ABOUT EIT FOOD

EIT Food is Europe’s leading initiative working to make the food system more sustainable, healthy, and trusted. It’s supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and brings together partners from business, research, and education to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across the agrifood sector.

EIT Food’s Entrepreneurship Programmes empower researchers, entrepreneurs, and AgriFoodTech startups at every stage of their journey - from developing ideas and validating markets to accelerating growth, testing technologies, and scaling commercially.

Our Entrepreneurship Programmes are aimed at 1. Venture creation and 2. Startups acceleration. Within the acceleration pillar, alongside the EIT Food Accelerator Network (FAN) programme, we have launched a new segment - Startup Capability Building - to provide ongoing support to startups beyond the initial 2–3 month acceleration programme phase.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a Startup Capability Building Manager to work closely with the Senior Startup Capability Building Manager in delivering high-quality, tailored support to promising EU AgriFoodTech startups and scaleups emerging from our acceleration programme. This includes designing and implementing dedicated bootcamps and tracks to strengthen their commercialisation, investment readiness, marketing, visibility, and international expansion.

The role will also contribute to shaping and executing the new RisingFoodStars (RFS) Seal of Excellence, which aims to recognise scaleups from our programmes that have achieved significant impact through marketed innovations and successful fundraising supported by EIT Food Entrepreneurship.

As part of its 2026–2028 Business Plan, EIT Food is committed to further strengthening and optimising its venture support, helping startups bring innovations to market and scale solutions with the potential to transform food systems.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist with the design, monetisation, implementation, and assessment of services offered to startup alumni of the Entrepreneurship Programmes beyond the 2–3 month FAN acceleration programme (e.g., bootcamps, international expansion, mentorship, events)
• Support the design and implementation of the RisingFoodStars (RFS) Seal of Excellence roadmap for 2026 onwards, including the selection of RFS scaleups (in collaboration with the EIT FAN Programme Manager and the Senior Startup Capability Building Manager), refinement of the offering year on year, and day-to-day management of cohort needs
• Ensure a high level of satisfaction among startups and scaleups contracting the services and benefiting from the RFS Seal of Excellence support
• Help monitor and achieve KPI targets by improving processes (e.g., terms and conditions, agreement templates, tracking systems) and introducing complementary initiatives (e.g., prizes, awards) in collaboration with the IT, Legal, and Operations teams
• Contribute to communication and visibility efforts by liaising with the EIT Food Central team to ensure that the services and RFS Seal of Excellence marketing and communication needs are met (e.g., social media, website updates, PR, community engagement, and events).
• Identify and implement tools to improve efficiency in evaluation, communication, and data management processes
• Collaborate closely with the rest of the Business Creation team and other EIT Food departments to ensure smooth coordination and identify synergies with other activities (e.g., Community, Education, Value Delivery, Partnership, Operations).
• Foster engagement with alumni by sharing opportunities, inviting them to events, and connecting them to the wider EIT Food network and the European AgriFoodTech ecosystem
• Monitor industry trends and startup needs to refine the services roadmap for 2026–2028 and strengthen the RFS offering and benefits

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

• Master’s or Bachelor's degree required in Business, Management, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, AgriFoodTech, or related fields (or equivalent by experience)
• Minimum 5 years of experience in programme management, operations, or project coordination, ideally within entrepreneurship, innovation, or startup ecosystems
• Experience in AgriFoodTech or technology-focused ventures is a plus 
• Experience managing operational processes, contracts, documentation, and tools; familiarity with Salesforce or similar CRM/management platforms is advantageous 
• Strong ability to work across teams and with external partners
• Excellent project management skills and ability to manage a large matrix of stakeholders
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to support marketing, visibility, and community engagement activities 
• Ability to track metrics, identify operational gaps, and suggest process improvements to ensure programme quality and efficiency 
• Self-driven, proactive, and able to support dynamic programmes in a fast-paced, multi-stakeholder environment 
• Excellent English skill; EU languages are a plus 

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 Permanent 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 12/12/2025, 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.