Team Lead & Innovation Partner - DTU Skylab

Job DescriptionAre you passionate about developing new technology-based startups? Do you thrive by working in a vibrant, innovative environment where new ideas sparkle and every day has new startup teams entering the door?DTU Skylab is looking for a new colleague to take on the role as team lead for a team of experienced innovation partners. The team of innovation partners support DTU departments’ innovation efforts both by facilitating awareness about innovation and entrepreneurship among faculty and young researchers, scouting for technologies with commercial potential, supporting researchers’ startup ventures from lab to market and coaching startup teams in funding, mentor- and cofounder programs.What is Skylab?DTU Skylab is the innovation hub of DTU. We are a vibrant community supporting diverse activities such as curricular courses, company collaborations, and start-up support programmes. In the +10 years that DTU Skylab has existed, it has become a dynamic innovation hub with 5000+ m2 of offices, teaching facilities, workshops, and laboratories.DTU Skylab is both an innovation environment with start-ups and company collaborations, and an ambitious learning environment where we train skilled engineers with a desire to make a difference in the world.About The RoleThe main purpose of the role is to act as a “player-coach” and in that regard the position reflects two key elements: a team-lead position and a role as an innovation partner.The innovations partner team consists of 8 dedicated and experienced business developers with a strong technical and commercial background within the technical areas represented by DTU’s research departments.Key responsibilities include:Working with a high-performing, experienced team to deliver on DTU’s mission to be an entrepreneurial university and increase the number of high-quality startups.Sparring and support, both in ongoing 1:1’s and the more long-term development of the team.Taking an active role in developing the approach to research-based startups collaborating across DTU Skylabs startup programs and teams.Contributing to building an even stronger foundation for the entrepreneurial journey of DTU Skylab’s startupsBeing a part of DTU Skylab’s extended leadership group with approximately one monthly meetingAs Innovation partner to have the role of supporting new research-based startups, facilitating workshops, scouting for new ideas and inventions, and promoting an innovation culture at the research departments.About YouIn order to be successful in this role, we believe you:Hold a master’s degree and have min. 10 years of leadership experience,Have experience with leading mature and experienced teams and a good foundation in change management,Have solid experience with and understanding of high-tech entrepreneurship, venture building, and e.g. startup-corporate engagementHave +10 years of experience with commercialization and business development of researchHave solid experience in facilitating startup workshops and/or coursesAre a strong team player, result-oriented and self-motivated with a focus on creating value, collaboration and communication with internal and external stakeholdersPossess strong networking skills, good at meeting new people and see opportunities.Are fluent in English and Danish.Who are we?We have a highly creative atmosphere with around 60 employees. We have an informal culture, and we can laugh, party and be very serious about what we do. We love our users and collaborators, and we love to tell all the great stories about the projects and activities running in DTU Skylab, including building rockets, farming snails, developing laboratory robots, digital services, student associations, international summits, and airborne wind turbines.It is a challenging job in a very dynamic environment. You will become a part of a culture and organization in constant rapid development, and you will have a lot of influence on this development.Salary and appointment termsSalary and employment terms are according to the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations (AC) or another relevant collective agreement.Start date is 1 January 2026 or as soon as possible.The Innovation Partner team is part of a larger section of around 25 colleagues in total, supporting business development across both students and researchers. You will refer to the Section Head, Stine Kruse.You will be employed at DTU Skylab, and the workplace is DTU Lyngby Campus, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.Application and contactPlease submit your online application no later than Sunday, November 30, 2025.Open the “Apply online” link, fill out the form and attach your motivated application, CV, and exam certificates. Interviews will be conducted in November.If you would like additional information about the position, please contact Section Head, Stine Kruse: kruse@dtu.dk , +45 2281 6843.Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.Technology for peopleDTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.