Your function

Your Role

With their scientific knowledge, researchers are increasingly at the basis of social innovations in the fields of Secure and inclusive society, Human centric AI, Human Health and wellbeing, Renewable and sustainable society. At the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam these profile themes are closely linked to our identity and refer to the social domains in which we work toward a better world through education, research and valorisation & knowledge transfer. At the VU Amsterdam we want the knowledge generated by our research and education to have a social and/or economic impact. As a result, collaboration with external public and private parties often takes place.

You will be responsible for identifying and pursuing new business opportunities, building relationships with key stakeholders, and fostering complex collaborative partnerships, within academia and with societal partners. As an Impact/Business Developer, you explore the opportunities for co-creation and exchange of knowledge in research with researchers from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences. Thanks to your experience, you know better than anyone how to assess the opportunities of a research project and how to guide the researchers in their steps towards creating impact with their research. Business Development is not a 'one size fits all' approach. This means that, depending on the situation, you will work together with a team to create a strong business case or introduce the researcher to the right network where the innovation can be taken forward and become of value to society. The BD/ID will participate in the Impact team in the relevant faculties as they aim to bring their research product to market & society to diversify and increase external funding of the research and impact portfolio.

Your duties

Support researchers in the process of creating societal and/or economic impact by:
- Screening & Scouting of new ideas and inventions within the relevant faculties
- Developing Business Plans
- Advising researchers in the process of acquiring initial funding for impact projects
Facilitate external collaboration of researchers and support in involving nonacademic partners in consortia and help professionalizing stakeholder management
Liaise with the Research Offices and relevant institutes in the domain of Social and Behavioural Sciences concerning e.g. the Valorisation and Societal Impact Strategy of the Faculties
Stay up to date with relevant developments in the fields of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Social Entrepreneurship, Impact, public engagement and society
Help to create and implement organisational procedures to further facilitate interdisciplinary research, co-creation and citizen science

Your profile

You have a Master/PhD preferably in the domain of Social Sciences and/or Behavioural Sciences
You have an eye for promising research in the field of Social and Behavioural Sciences, among others, and the necessary knowledge and skills to bring this research successfully to the market and society
You have a proven experience with domain-crossing collaboration and co-production of knowledge in for example public-private partnerships or in relation to (social) entrepreneurship, market-compliant offers, and contracts
You have an affinity for facilitating socially engaged research that seeks to contribute to solving complex societal challenges
You have the ability to multitask and manage multiple deadlines
You are pro-active, entrepreneurial and you have a service-oriented mentality
You act as a natural connector between research, society and business
You get energy from facilitating and coaching researchers and start-ups
You have an excellent knowledge of Dutch and English in speech and writing

What do we offer?

A temporary maternity leave replacement position for an initial period of 6 months within a professional and motivated team and in a socially engaged organisation.
Salary of minimum € 4.728,00 and maximum € 6.433,00 (Scale 11) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Knowledge Valorisation Officer 3. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
A position for at least 0.8 FTE for an inital period of 6 months, starting on 15 July 2026
Excellent benefits, including hybrid working options, 8% holiday allowance, and 8.3% year-end bonus.
Opportunities for professional development, training, and expanding your network.

About us

About IXA-GO

At IXA-GO, we help VU Amsterdam researchers turn knowledge into impact. We support with grants, partnerships, intellectual property, and entrepreneurship. Our team includes grants officers, business developers, programme managers, and communication specialists.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije 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

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.

Diversity
Diversity 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.

Interested

Interested? Apply Now!

Apply via the application button before 27 May 2026, submitting your CV and motivation letter. An interview will be scheduled for the 10 June 2026.

Start date: As soon as possible.
Note: Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Sales enquiries in response to this advertisement are not welcome.

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Impact Developer/ Business Developer Social and Behavioural Sciences