Director of Community and Outreach

European Institute of Innovation & Technology

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

The Director of Community and Outreach will lead the development and growth of a vibrant, pan-European (and globally connected) community within EIT Water KIC. This role is responsible for designing and executing strategies that engage our members, innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, funders and citizens to accelerate innovation in the water, marine and maritime sector. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in strengthening the KIC’s ecosystem, amplifying its impact, and fostering growth and collaboration across our membership and the wider ecosystem. The Director will report to the Chief Impact Officer with line management responsibility for 8 Regional Hub Senior Managers located in our regional branches.

Responsibilities

Membership Strategy & Growth:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive member engagement and growth strategy aligned with EIT Water’s mission and Strategic Agenda
• Ensure regular updates and evolution of the membership value proposition
• Oversee the identification and onboarding of new members to expand the EIT Water ecosystem
• Manage the member journey throughout the entire lifecycle from onboarding to value realisation
• Translate regional ecosystem intelligence into strategic input that shapes the design of future programmes and calls, ensuring regional needs drive programme orchestration
• Build, nurture, and scale a diverse, inclusive community of stakeholders across Europe and beyond, promoting participation from all regions, sectors, and underrepresented groups
• Manage community platform & alumni network
• Track performance of members and partners and track value realisation (supported by the Impact & Reporting Officer)
• Follow up on member and partner satisfaction and monitor the regional ecosystem feedback.

Outreach & Communications:

• Design and lead outreach initiatives to increase visibility and awareness of EIT
• Water KIC programmes and results
• Act as a key ambassador for EIT Water KIC at events, forums, and within EU networks.
• Build out ecosystem intelligence: map regional capabilities and partner assets, identify needs and gaps, and activate the network to mobilise cross-hub consortia for open calls
• Together with the Director of Communications and Brand, oversee community-focused communication channels (events, digital platforms, newsletters, social media)
• Ensure consistent messaging aligned with
• EIT and EU priorities.

Programme & Event Leadership:

• Oversee the design and delivery of high-impact community engagement activities such as workshops, innovation challenges, hackathons, and conferences.
• Support cross-functional teams in embedding community engagement into the education, innovation, and business creation programmes.
• Lead delivery of the EIT Water Regional
• Innovation Strategy (RIS) and run the RIS
• Representative call that selects and manages the RIS Country Representatives, and support the Regional Hub Managers in their RIS activities so the RIS programme achieves impact across the RIS-eligible regions.
• Facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange within the community.

Team Leadership:

• Lead and develop a high-performing community and outreach team via the 8 Regional Senior Hub Managers.
• Foster collaboration across internal teams and external partners, and manage relationships and resolve conflicts across the partner community.
• Manage budgets, resources, and external vendors related to outreach activities.

Skills, Competencies, Experience & Attributes

Qualifications & Experience:

• 10+ years of experience in community building, stakeholder engagement, outreach, or ecosystem development.
• Demonstrable experience in managing an internationally and regionally dispersed team.
• Experience working within EU-funded programmes and innovation ecosystems is highly desirable.
• Strong network across the water, marine or maritime sectors.
• Must reside in the European Union and hold a valid work permit / right to work in the EU.

Core Competencies:

• Strategic thinker with strong execution capabilities
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Proven ability to build partnerships across sectors and cultures
• Experience designing and delivering large-scale engagement programmes and events
• Data-driven approach to community growth and impact measurement
• Strong leadership and team development expertise
• Fluency in English; additional European languages are a plus.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant field.

Conditions of employment

• Must have resided in the European Union and hold a valid work permit / right to work in the EU.

Working locations

• Aarhus, Denmark

How to apply

• Applications should be submitted via Apply online by 5 pm CET on Tuesday 1st September 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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