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 4.332,00 (Scale 11) and maximum € 6.737,00 (Scale 12) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Knowledge Valorisation Officer 3/2. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 18 months. Afterwards, the possibility of extension with a fixed term contract exists.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• hybrid working enables a good work-life balance
• space for personal development
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

About IXA-GO
At VU IXA-GO we support researchers at the VU in the process of acquiring external funding for their research, protecting and utilising the results of the research, up to the launch of a successful spin-off company. With our expertise, open mindedness, enterprising spirit and multidisciplinary approach, we work on developing sustainable solutions that impact society. Our growing team consists of Grants Officers, Business & Impact Developers, Programme/Project Managers PPP, and a Marketing & Communication team.

VU IXA-GO is part of the Pan-Amsterdam collaboration IXA, which is the Knowledge Transfer Office of VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, the University of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam University of Applied Science.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely. - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 5,500 staff work at the VU and over 30,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of the VU. The VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services. Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.