Program Manager Membrane Enhanced Separations & Conversion

VITO Research; Antwerpen; Hybrid; EUR 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fringe benefits

Modular holiday package

Hybrid work model

Job summary

VITO invites a proven leader to head the MESCH team within the Materials & Chemistry unit. You will steer a ~25-person team of researchers and technicians, align research with business goals, and report to the MATCH unit leadership.

You will build roadmaps, manage budgets, secure funding, and partner with business development to bring projects from idea to impact. Fluency in Dutch and English, strategic vision, and strong stakeholder skills are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in leadership with cross-functional collaboration.
• People-oriented leader with strong coaching and teamwork skills.
• Translate strategy into operational plans at team and organizational levels.
• Strong communication with stakeholders and senior management.
• Experience building strategic collaborations for product development or market uptake.
• Experience in advanced separations or process intensification; Master’s or PhD.
• Solid management capabilities (people, budget).
• Flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances.
• Fluent in Dutch and English; industrial context a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of ~25 researchers and laboratory technicians.
• Be a member of the MATCH unit management team and report to the Research Unit Director.
• Set the strategic roadmaps for the research domain and ensure required competencies.
• Prepare and execute the annual budget for the team.
• Secure project funding and manage acquisitions with the business development team.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Budget management

Stakeholder communication

Dutch & English

Education

Master's degree or PhD

Tools

Excel

Job description

VITO is a leading European research organisation in the field of sustainable innovation. As a science-to-technology partner, we turn scientific knowledge into innovative technologies and solutions that accelerate the transition towards a sustainable future.

Our ambition is to create a positive impact in Flanders, Europe and beyond. To maximise this impact, we focus our expertise and innovation on three key areas:

• A regenerative economy

• Resilient ecosystems

• A healthy living environment

Together with our partners, we develop solutions to today's sustainability challenges and help shape a better future for people, nature and society.

Within VITO's Materials & Chemistry (MatCh) unit, we develop innovative technologies and solutions to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable and circular industry.

Our research focuses on the use of renewable, non-fossil and circular raw materials, the recovery and valorisation of valuable resources, and the development of new sustainable materials and value chains. At the same time, we work on making industrial processes more energy- and resource-efficient through advanced technologies such as material shaping, separation technologies (including membranes and sorbents), chemistry, electrochemistry and bioprocess technology.

By combining technological innovation with close collaboration across industry, government and society, we help turn scientific knowledge into practical, scalable solutions that contribute to a regenerative economy.

As a Program Manager of the MESCH (Membrane Enhanced Separations & Conversion Hub) team, you are responsible for developing strategy, defining research and managing your team members to achieve the team's objectives.

What do we expect from you?

• As a Program Manager, you are leading VITO’s activities in the research domain of advanced separation technologies. You lead a team of ~25 researchers and laboratory technicians active in this field. As a people leader you coach and direct your employees, guide, and motivate them to contribute to their optimal commitment and development in a good working atmosphere. You make proposals for training programs and ensure the broad employability of your people and you’re accountable for your team’s personnel planning.

• You are a member of the management team of the MATCH unit. Together with the MatCh Management Team, you are responsible for the over-all success of the unit. You report to the Research Unit Director.

• In line with the ambitions of VITO and the MatCh unit, you take the lead in strategic choices for your research domain. You draw up roadmaps for the development of existing and new services and products. You ensure that the right competencies are built up and that the necessary infrastructure is provided.

• You prepare the annual budget for your team and realise diligent execution within your team.

• You are accountable for project/budget acquisition and execution for your team. For this, you look for funding opportunities both in contract research (bilateral with industry) and in subsidies for co-funded strategic basic research. Along with the senior researchers on the team, you intimately partner with the business development team on project acquisitions.

Job requirements

• You have a proven track record in leadership roles, demonstrating a mindset advocating for cross-functional/transversal collaborations, without losing oversight on operational management within your own team. You perfectly know when to zoom out and when to zoom in.

• You are a 'people-oriented' leader: you have strong coaching skills, you actively advocate for cross-functional collaboration, you know how to convince, and enthuse others, and you are a good listener. You are a natural team player and you can work in a very diverse environment.

• You combine vision with business acumen and strategic thinking. You can translate a research and valorisation strategy into an operational plan, both on a team level as well as on an organizational level (MatCh unit, VITO).

• As a leader within the unit and within VITO, you have strong communication skills. Seamless stakeholder communication is fundamental for success in your position.

• You have experience in setting up strategic collaborations in view of acceleration of the development or market implementation of the products in your team.

• You have relevant experience in the field of advanced separations and/or process intensification. You have a master's degree or PhD.

• You demonstrate that you have solid management capabilities (people, financial).

• You are flexible and can easily adapt to changing circumstances.

• You speak Dutch and English fluently.

• Experience in an industrial context is considered a plus.

What can we offer you?

• The opportunity to be part of an organization with an international reputation, known for its cutting-edge technological research and scientific advice.

• A competitive salary supplemented with various fringe benefits including allowances, insurance and a modular holiday package.

• Innovation is our most important asset, which is why it goes without saying that we give our employees the opportunity to learn & further develop themselves both on the job and through training.

• We work activity based; our activities lead us to our location. Hybrid working and/or working in a satellite office in Antwerp-Berchem, Ghent, Ostend or Genk is possible.