The role involves establishing Business Development and Innovation (BD&I) as a credible and collaborative driver of innovation within the organization. This includes accelerating new ideas, partnerships, and growth initiatives. The successful candidate will be responsible for defining and executing a clear growth and partnership strategy that aligns with Dutch and EU priorities, translating them into tangible and scalable opportunities.Additionally, the role requires fostering collaboration and trust between BD&I, Public, and Private divisions to ensure shared ownership and alignment on strategic goals. The ideal candidate will combine external entrepreneurship with strong internal leadership, balancing innovation with governance and execution discipline. They will also act as a connector and bridge-builder, creating alignment, momentum, and cross-functional cooperation across teams and stakeholders. Finally, the individual will represent the organization in key networks and partnerships to strengthen its visibility, credibility, and international position.