Chief Executive Officer

EIT Water

About the Organisation

EIT Water is Europe's innovation community for water, marine, and maritime systems. It connects industry, innovators, researchers, educators, and policymakers to tackle the most urgent water challenges from scarcity, drought, and flooding to pollution and ecosystem decline. EIT Water is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.

Founded in 2026, EIT Water has eight regional hubs across Europe and a mandate to deliver systemic innovation from source to sea. EIT Water is now establishing the governance structures that will guide its first Strategic Agenda and long-term impact.

About the role

EIT Water is now recruiting its inaugural Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organisation in this exciting, critical start-up phase, through to its longer-term growth and success. The CEO of EIT Water holds overall executive responsibility for leading the organisation in delivering its mission to strengthen Europe’s water innovation ecosystem.

The role is accountable for strategic leadership, operational excellence, financial sustainability, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that EIT Water delivers measurable impact aligned with the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and EU policy objectives.

The appointed CEO will have a pivotal role in the establishment and future growth of the entire organisation, putting the strategy and vision of members in the ecosystem into practice and building relationships and establishing trust with funders and key stakeholders in the sector. It is a start-up environment where agility, fast thinking, and strong leadership from the front will be crucial for success.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Position EIT Water as a leading European platform for innovation in water, marine, maritime, and related sectors.
• Develop and implement EIT Water’s long-term strategy in line with EIT objectives, EU priorities, and stakeholder expectations.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable programmes, partnerships, and performance targets.
• Establish effective and transparent channels of coordination, communication, and reporting within the organisation and with the EIT, key stakeholders, and other potential funding bodies

Governance & Accountability:

• Report to and work closely with the Supervisory and Governing Assembly, ensuring transparent decision-making and compliance with governance frameworks.
• Ensure full compliance with EIT regulations, Horizon Europe rules, and EU financial and ethical standards.
• Prepare strategic plans, annual work programmes, budgets, and performance reports for approval.

Business Development & Revenue Generation:

• Lead EIT Water’s business development strategy to diversify and grow revenue streams beyond core EIT funding.
• Drive the development of scalable, value-creating offerings for members, including innovation services, programmes, and platforms.
• Negotiate and oversee strategic commercial and quasi-commercial agreements in line with EIT rules and public funding requirements.
• Ensure long-term financial sustainability through portfolio diversification and proactive pipeline management.

Operational & Financial Management:

• Provide strategic oversight of organisational operations and financial performance, ensuring effective resource allocation, strong governance, risk management, and long-term sustainability.

Ecosystem & Partnership Development:

• Build, manage, and strengthen partnerships with industry, academia, research organisations, startups, investors, and public authorities. 
• Represent EIT Water at the European and international level, acting as the primary ambassador to EU institutions, policymakers, and key stakeholders.
• Foster cross-KIC collaboration and integration with broader European innovation ecosystems.

Innovation, Education, & Impact:

• Lead and oversee the organisation’s innovation, education, and venture programmes, ensuring high-impact delivery, robust performance measurement, and continuous improvement aligned with strategic objectives.

People & Organisational Leadership:

• Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performing, diverse, and mission-driven executive and staff team.
• Establish a strong organisational culture based on integrity, collaboration, inclusion, and excellence.
• Ensure effective talent management, succession planning, and organisational development.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Competencies & Experience:

• Demonstrated 15 years of senior executive leadership experience
• Documented domain experience and knowledge within the water, marine, and maritime sectors and ecosystems.
• Evidence-based experience in entrepreneurship, scale-up ecosystems, venture, and innovation financing.
• Proven experience managing EU-funded programmes or operating within EU institutional frameworks.
• Strong strategic, financial, and operational leadership capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work with boards, public authorities, and senior external stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and representation skills at the European and international level.
• Track record in building international partnerships across industry, academia, and the public sector.
• Relevant experience of developing networks with investors to attract additional financial resources and investment, or the knowledge and capability to develop these networks, and experience of managing large-scale budgets.
• Fluency in English (required); additional European languages highly desirable.

Leadership Attributes:

• Visionary and impact-driven leader with strong ethical standards.
• Politically astute, collaborative, and culturally aware.
• Decisive, resilient, and comfortable operating in ambiguity.
• Strong commitment to sustainability, innovation, and public value creation.

Working locations

• Aarhus, Denmark

How to apply

• Applications should be submitted via the Apply online by 5 pm CET Friday, 5th June 2026 and should include a current CV and a cover letter setting out your interest and relevant experience.
• The appointment process is led by Perrett Laver on behalf of EIT Water. For questions about the process, please contact [email protected].

Policies

EIT Water is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. This activity is co-funded by the European Union. EIT Water is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications without discrimination on any grounds. EIT Water is an established Danish Association based in Aarhus.

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