The Gate is a platform for tech startups in the first stage of their existence. An information and advice platform, physical and digital, they can reach out to for a successful take off.

At The Gate, business developers of Brainport Development and Eindhoven University of Technology offer honest and independent advice. The shared goal is to improve the quantity and quality of new high tech startups in the Brainport Eindhoven region.

Together with partners Brabantse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij (BOM), Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Summa College and the regional startup ecosystem, the business developers provide information and guidance on workspaces, access to finance, training and coaching to entrepreneurial students, researchers and tech starters in the region. Through The Gate they are ready for take-off.The Gate is physically located in the Alpha Hub on the TU/e Campus, a new vibrant startup hub that also provides flexible and affordable office accommodation for startups.

The Gate is looking for a Senior Business Developer TU/e Support & Valorization to be part of the Business Development team of TU/e.

In this position you are the primary sparring partner and counter part of the Director of the Gate and you will direct and align the internal valorization policy and business development processes of TU/e with the ambitions of The Gate.

TU/e is transitioning to become a more entrepreneurial university and wants to create a stimulating environment for its academics and students to learn entrepreneurial skills and to successfully found new startups to bring their innovations to market and thus create more impact from the research and education at TU/e.

To enable this transition TU/e is currently reviewing and modernizing its internal valorization policy and business development processes. The senior business developer will oversee this transitioning by creating internal support and embedding the new policy in the existing organization.  

As part of your role you will also represent TU/e in various national and international networks to align the internal TU/e valorization policy with other initiatives such as the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU), the strategic alliance with Utrecht University, Utrecht University Medical Centre and Wageningen University and Research, the 4TU Federation, the EuroTech University Alliance, and the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

As Senior Business Developer you are one of the most experienced and knowledgeable members of the business development team at TU/e and you know like no other, how to use your network, involve and connect people with each other.

In general, you stimulate entrepreneurship within the TU/e, in order to realize a transition to an entrepreneurial TU/e. Next to that you are responsible for:

• management and improvement of the IP Policy.
• policy tasks regarding the TU/e's  Integrity Committee.
• within the political/informal circuit, ensuring structure & body and connecting the dots, regionally, nationally and internationally.
• being and staying informed about the grants provided by NWO.

We are looking for a senior and seasoned candidate who has knowledge and experience of working in a university environment, who understands the academic landscape in the Netherlands, and is able to establish and implement procedures and guidelines. A full interlocutor at all levels within TU/e as well as outside the university in the Brainport region.  

• You have completed a WO degree.
• 15+ years of relevant experience preferably at a Dutch university or a comparable knowledge institution, for example as a policy officer.
• You are versatile, a generalist in your experience and knowledge with strong analytical skills.
• You have experience with the world of technology transfer, knowledge valorization and creating impact from research.
• You are strong in connecting people and interests, collaborating and communicating.
• You have excellent proficiency in the Dutch and English language, orally as well as in writing.
• As a person you are goal-oriented team worker, reliable and considered a recognized sparring partner. Also, you have a feel for organizational sensitivity.

• Working on an inspiring campus with plenty of room for personal development and growth.
• We offer a one-year contract (1.0 FTE), possibly an appointment via Euflex (the secondment organization of the TU/e).  After a mutual positive evaluation this appointment will be extended or converted into a permanent contract.
• The full-time gross salary is in accordance with the CAO-NU and depends on knowledge and experience; minimum € 5.542,- and maximum € 7.054,- gross per month (in accordance with scale 14).
• The year-end bonus is 8.3% of the annual salary (equivalent to one month's salary). The vacation allowance is 8% of the annual salary. The TU/e also offers excellent secondary employment conditions (including childcare, a minimum of 41 leave days at a 40-hour work week and excellent sports facilities).