Do you want to help founders turn breakthrough biotech innovations into successful startups? Are you curious about entrepreneurship, biotech, and planetary health?
Biotope by VIB is an early-stage investor supporting biotech startups in agriculture, food, and biomaterials. Backed by VIB, the leading and internationally recognized life sciences research institute based in Flanders, we help founders turn breakthrough biotech into investable businesses within 18 months, through funding, hands-on support, and access to a strong ecosystem.
We’re looking for a Programme Associate to join our small, driven team. This is a hands-on role ideally suited for early-career professionals looking to build a career at the intersection of biotech, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Your role
You’ll play a central supporting role to founders, investors, mentors, and partners, while helping run our selection process, basecamp programme, ecosystem activities, and day-to-day operations.
What you’ll do:
Basecamp
- Support our scouting pipeline and coordinate our twice-yearly application calls (from outreach to follow up) and venture selection process
- Organize and help deliver our three-week basecamp programme
Communication & visibility
- Support biotope’s online presence (including LinkedIn, website, and newsletters)
- Contribute to marketing efforts that increase our international visibility
Ecosystem & community
- Organize networking, investor and community events
- Represent biotope at relevant (inter)national events and conferences
Team & operations
- Collaborate closely with different team members to keep projects, events, and day-to-day operations on track
- Provide hands-on operational support across planning, coordination, and follow-up
- Contribute to new initiatives as we grow
Your profile
You enjoy working with ambitious people, you take initiative, and bring structure in a fast-moving environment - always with a hands-on, practical mindset. We welcome applications from recent graduates and early-career professionals.
You bring
- Strong interest in entrepreneurship, biotech innovation, and startup creation
- Ownership mindset and a “get things done” attitude
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Master's degree in life sciences, business, engineering, innovation management (or equivalent through experience)
- Experience or exposure to biotech startups, venture building, or innovation environments is a strong plus, especially in biomaterials, agrifood, or deep tech
- Professional fluency in English, both written and spoken
Our offer
- This position is ideal for early-career professionals looking to gain hands-on experience in venture building, innovation, and ecosystem development
- Work closely with inspiring founders, partners and investors across Europe’s biotech ecosystem
- Get first-hand exposure to early-stage venture building
- Take real responsibility from day one
- Be part of a small, ambitious, and supportive team
- Receive a competitive compensation package based on experience and expertise
- A full-time, open-ended contract
You will be based at VIB HQ in Ghent (Belgium), with the possibility to work from home up to 2 days per week (full-time remote work is not possible for this role).
How to apply
Excited to join us? Please apply via the VIB online career portal (https://jobs.vib.be/apply/136022) with your CV and motivation letter.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The vacancy will be closed once a suitable candidate is identified, so we encourage you to apply early.
In case of questions about the function, you can reach out to [email protected] .
