ABOUT EIT FOOD

EIT Food is growing Europe’s food innovation ecosystem to build a healthy, sustainable and resilient food system. We empower innovators and entrepreneurs. We invest in ideas and talent. And we create space for science, research, industry, and policymakers to accelerate systemic change across the food sector.

By mobilising the collective power of our ecosystem, we tackle Europe’s most pressing food challenges - driving innovation in resilient agriculture, protein diversification, and agrifood biotech to build a sustainable future for people and the planet.

EIT Food is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, set up in 2017 to accelerate food system innovation in Europe. 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 is seeking a qualified and highly motivated Programme Manager to support the development and delivery of its Education portfolio, with a focus on the EIT Higher Education Initiative (EIT HEI). The role combines programme management, stakeholder coordination, strategic academic partnership development, operational compliance and portfolio integration across EIT Food, the EIT Community and partner organisations.

The Programme Manager will help administer support for selected projects in the agrifood system and contribute to education and human-capital development, innovation and knowledge transfer, and pathways to enterprise development, societal engagement and regional leadership. The role will also strengthen links between EIT HEI projects, EIT Food Academies and skills-based education programmes. A key part of the role is building long-term collaborations with universities and other academic partners to co-create content and ensure that learning is recognised within formal education.

Main Responsibilities:

• Run and, where necessary, improve the processes required for effective administration of the EIT Higher Education Initiative and related Education programmes.
• Manage selected programmes and actions, including planning, delivery monitoring, reporting, expected outcomes, key performance indicators and performance metrics.
• Support up to 15 EIT HEI projects administered by EIT Food during the 2026–2028 activity period.
• Liaise regularly with HEI Initiative projects, Activity Leaders, EIT Food partners, other Knowledge and Innovation Communities, EU institutions, national programmes and external stakeholders.
• Design, develop and implement activities set out in the EIT HEI Business Plan 2026–2028 with colleagues, partners and external stakeholders.
• Ensure operational compliance with applicable EIT and EU rules and support relevant monitoring and reporting processes.
• Work with the Head of EIT Community Education and Director of Education to develop EIT Food Education’s mission and vision, particularly the integration of HEI Initiative projects and outcomes into EIT Food Academies.
• Establish clear pathways for transferring validated learning content, academic expertise and tools from EIT Higher Education Initiative projects into EIT Food Academies, so that project results are sustained beyond the project lifetime.
• Champion EIT Food Academies within EIT HEI and across partner Higher Education Institutions, and strengthen synergies across the Education, EIT Community and EIT HEI portfolios.
• Identify, develop and manage strategic academic collaborations with universities, business schools and research institutions that strengthen the reach, quality and relevance of EIT Food Academies.
• Work with academic partners to co-design and co-deliver Academy content
• Build and nurture a talent pool of Academy learners, alumni and EIT HEI participants, connecting them with EIT Food partners, start-ups and employers through internships, challenge-based projects and recruitment opportunities across the agrifood sector.
• Contribute to portfolio development, annual calls, reporting processes and financial-sustainability approaches.
• Support delivery of selected Cross-KIC and non-EIT-funded actions and identify opportunities for synergies, co-funding and complementary funding.
• Collaborate across EIT Food functions to help implement an integrated innovation ecosystem.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

Key Skills and Experiences:

• Approximately 3–6 years of relevant professional experience in education and innovation, technology transfer or a closely related area.
• A graduate or postgraduate degree in Natural, Technical, Social, Agricultural or Economic Sciences, or another relevant discipline.
• Excellent project and programme management skills, including the ability to monitor delivery, outcomes, KPIs and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multinational teams and with multiple internal and external stakeholders, including proven experience building and managing partnerships with Higher Education Institutions or other academic organisations.
• Proven ability to work independently, organise complex workstreams and follow through on delivery.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and very good command of English.

Desirable competences and experiences:

• Familiarity with Horizon Europe project administration.
• Familiarity with HEInnovate and/or Smart Specialisation Strategies.
• Experience in entrepreneurship education, system innovation or multi-stakeholder innovation ecosystems.
• Familiarity with EU Skills Academies and the wider EIT Community.
• Understanding of institutional frameworks that shape innovation and entrepreneurship in Higher Education Institutions.
• Experience in curriculum co-design, micro-credentials or recognition of learning (for example ECTS), ideally with European university partners.
• Experience with compliance monitoring, performance assessment and impact metrics.
• Familiarity with European university networksKnowledge of another European language.

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 aligned with local practices. This role is graded as Manager. To view the expected annual gross salary range for your country, please refer to our Salary Overview Table. 

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. EIT Food always reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier. 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.