Principal (Planetary Health) - Århus

BioInnovation Institute (BII); Denmark; On-site; DKK 1,100,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Job summary

BioInnovation Institute (BII) seeks a Principal for the Planetary Health team to anchor BII’s presence in Århus and Jutland, collaborating with Copenhagen and international hubs. You will manage regional relationships, source research-stage projects for funding, and guide applicants through assessment processes with colleagues across locations.

The role requires a Master’s degree and 10+ years in commercialization of life science innovations, with a proven network in the Danish ecosystem and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required in a field relevant to the role.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in commercialization of life science innovations (VC/investor/start-up/accelerator/TTO).
• Track record of sourcing or maturing early-stage research-based projects towards spin-out/investment.

Responsibilities

• Establish and deepen BII’s presence in the Århus/Jutland ecosystem.
• Represent BII at events and work with local business development and tech transfer functions.
• Build relationships with regional stakeholders including universities, incubators, funders, investors and industry partners.
• Source and develop a pipeline of regional research-stage projects and early-stage startups for funding programs.
• Guide regional applicants through BII’s assessment and onboarding processes with colleagues across locations.
• Generate intelligence on regional research activity, funding dynamics and talent.
• Run day-to-day operations and optimize processes within the field.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Networking

Project management

English proficiency

Venture assessment

Commercialization experience

Education

Master’s degree in Life Sciences or related field

Job description

Do you thrive at the intersection of research, investors and industry – and want to turn those connections into startups that tackle the planet's biggest challenges? And are you excited about helping build BII’s presence in the Danish innovation ecosystem? Then we might have the perfect opportunity at BioInnovation Institute, where we are looking for a Principal to join the Planetary Health team in our Venture Creation department and anchor BII’s presence in Århus.

Your Opportunity to Join BII!

The BioInnovation Institute (BII) is a non-profit foundation established by the Novo Nordisk Foundation in 2018. Its mission is to accelerate research and startups to bring forward bold solutions that improve human and planetary health. BII supports collaborative, interdisciplinary innovation across Life Sciences and Deep Tech, helping transform cutting-edge research into viable companies so that new discoveries can deliver real impact for people and society.

Your Key Responsibilities Will Include

• Establish and deepen BII’s presence and support in the Århus/Jutland innovation ecosystem
• Act as BII’s representative in the region – take a seat in local committees, represent BII at events and work closely with local business development and tech transfer functions
• Own, develop and maintain meaningful relationships with key regional stakeholders, including university leadership and commercialization functions, departments and research groups, the local science park and incubator environment, regional funding agencies, investors and industry partners
• Source and develop a pipeline of qualified research-stage projects and early-stage startups from the region against the entry criteria for BII’s funding programs
• Guide regional applicants through BII’s assessment and onboarding processes in collaboration with your colleagues in the Venture Creation department across different locations
• Generate intelligence on regional research activity, funding dynamics and talent
• Run day-to-day operations, business activities and internal processes within your field, and help optimize processes and approaches
• Provide support across the organization as well as professional sparring and coaching to colleagues

Professional & Personal Qualifications

• A Master’s degree in a field relevant to the role
• 10+ years of relevant experience, including a demonstrated track record of supporting and/or driving the commercialization of life science innovations, e.g. at a VC/investor, start-up, accelerator or TTO
• A track record of sourcing, assessing or maturing early-stage, research-based projects towards spin-out and investment, e.g. from universities, incubators or accelerators
• The ability to evaluate scientific and technical propositions from a commercial perspective and to distinguish research projects from venture-backable projects
• A demonstrated network within the Danish research and innovation ecosystem as well as the wider Scandinavian/EU area
• Experience operating autonomously at a distance from a central team, with full accountability for outcomes
• Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to build good relationships, and to work as part of a team
• Proficiency in English at a professional level, both written and spoken

You will be one of two BII Principals in Århus, alongside our Principal (Human Health, Therapeutics), and part of a growing team across Copenhagen and our international hubs. You should therefore be comfortable working independently and collaborating across locations.

Working at BII

At BII we offer a purpose-driven community where science and innovation create meaningful change and impact in society. BII’s entrepreneurial environment is shaped and nurtured every day by our employees, start-ups, and everyone who joins us in bringing science to life. This role offers a unique opportunity to join Europe’s largest innovation and incubation initiative within life sciences and deep tech.

BII is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, at Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N. From Copenhagen, the Secretariat supports strategy, governance, and coordination across BII’s international activities.

This position is based in Århus. From here, you will help build BII's presence in Jutland with a high degree of local autonomy and collaborate closely with the Venture Creation team.

See our open positions at BII on our career page or on LinkedIn.

Equal Opportunities

At BII, we believe innovation starts with people. As a community of changemakers, we believe the best ideas emerge when people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences come together around a shared purpose.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace built on equal opportunities, where everyone can thrive and where pay is fair, equitable, and based on the principle of equal pay for equal work. We welcome all applications regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, or socio-economic background.

Curious for more?

If you are curious to know more about the position, please contact Christan Brix, Director of the Planetary Health team, at [e-mail].