Manager Ecosystem & Innovation

Automotive Campus; Helmond; Remote; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

pension contributions

holiday allowance

laptop and phone

electric lease car

Job summary

The Automotive Campus in Helmond is seeking a Manager Ecosystem & Innovation to lead a vibrant ecosystem around mobility, AI, testing, software and data. You will connect companies, startups, universities and government to turn ideas into real projects and partnerships.

You join the Management Team, shaping strategy, results, and budget while building a strong campus community. The role is 32–40 hours per week, with a one-year contract and potential for permanence.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of relevant work experience in an environment where an ecosystem was built to test, validate and accelerate innovations, preferably related to mobility and/or energy and/or system integration.
• experience supporting, investing in and further developing startups and scale-ups.
• experience building and maintaining national and international networks.
• an affinity with technological innovations, challenges and environments.
• excellent communication skills in English and Dutch.

Responsibilities

• Build a lively campus ecosystem around mobility, energy and related technologies and connect diverse stakeholders.
• Develop programs, events, partnerships and living labs to bring ideas to life.
• Turn strategic themes into concrete activities and projects that foster knowledge sharing and collaboration.
• Be part of the Management Team, with responsibility for strategy, results, budget, stakeholder management and team development within your domain.

Skills

Networking

Entrepreneurial mindset

English proficiency

Dutch proficiency

Startup ecosystem experience

Job description

The Automotive Campus in Helmond is an open innovation ecosystem for smart, safe and sustainable mobility and energy. Firmly rooted in the automotive sector, we have grown into a place where companies, knowledge and research institutions, governments and talent work together. Here, in the heart of Brainport, partners have access to expertise, workspace, specialized test facilities and a Living Lab. It’s where new solutions are developed, tested and validated under real-life conditions, and made ready for use.

In the coming years, we want to develop the campus into a leading international Living Lab and innovation ecosystem. In addition, we are expanding from the current 18 hectares to a total of 30 hectares. The connection between automotive, mobility, energy systems and digitalization is key. Our focus is also on entrepreneurship, talent development and the continued growth of the campus. The municipality of Helmond and the province of Noord-Brabant are set to become the new owners of the campus property: it will give the next phase a strong public foundation.

To make this happen, we are building a completely new campus organization. Tasks that are now spread across several legal entities will be brought together in one organization. The team and our way of working are now taking shape. If you join us, you will help build an organization from scratch. An organization that helps grow the campus, the surrounding area and its buildings and supports partners and the sector in taking mobility and energy solutions from innovations to real‑world applications.

That is why we are looking for a

Manager Ecosystem & Innovation (32 to 40 hours p/w)

Are you a connector with a heart for societal challenges? Do you get energy from building networks in collaboration with a wide range of people and organizations in complex environments? Then we are looking for you.

As Manager Ecosystem & Innovation, you will further build a lively and visible campus community where companies, knowledge institutions, startups, students, government and social partners find each other and work together. You make sure the campus is more than a physical place. You build a strong network platform where innovation, talent, knowledge sharing and new partnerships take shape, in line with existing programs and communities in Brainport and across the Netherlands.

What will you do?

As Manager Ecosystem & Innovation, you build a strong and active ecosystem around smart, safe and sustainable mobility, automotive, artificial intelligence, testing, software, data and mobility‑to‑grid. You make sure companies, knowledge institutions, startups, scale‑ups, students and governments find each other and bring new ideas and innovations to life together.

You energize the campus community by connecting residents, starting new partnerships and creating an attractive program that includes theme sessions, meetups, challenges, living labs, student projects and innovation programs. You turn strategic themes into concrete activities and projects that encourage knowledge sharing, innovation and collaboration.

You build and maintain a broad network of knowledge and education institutions, companies, industry associations, development agencies and other partners. You also grow the startup and scale‑up community on the campus, connecting young companies with know‑how, investors, launching customers and relevant innovation programs. In this way, you create opportunities for new business activity, valorization and economic impact.

You are part of the Management Team and work closely with the managing director and the three other MT members, as well as with the members of your team, who are still to be recruited. Together, you strengthen the appeal of the campus, the tenant and startup community, and the visibility of the impact achieved on the campus. As a member of the Management Team, you hold overall responsibility for strategy, results, budget, stakeholder management and team development within your own domain.

You are visible, connecting and practical, with a can‑do attitude. You see where the opportunities are, take initiative and know how to get people and organizations moving. You keep a close eye on what the community needs, as well as on the results and impact of your activities. You are one of the faces of the campus and tell our story with enthusiasm to all kinds of audiences: both large and small.

Who are you?

You are a connecting and entrepreneurial professional who gets energy from people, innovation and collaboration. You can bring different worlds together, from companies and startups to knowledge institutions, government and education, and you spot opportunities for new partnerships.

You are curious, visible and approachable. You take initiative, think in terms of possibilities and know how to turn ideas into concrete programs, projects and activities. You inspire others to join in and make sure plans actually get off the ground.

You also have:

• 5 to 10 years of relevant work experience in an environment where an ecosystem was built to test, validate and accelerate innovations, preferably related to mobility and/or energy and/or system integration
• experience supporting, investing in and further developing startups and scale‑ups
• experience building and maintaining national and international networks
• an affinity with technological innovations, challenges and environments
• excellent communication skills in English and Dutch.

What we offer

You will work from our office on the Automotive Campus in Helmond, in the close vicinity of many of the companies, researchers and partners we work with. You will be part of a small team that is building the campus organization. You can take initiative and help shape how we work together and how the campus develops.

For this role, we offer 32 to 40 hours per week and a one‑year contract, with the prospect of a permanent position. The salary is in line with the market and will be based on what you bring.

We also offer:

• pension contributions
• holiday allowance
• a laptop and phone
• an electric lease car for commuting and business travel.

Stay Tuned
The Automotive Campus in Helmond - located in the Brainport Region - is the national and international hotspot, meeting point and place of business in the field of automotive (technology) and smart mobility. Stay Tuned

The Automotive Campus in Helmond is located in the Brainport Region