Business Developer - External partnerships in Computer Science

Are you passionate about connecting research with real-world impact? The Computer Science Department at VU Amsterdam is looking for a dynamic Business Developer to help build bridges between our research and external partners.Your functionAre you passionate about connecting research with real-world impact? The Computer Science Department at VU Amsterdam is looking for a dynamic Business Developer to help build bridges between our cutting-edge research and external partners in industry and government. From AI to digital sustainability and cross fertilization with domains such as healthcare and lifesciences, you’ll help turn ideas into collaborations that matter.Your dutiesThe VU Computer Science Department focuses on cutting-edge research and education in a broad range of topics that play an increasingly important role in society, including Artificial Intelligence, Digital Sustainability, Computer Security, Large-Scale Computing, and beyond. The Department has a strong focus on societally relevant research and wants to further strengthen its ties with companies and governmental organizations. We are therefore looking for a business developer who will support a wide range of activities to scout external leads and obtain deep insights into the interests of such organizations. From this intelligence, high-potential leads are identified and further developed into strong and long-term relationships. This network is continuously engaged to find potential matches between internal research interests and external research needs as well as matches for lifelong learning, contributing to a continuous stream of external funding for the Department as well as opportunities to share our knowledge with society at large. This position requires broad insight about (or at least an affinity with) commercial activities in the area of Computer Science, the current landscape in Computer Science, as well as a detailed understanding of research agreement contracts, patent strategy, and product development strategies.Your profileYou have at least 2 years of experience or demonstrated examples in roles pertaining sales or business developmentYou have a PhD in a Computer Science-related field or have a Master’s degree in the same area, with proven affinity with researchYou either have or want to grow a strong network of companies and governmental organizations that are working on or are interested in Computer Science-related activitiesYou are a self-starter who takes ownership of tasks and projectsExperience from activities related to funding of (research) projects is a plusStrong communication skills (both English and Dutch are required)You have strong inter-personal skills, and are an extrovert in professional situationsYou are respectful of others and their differencesYou like to work with flexible working hours - you make sure the job is done!Solution-oriented and agile. You don’t hesitate to ask for helpAs a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognizing that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our work. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.We realize that everyone brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore, we are happy to invite anyone who recognizes themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.What do we offer?EducationA challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:A business developer position in a dynamic and collegial academic environment in the Department of Computer Sciencea salary of minimum € 5.705,00 (Scale 12) and maximum € 7.904,00 (Scale 13) gross per month, on a full-time basis. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 3 year. Afterwards, there is a prospect of a permanent contract.Close collaborations with other business developers within IXA-GO (the technology transfer office of the VU)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 bonussolid pension scheme (ABP)contribution to commuting expensesoptional model for designing a personalized benefits packageAbout UsDepartment of Computer ScienceThe Department of Computer Science has approximately 300 employees, including 70 permanent staff members. We offer an outstanding environment with much internal collaboration and easy access to key application domains, unique infrastructure, and other computer science researchers. On the VU campus, we have organized multidisciplinary collaborations like the Network Institute and the Digital Sustainability Center. We also have connections with many applications from the Netherlands eScience Center, which is also based in Amsterdam. Likewise, we offer access to outstanding research infrastructure, for example: the unique Distributed ASCI Supercomputer (https://www.cs.vu.nl/das/ (https://www.cs.vu.nl/das/)), which was coordinated by us over the past 25 years; the excellent supercomputer and networking infrastructure of SURF; and several local departmental labs for GreenIT, Internet-of-Things, and robotics. Our educational environment is characterized by a variety of international Bachelor and Master programs with high numbers of students.Faculty of ScienceResearchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamVrije 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 (https://vu.nl/en/about-vu/more-about/code-of-conduct-vu-amsterdam)We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.DiversityDiversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. 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.InterestedAre you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the further development of our university? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application via the application button and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter before November 23rd 2025.Vacancy questionsIf you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact:Name: Prof. Dr. Mark HoogendoornPosition: Portfolio holder Valorization MT Department of Computer ScienceE-mail: m.hoogendoorn@vu.nl (mailto:m.hoogendoorn@vu.nl)Telephone: +31 20 598 7772Relocation supportIf you have any questions regarding moving to Amsterdam, and working at VU Amsterdam, you may contact:Name: Jenny HornikxE-mail: internationalstaffsupport.soz@vu.nl (mailto:internationalstaffsupport.soz@vu.nl)Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.