The CIO holds a pivotal role for EIT Food, ensuring that we stretch our ambition for food systems transformation and create innovative and impactful programmes. By leading the delivery of EIT Food’s programmes and projects across our three Missions, and ensuring they generate material impact on Europe’s food systems, you shape our contribution, as Europe’s largest food innovation ecosystem, and as one of the key players in the transformation of our food system.
Your work sits at the heart of EIT Food’s success, connecting you closely with every part of the organisation. You collaborate across teams to design and deliver programmes with our partners and community, using the strength of our brand to engage startups, students and innovators. Working predominantly with grant funding, you help embed operational excellence alongside Operations and Finance. Above all, you act as a visible leader across the food ecosystem, championing innovation as a lever for change and driving food system transformation.
The role reports directly to the CEO and is a full member of the Executive Management Team (EMT). You will oversee directors and teams delivering:
Thematic Leadership in Resilient Agriculture, including our resilient agriculture landscape programme, and in Biotech & Protein Diversification, including our Biotech Alliance, driving transformation at scale.
Value Delivery, including large consortia‑led innovation projects and impact evaluation.
Business Creation, including accelerators and startup investments.
Education, including EIT Community programmes and Erasmus+ initiatives.
EIT Community collaboration, including Strategic Synergies clusters.
To ensure a smooth onboarding, the CIO’s remit will be phased in and expanded based on the strengths and profile of the successful candidate.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide strategic leadership as part of the Executive Management Team and engage with the Supervisory Board on impact‑related topics.
Lead the Impact Office to ensure all teams deliver tangible, mission‑aligned impact, guiding the organisation toward programmes that advance our missions. This requires navigating a complex innovation ecosystem, influencing senior stakeholders across sectors, and driving EIT Food’s growth while shaping the future of food innovation in Europe.
Shape and execute strategy across portfolios, ensuring innovations accelerate breakthrough solutions and are positioned for commercial and societal success.
Oversee the development of robust performance frameworks to track and measure the impact of EIT Food’s initiatives, as well as intellectual assets and property (IP) management.
Build a culture of operational excellence, working closely with Finance and Operations to improve processes, resolve issues, and ensure delivery against KPIs and funder requirements.
This role can be based in any of our six locations
Belgium, UK, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain or Poland. To be eligible, you must be based in one of these locations and have the legal right to work there. Within your chosen location, we offer flexible working arrangements, including remote and hybrid options, depending on local policies and requirements.
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