Program Manager Education

EIT Food is seeking a qualified and highly motivated Programme Manager to support the development and delivery of its Education portfolio, with a focus on the EIT Higher Education Initiative (EIT HEI). The role combines programme management, stakeholder coordination, strategic academic partnership development, operational compliance and portfolio integration across EIT Food, the EIT Community and partner organisations. The Programme Manager will help administer support for selected projects in the agrifood system and contribute to education and human-capital development, innovation and knowledge transfer, and pathways to enterprise development, societal engagement and regional leadership. The role will also strengthen links between EIT HEI projects, EIT Food Academies and skills-based education programmes. A key part of the role is building long-term collaborations with universities and other academic partners to co-create content and ensure that learning is recognised within formal education. Main

Responsibilities:
• Run and, where necessary, improve the processes required for effective administration of the EIT Higher Education Initiative and related Education programmes.
• Manage selected programmes and actions, including planning, delivery monitoring, reporting, expected outcomes, key performance indicators and performance metrics.
• Support up to 15 EIT HEI projects administered by EIT Food during the 2026–2028 activity period.
• Liaise regularly with HEI Initiative projects, Activity Leaders, EIT Food partners, other Knowledge and Innovation Communities, EU institutions, national programmes and external stakeholders.
• Design, develop and implement activities set out in the EIT HEI Business Plan 2026–2028 with colleagues, partners and external stakeholders.
• Ensure operational compliance with applicable EIT and EU rules and support relevant monitoring and reporting processes.
• Work with the Head of EIT Community Education and Director of Education to develop EIT Food Education’s mission and vision, particularly the integration of HEI Initiative projects and outcomes into EIT Food Academies.
• Establish clear pathways for transferring validated learning content, academic expertise and tools from EIT Higher Education Initiative projects into EIT Food Academies, so that project results are sustained beyond the project lifetime.
• Champion EIT Food Academies within EIT HEI and across partner Higher Education Institutions, and strengthen synergies across the Education, EIT Community and EIT HEI portfolios.
• Identify, develop and manage strategic academic collaborations with universities, business schools and research institutions that strengthen the reach, quality and relevance of EIT Food Academies.
• Work with academic partners to co-design and co-deliver Academy content
• Build and nurture a talent pool of Academy learners, alumni and EIT HEI participants, connecting them with EIT Food partners, start-ups and employers through internships, challenge-based projects and recruitment opportunities across the agrifood sector.
• Contribute to portfolio development, annual calls, reporting processes and financial-sustainability approaches.
• Support delivery of selected Cross-KIC and non-EIT-funded actions and identify opportunities for synergies, co-funding and complementary funding.
• Collaborate across EIT Food functions to help implement an integrated innovation ecosystem. EXPERIENCE & SKILLS Key Skills and Experiences:
• Approximately 3–6 years of relevant professional experience in education and innovation, technology transfer or a closely related area.
• A graduate or postgraduate degree in Natural, Technical, Social, Agricultural or Economic Sciences, or another relevant discipline.
• Excellent project and programme management skills, including the ability to monitor delivery, outcomes, KPIs and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in multinational teams and with multiple internal and external stakeholders, including proven experience building and managing partnerships with Higher Education Institutions or other academic organisations.
• Proven ability to work independently, organise complex workstreams and follow through on delivery.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and very good command of English. Desirable competences and experiences:
• Familiarity with Horizon Europe project administration.
• Familiarity with HEInnovate and/or Smart Specialisation Strategies.
• Experience in entrepreneurship education, system innovation or multi-stakeholder innovation ecosystems.
• Familiarity with EU Skills Academies and the wider EIT Community.
• Understanding of institutional frameworks that shape innovation and entrepreneurship in Higher Education Institutions.
• Experience in curriculum co-design, micro-credentials or recognition of learning (for example ECTS), ideally with European university partners.
• Experience with compliance monitoring, performance assessment and impact metrics.
• Familiarity with European university networksKnowledge of another European language. APPLICATION We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. EIT Food always reserves the right to close the vacancy earlier. We recommend submitting your application at the earliest opportunity to ensure consideration.