Vacancy: Executive Director, Innovation Policy Organisation, Brussels

Vacancy: Executive Director, Innovation Policy Organisation, Brussels

About the hiring organisation

This is an exciting opportunity to join a newly established, independent organisation based in Brussels at the ground floor, and to shape its development from day one.

This search is being conducted on a confidential basis by Vanguard Europe while the organisation completes its formal registration. Vanguard Europe works exclusively with clients from democratic, NATO and NATO-aligned countries. Full details of the organisation will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

The organisation’s mission is to strengthen the protection, enforcement, and advancement of intellectual property rights and related policies across Europe. It brings together industry leaders, innovators, and policy experts to deliver evidence-based analysis and to engage constructively with EU institutions, national governments, and international bodies on patents, trade marks, designs, copyright, trade secrets, and related IP priorities.

At a time when Europe faces intensifying global competition for investment, talent, technological leadership, and research excellence, the organisation will serve as a trusted and influential voice for policies that encourage innovation, accelerate the commercialisation of new technologies, strengthen Europe’s industrial leadership, and promote long-term economic growth and security.

The Role of the Executive Director

The organisation is seeking an Executive Director who can build and lead the organisation. Reporting directly to the Board, the Executive Director will be the public face of the organisation and will serve as the organisation’s chief executive, principal spokesperson, and strategic adviser. The Executive Director is responsible for shaping the organisation’s strategic direction, building its institutional presence in Brussels and across Europe, establishing and leading a high-performing secretariat, and for securing the organisation’s long-term financial and organisational sustainability.

This is a unique opportunity for an accomplished leader to build and lead a new European organisation and help shape policy discussions affecting innovation, intellectual property, competitiveness and economic growth across Europe.

Key responsibilities

1. Strategy, Leadership and Governance

• Develop and implement the multi-annual strategy and annual work plan;
• ensure the Board of Directors receive timely information and support in fulfilling their governance responsibilities;
• ensure sound governance, statutory compliance and transparent reporting across the organisation;
• ensure global oversight and responsibility for the organisation’s daily operations and activities;
• act as the lead organisational actor on legal, compliance, advocacy and statutory matters;
• administer the membership structure and fees, while handling member-related matters; and
• recruit, manage, develop and retain a high-performing team and external consultants in support of the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.

In addition, the Executive Director will lead the organisation’s institutional development, including establishing operational systems and processes and cultivating an organisational culture characterised by excellence, professionalism, integrity and collaboration.

2. Policy Leadership and Advocacy

• Lead the organisation’s positions on EU and/or national IP legislation and policy;
• represent the organisation with institutional stakeholders, including the European Commission, European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, EUIPO, EPO and WIPO;
• monitor the EU legislative and policy pipeline, tracking relevant files and emerging issues, and timely engage and respond to urgent matters;
• spearhead policy position development on behalf of the organisation;
• oversee research initiatives, consultations, reports, commissioned studies and public-facing publications that contribute to informed policy discussions throughout Europe;
• coordinate with national and Member State IP associations where possible; and
• engage with enforcement-related agencies and initiatives, including Europol, customs authorities, and the EUIPO Observatory on Infringements of IPR.

3. External Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as main organisation spokesperson to institutions, members, media and partners, including at high-level policy forums, stakeholder dialogues, conferences and public events throughout Europe;
• build partnerships and coalitions with peer associations, industry, academia, SMEs and civil society; and
• oversee and develop thought leadership, media engagement, rapid-response communications and the organisation’s digital presence.

4. Membership Development, Finance and Fundraising

• Develop and implement strategies for member acquisition, engagement and retention;
• prepare the annual budget and multi-year income and expenditure forecasts and fundraising plans with clear targets; and
• oversee accounting, operational cash-flow management and audit operations.

The Executive Director will lead development and other resource-generation initiatives designed to support the organisation’s long-term sustainability, identifying opportunities to expand the organisation’s influence, membership base and revenue streams.

Job Profile and Required Qualifications

The successful candidate will be intellectually curious, politically astute, entrepreneurial and collaborative. They will possess the credibility and judgment necessary to engage effectively with senior policymakers, regulators, academics, business leaders and other stakeholders across Europe while maintaining the organisation’s reputation as a respected and evidence-based voice in policy discussions.

1. Executive Leadership

Extensive and progressively senior professional experience, typically more than 10 years, including substantial leadership responsibility within a trade association, public affairs consultancy, government institution, think tank, law firm, corporate policy function, regulatory authority, NGO or comparable organisation.

• Proven experience leading teams and engaging senior public- and private-sector stakeholders; and
• proven experience working with budgets.

2. IP Expertise

• Demonstrated expertise in intellectual property law, policy and economics in Europe, including familiarity with the EU IP acquis; EU institutional processes; UPC system; EUIPO and EPO practice; IP enforcement; and the intersection of IP with technology, research, competition, trade and industrial policy; and
• a qualification in law, economics or a related field at Master’s level or above (IP specialisation or legal qualification is a strong asset).

A strong understanding of innovation policy, technology policy, competitiveness issues, research and development ecosystems, and the broader role of intellectual property in promoting investment and economic growth will be highly valued.

3. EU Public Affairs

• Demonstrable track record of influencing public policy outcomes and advocacy with the EU institutions; and
• success managing complex stakeholder relationships, and navigating networks among IP policymakers, agencies and stakeholders in Brussels and in the Member States.

Existing professional relationships within EU institutions and the broader Brussels policy community would be a significant advantage.

4. Business Development

• Experience developing an organisation’s membership and funding base;
• experience engaging with corporate members, trade associations, foundations, or other stakeholders in support of organisational development and fundraising objectives; and
• familiarity with EU funds and grant instruments is an advantage.

5. Communication

• Outstanding written and oral communication and public-speaking skills; and
• fluent English (C2); another EU language is an asset.

Exceptional ability to engage senior audiences and represent an organisation before ministers, commissioners, parliamentarians, regulators, business executives, media and industry stakeholders is a significant advantage.

6. Additional Skills and Qualities

• Strategic and hands-on team player who leads by example;
• entrepreneurial mindset, able to motivate people and thrive in a dynamic environment, building an organisation from the ground up; and
• political acumen, with sound judgement and integrity.

The successful candidate will combine strategic vision with practical leadership, demonstrating strong judgement, diplomatic skills, intellectual curiosity, executive presence and a commitment to evidence-based policymaking.

The position is primarily based in Brussels and will require periodic travel within Europe and occasionally internationally.

Benefits

• A rare opportunity to build and lead a new European organisation and help shape policy discussions affecting innovation, intellectual property, investment, competitiveness and economic growth across Europe.

• A competitive remuneration package with a gross annual salary in the range of EUR 130,000 and above, depending on qualifications and experience, complemented by standard Belgian statutory benefits and a flexible, hybrid working arrangement.

• Significant visibility within Brussels and throughout Europe, together with the opportunity to work closely with policymakers, industry leaders and innovators on issues of strategic importance.

The hiring organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace and welcomes applications from qualified candidates from all backgrounds.

How to Apply

All those who are interested are invited to apply by sending a CV and a motivational letter outlining their vision for the role and reasons for why they would succeed in this position to recruitment@vanguardeurope.eu. The call closes on Friday, November 27. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview by December 1st. The expected start date is January 1, 2027.