Executive Director Innovation

Cefic is looking for an Executive Director to join and lead the Innovation team. Our industry is at the crossroads of the circular economy, climate neutral Europe and safe and sustainable by design chemistry. Chemical Recycling, Electrification of chemical processes, Hydrogen, Digitalisation, CCS and CCU, bio-based chemicals are examples of key topics on our agenda. The time for change is now.  Inspired? You will: Lead the Cefic Innovation team and the Cefic Innovation Programme Council with 30 CTOs /SVP/Senior Innovation Leaders of the Chemical industry and establishing alignment of the members on various complex topics to allow to speak with one voice for the industry on innovation related matters. Guide the innovation team in files that directly support innovation for the chemical industry in Europe, – increasing the efficiency and amount of EU R&I Funding and shift the focus towards scaling up and implementing new technologies in the market, making the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework a practical and implementable guiding principle for the innovation management and support the innovation for important technologies like biotechnology through the advocacy for regulatory sandboxed and the modernization of GMO regulation. Lead the innovation team in the area of files that indirectly support innovation for the chemical industry in Europe through the uptake of new technologies and products in the market place especially in the area of circularity, therefore here in the three areas of recycling, bioeconomy and valorisation of CO2. The advocacy for chemical recycling is a main priority in this area. Provide leadership for Cefic´s Long Range Research Initiative (LRI) which funds research projects in the areas of (Eco-) Toxicology (in alignment with the Executive Director of Product Stewardship), PFAS-Analytics (in alignment with the Executive Director for Halogens), and Microplastics (in alignment with ICCA). Be proactive in the overall advocacy for innovation in the chemical industry. Ensure that the chemical industry is seen as an innovative industry and that innovation as a key success factor for competitiveness, for the sustainable transformation of the industry as well as for an increased strategic autonomy of the EU gets the needed support. Provide leadership in all advocacy aspects on your key files; use your experience in building strategic advocacy plans in collaboration with the Executive Director Public Affairs and effectively implement the plan in collaboration with all internal and external stakeholders; Be a powerful advisor on innovation-related matters to all of Cefic staff, enabling them to maximise the efficiency of their advocacy; Ensure early engagement with EU institutions and stakeholders, allowing Cefic to pro-actively help to set agenda’s and define policies, using your vast network of contacts in Brussels to enable this;  As part of the dynamic Cefic team of 165 professionals, you will coordinate and dialogue with the key industry experts and also exchange with our colleagues in the International Fora, global associations and working groups of the International Council of Chemical Industry Associations (ICCA) Why innovation? Innovation is a key success factor for the competitiveness and the successful green transition of the chemical industry. The innovation team works on supporting the innovation activities of the chemical industry in Europe by advocating for optimal policy framework for Research & Innovation in Europe and its uptake into the market e.g. here in the area of chemical recycling. Can you make the difference? The successful candidate will be a highly motivated and experienced professional who demonstrates the following experience and competencies: An industry innovation expert or a Brussels-based advocacy expert on Innovation, at par with the best of any of the commercial public affairs professionals in the field of Innovation operating in Brussels today, with a sound understanding of the challenges of the European Chemical Industry; Prior experience in the chemical industry will be very useful but is not a must. At least 10 years of hands on experience either in industry or in Brussels, with a strong political and business acumen and a strong and wide network in the EU marketplace; Strong strategic thinking and planning as well as excellent implementation skills; Outstanding interpersonal acumen, communication and negotiation skills; A successful track record of building consensus in a complex environment; The ability of storytelling – the skill to explain to the Cefic membership how decisions are made in Brussels, combined with the skill to explain stakeholders the positive story of the contributions that the chemical industry brings to Europe; Understanding of the benefits of soft advocacy work, pro-active engagement and relationship building, next to the use of hard advocacy tools and the use of direct relationships; Fluent in English and preferably in at least one other European language; You are prepared to live in Brussels, Belgium. Required personal qualities: You are a service-oriented listener who engages with all constituencies in a meaningful and respectful way; While possessing leadership skills, you are the ultimate team player and diplomat who is skilled in building bridges, aligning different views in a variety of settings; You are a person of the highest integrity with exceptional energy and drive. You possess self-confidence, balanced with a healthy amount of humility and a good sense of humour;  You are collaborative, empathic, trusted, diplomatic, listening, engaging, inspiring, open-minded, culturally astute, committed and results-oriented; You are strongly motivated to bring the Cefic advocacy on Innovation to a higher level, together with the Director General, the team and the strongly motivated membership; You enjoy the challenge of coordinating the large number of issues impacting the chemical industry, the large number of professionals in the Cefic world and the need to move beyond lobbying in becoming a partner of policy makers where possible. What do we offer? Working in a people oriented, international and dynamic culture at the centre of EU affairs An environment with a positive attitude towards stress and mindful of work – personal life balance. Working on dynamic and challenging topics. A full time permanent employment contract with a competitive salary, benefits and working conditions or a 5 year secondment