Innovation Project Manager

• Hybrid working model (on-site and home working)

Mission

• Permanent employment contract
• Full-time position
• IBA Industrial Division
• Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
• Hybrid working model (on-site and home working)

As an Innovation Project Manager, you will identify, evaluate, and accelerate new applications, products, and business opportunities leveraging IBA’s technologies. You will lead innovation projects from concept through validation and commercialization, while managing the innovation process and application portfolio in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. This position is part of IBA’s Industrial Division, which counts over 100 employees. You will join a team based in Louvain-la-Neuve and report to the Head of Innovation. The role is open as a replacement for an employee moving to a new opportunity within the organization.

Challenges we trust you with

Lead Innovation Projects

• Lead innovation projects from opportunity identification through validation and commercialization.
• Define project objectives, deliverables, timelines, budgets, risks, and resource requirements.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams and external partners to ensure successful execution.
• Ensure clear accountability, disciplined follow-up, and timely decision-making.

Manage the Innovation Portfolio & Process

• Own and continuously improve the innovation funnel and application portfolio management process.
• Maintain visibility of opportunities from ideation to commercialization.
• Support prioritization based on strategic fit, technical feasibility, market attractiveness, and business impact.
• Prepare portfolio reviews and recommendations for senior management.

Develop New Applications & Drive Business Development

• Identify, assess, and validate new applications for IBA technologies.
• Engage directly with customers, partners, and industry stakeholders to uncover opportunities and validate needs.
• Personally drive business development activities, including customer discovery, opportunity generation, partnership development, and commercial validation.
• Develop value propositions, business cases, and go-to-market recommendations.

Apply Scientific & AI-Driven Decision Making

• Leverage your scientific background to model technical processes, evaluate scalability, and assess commercial viability.
• Build techno-economic and competitive analyses to compare IBA solutions with alternative technologies.
• Quantify the advantages, limitations, costs, and value drivers of competing approaches.
• Apply scientific rigor to de-risk innovation projects and support investment decisions.
• Use modern AI tools to accelerate technology scouting, market intelligence, competitive benchmarking, opportunity assessment, and decision-making.

Your Profile

• Master's degree (or PhD) in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Environmental Science, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of experience in innovation, project management, technology development, engineering, or business development.
• Strong scientific and analytical mindset, with the ability to understand and model complex technical processes.
• Proven project management and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated business development mindset and customer orientation.
• Interest in leveraging AI and digital tools to improve innovation effectiveness.
• Entrepreneurial spirit with a passion for creating new applications, products, and businesses.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Fluent in English.

What Will Make You Successful

• Curiosity and passion for innovation.
• Strong execution and organizational discipline.
• Ability to connect technology, market needs, and customer value.
• Hands‑on mindset with a bias for action.
• Ability to navigate uncertainty and turn ideas into tangible business opportunities.
• Strong collaboration and influencing skills across functions and cultures.

Travel

This position requires regular international travel (20-30%) to engage with customers, partners, research organizations, technology providers, and industry events.

Cherry on the cake

Why Join IBA?

Join a team dedicated to creating meaningful innovation by combining IBA's unique know-how with customers' and partners' expertise to create new value propositions with unique impact.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who enjoys not only managing innovation projects but also personally exploring markets, building partnerships, evaluating technologies, and transforming opportunities into impactful businesses.

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