For the TC4 team, we are looking for a Manager TC4 - Diagnostics & Services. As the Manager of Thematic Cluster 4 you will become part of a dynamic national network of Business and Impact Developers within the Biotech Booster project. You will be member of the VU IXA-GO team and will operate within the TC4 Office and central Biotech Booster Office in Utrecht. Within the TC4 office there will be interaction with the four other TCs and their Business/Impact Developers and the Biotech Booster team.

The TC Manager operates as Primus inter Pares and coordinates the activities in the TC Office and the interaction with the 4 other TCs/TC Managers and the Biotech Booster team.

Biotech Booster
Biotech Booster is a national program to support commercialization of biotechnology findings in The Netherlands. The Biotech Booster programme 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, five 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 1 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. More specifically, TC4 supports commercially driven projects that focus on collecting and interpreting biological information by measuring and detecting and monitoring of physiological, biochemical and genetic characteristics and services related to measurement, detection and monitoring. The Coordinator of TC4 is VU Amsterdam (IXA-GO). TC4 is managed by a TC office, consisting of the TC manager, Project Support and initially 7 Business/Impact Developers.

Tasks & Responsibilities
The TC Manager's responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Managing the TC Office and chairing its meetings
• Supervising the implementation of national collaboration in the TC Office
• Managing the training and development of the TC Office team (in consultation with the
  employers of the Impact and Business Developers) and the Biotech Booster team
• Managing, in collaboration with the Biotech Booster team, the annual plan and budget
• Coordinating the Level 1 Project Teams (Leaders) and Project Partner(s)
• Communicating with the Biotech Booster team on project and process related issues
• Ensuring correct recording, composition, administration and/or reporting on (Project)
  deliverables, activities and Biotech Booster KPIs related to the Thematic Clusters. (Nb: main project administration is executed by the Central Biotech Booster office)
• Supporting the Biotech Booster team (or organize it from the TC Office itself) in the organization and implementation of (national) activities such as conferences, network meetings, knowledge exchange, student challenges, hackathons, slush festivals, summer schools, etc
• Ensuring close collaboration with (TC) partners.

You have…

• A Master's/PhD degree in a topic relevant tot TC4 and/or an MBA
• > 3 years of work experience in a relevant field
• An entrepreneurial attitude and commitment
• Proven experience in project management and grant related reporting, and in managing teams consisting of professionals
• Experience in working in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment including public and private partners
• Experience in the biotechnology field, both in terms of content and having a network in Dutch Biotech (preferably in the field of Diagnostics/Services)
• Professional experience in working with Dutch academic researchers
• An analytical mindset, capable of quickly grasping the essence of research and project ideas
• Excellent communication skills, able to interact easily with impact and business developers,
  entrepreneurs, top scientists and senior management
• Excellent language skills in both 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.