ABOUT EIT FOOD

At EIT Food we accelerate innovation to build a future-fit food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for all. To achieve this, we are leading the world’s largest food innovation community. Through a missions-led approach, we put improving outcomes for people and planet as the starting point for our work.  

Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, we invest in projects, organisations and individuals that share our goals for a healthy and sustainable food system. We unlock innovation potential in businesses and universities and create and scale agritech startups to bring new technologies and products to market. And we equip entrepreneurs and professionals with the skills needed to transform the food system and educate and inspire the next generation.  

Our innovation projects are delivered with a combination of industry, education, and research partners to improve environmental and health outcomes, by developing solutions that align with our three missions: Healthier Lives Through Food, A Net Zero Food System, and Reducing Risk for a Fair and Resilient Food System.

EIT Food headquarters (HQ) are based in Leuven (Belgium) and it has 5 regional hubs in Europe (based in Poland, Spain, Germany, the UK and Netherlands), each working with and for partners in several EIT Food partner countries.

Visit our website: https://www.eitfood.eu

JOB DESCRIPTION

EIT Food’s Value Delivery team is seeking an Innovation Programme Manager (Maternity Cover - 6 months) to support the delivery of our innovation activities, contribute to effective programme management, and help ensure that funded projects achieve meaningful impact across the agrifood system.

The Innovation Programme Manager plays a key role in driving EIT Food’s innovation portfolio toward meaningful, mission‑aligned outcomes. As part of the Value Delivery team, you will guide projects that advance a healthier, more sustainable, and trusted food system—ensuring they deliver real impact for the agrifood sector and contribute to EIT Food’s wider food systems transformation goals.

Your responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of impact-focused innovation projects, ensuring they meet objectives, timelines, and public grant compliance requirements.
  • Monitor project progress, budgets, milestones, and risks, providing regular updates and intervention where needed.
• Co-create, promote and implement collaborative innovation projects where EIT Food plays an orchestration and/or delivery role.
• Collaborate with the Business Development team in bid development opportunities around agrifood innovation.
• Contribute to portfolio‑level analysis and sensemaking:
  • Interrogate the innovation portfolio to identify and assess value realization opportunities for impact, commercialization and adoption of project outcomes, and develop strategies to maximize their success.
  • Assess lessons learnt and knowledge sharing opportunities
  • Evaluate innovation opportunities, assessing their / financial viability, and identifying pathways for exploitation and commercial upscaling within the agri-food sector.
  • Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities within the innovation pipeline.
  • Produce impact analysis and evidence-based impact reports from our portfolio
• Build and orchestrate a strong ecosystem of innovation, fostering collaboration among partners and stakeholders, and enabling the development of groundbreaking solutions.
• Cultivate a culture of open innovation and leverage opportunities for collaboration, driving growth within the agri-food private and public sectors.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Minimum 5 years’ experience managing innovation, research, or multi-stakeholder projects, ideally within the agrifood or sustainability sector.
• Experience in Horizon Europe and public funding project management, including bid writing and implementation.
• Strong analytical thinking, strategic planning, and project management skills, with the ability to translate ideas into actionable plans.
• Experience in impact-led design and reporting
• Comfortable analysing progress, identifying risks, and guiding stakeholders towards solutions.
• Ability to build relationships, excellent communication, presentation, and influencing abilities, with the capability to engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Fluent in English; knowledge of other European languages is a plus.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of resilient agriculture, regenerative practices, or soil health innovation.
• Experience in exploitation planning and/or the commercialisation of research and innovation outputs.
• Experience in portfolio analysis and sensemaking

What We’re Looking For:

Someone who is passionate about transforming the agrifood system, enjoys coordinating complex projects, and thrives in a dynamic, mission‑driven European organisation

WHAT WE OFFER

Working at EIT Food means joining a team of like-minded individuals who are dedicated to creating a better future through food innovation. We cultivate a culture of collaboration, inventiveness, inclusivity, and constructive feedback. All employees are encouraged to contribute their ideas and expertise towards our mission of creating a more sustainable and inclusive food system. Together, we're making a real impact on the food industry and we're looking for talented individuals like you to join us.

As a valued member of our team, we'll provide you with a competitive salary and benefits package.

CONTRACT TYPE

Full-time position.

LOCATION & TRAVEL FREQUENCY

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.

Occasional travel within Europe.

APPLICATION

We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. While the application deadline is 6 May 2026, we reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we find the right candidate. We recommend submitting your application at the earliest opportunity to ensure consideration.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

At EIT Food we believe that diversity and inclusion make us stronger. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all candidates, regardless of age, gender, background, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. We welcome applications from everyone and strive to create a workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to their fullest potential.