Are you a business developer with skills and interest to lead the process to contract new research projects by connecting to our customers? Do you have a strong, international network in the (fresh) food industry? Do you understand the potential of data, digitization and AI in the agri-food domain and are you capable of capitalizing its potential in the supply chain?
We have a vacancy: Business Development Manager. Are we looking for you?

What are you going to do?
Your main target is to connect the world-leading knowledge of our 250 colleagues of Wageningen Food and Biobased Research (WFBR), part of Wageningen University and Research (WUR), to the needs of our customers and prospects. You will do this by making valuable research project propositions and get new projects contracted. WFBR is a the globally number1 contract research organization whereby we support our customers with executing of market oriented research projects in the domain of fresh produce, postharvest quality, food and nutrition. WFBR also recently launched Freshknowledge.eu. to develop towards the #1 global online platform where experts in fresh produce storage, quality, handling and logistics meet and exchange innovations based on the expertise from Wageningen University & Research. What is expected from you is to:

• create and follow-up leads with industrial customers all over the world. Translate trends, challenges and innovations of their market into valuable research projects;
• organize professional account management for a selected number of customers;
• together with our experts, translate societal and business needs into new high-value propositions;
• build consortia of international customers to work collectively on large, game-changing, research projects. The aim is to allow partners to accelerate innovation and product development and get access to the latest technologies;
• negotiate the commercial terms of project agreements and get these signed in close collaboration with the legal and financial experts of WFBR;
• develop and maintain a relevant international business network to build and expand the brand name of WUR in general and WFBR in particular to create a market leading position in selected areas;
• develop the business models for fueling and enabling the digital transformation for all actors in the supply chain, with focus on data, models and AI connected to logistics and (fresh) product knowledge.

• a business development expert with a result-oriented and entrepreneurial attitude with strong networking skills and a high energy level;
• you bring at least 10 years of business development/acquisition/sales experience in value-based selling, preferably in a market-oriented R&D environment;
• you have experience with online business models or strong interest to develop our web-based services and platforms, to connect our customers and support them with the latest science based insights and information;
• you have a relevant network in the (international) (fresh) food value chain, or its service providers in logistics, quality, data or software. Well-developed organizational awareness and excellent communication skills translate the needs of customers to new project ideas and to sell our ideas both internally and externally;
• you have an MSc degree (or equivalent) and knowledge of a relevant science area. A degree in business development or MBA or relevant work experience/proven track record in commercial skills is an important selection parameter;
• excellent writing and speaking skills in English (C1 level) and preferably Dutch, knowledge of Spanish or French is welcomed.

Excellent communication, result oriented mentality, team work and pro-activeness is critical for all our people.

YOUR TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
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, up to 40 hours per week;
• 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 4%;
• excellent pension scheme.

In addition to these first-rate employee benefits, you will of course receive a good salary in accordance with the CLA Wageningen Research.

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 17th 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. Applicants from abroad moving to the Netherlands may qualify for a special tax relief, known as the 30% ruling. 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 helping your partner to find a job, housing, schooling, and other issues.

Wageningen University & Research

The mission of Wageningen University and 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, 6.800 employees and 12.900 students, Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading organisations in its domain. An integrated approach to problems and the cooperation between various disciplines are at the heart of Wageningen's unique approach. WUR has been named Best Employer in the Education category for 2019-2020.

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.