Open Innovation Research Consultant

Imagine yourself as an Open Innovation Research Consultant, analyzing the start-up ecosystem surrounding our innovation portfolio and selecting and validating potential partners for Rabobank, including a rationale if & why that aligns with our strategy. You work closely with our innovation managers on different innovation topics and practice an Open Innovation way for working. This means capturing opportunities, partners, trends and developments in the market and matching them with the right teams and colleagues. So you combine your analytical skills with strategic thinking. Sounds good? 

Rabo Innovation Factory
You will be working with very fun, young, energetic and diverse colleagues (6 nationalities) from the Open Innovation team which is part of Innovation Factory, the in-house innovation agency of Rabobank. Most of Rabobank's new innovations are incubated here. We are of course a big fan of collaborating with start/scale ups and together, we aim to build a bank for the future. We scout for potential partners and check the feasibility of collaborating together both locally in the Netherlands and internationally. We work on diverse topics such as Fintech, Agtech, Housing, Carbon farming, Energy Transition and there's just so much more!  Our long-term goal is to make significant contributions to Rabobank’s business and/or revenue models, fostering innovation for our colleagues, partners, and millions of customers worldwide. 

You and your job
As an Open Innovation Research Consultant you know the secrets of understanding the innovation landscape and upcoming trends. You capture it in a clear and understandable way and present it to our internal clients. You are able to take on and lead innovation research and present results and advise insights to senior innovation colleagues and management while focusing on many different topics. Your job will never become boring, because you are exploring and understanding future trends and make sure Rabobank is acting up on your insights and recommendations.    

Tim Boelens, Open Innovation Analyst:

”working at Open Innovation allows you to dive into different innovative topics, ranging from fintech to housing, to sustainable applications. By being able to bring both the startup and market perspective into business model innovation, it is an unique opportunity to add strategic value.”

Lucia Tramutola Open Innovation Research Consultant:

”the Open Innovation team is the perfect place to be if you want to work on multiple different topics that are key to the future of Rabobank. As Open Innovation, we keep an eye on all the coolest start-ups, spot opportunities and evaluate collaboration potential, all the while participating to events and building your own innovation network. One more plus: we are a very diverse and young team (for real!).” 

The big picture

• As an Open Innovation Research Consultant you spot opportunities and see the potential in them:
• You conduct market analysis on the value pockets that the business sees
• You guide and help the innovation managers in scouting and selecting external start-ups, scaleups and corporates 
• You spot, validate and facilitate collaborations between these parties and the bank
• Based on market developments, you are proactively looking for new opportunities for collaboration.

We achieve more together than alone
We believe in the power of diversity. Bringing together people's differences is what makes us an even better bank. So we are very curious about what you can bring to our Open Innovation team.

Max Kranendijk, Lead Open Innovation:

”with Open Innovation we help our business lines to find the best partners to innovate quicker and more efficient. In addition, we are on a mission to make Rabobank the 'go to bank' for Innovation partnerships. 

Your 9 colleagues in the Open Innovation Team can't wait to meet you. Now it's your turn to make them stronger in making sure Rabobank partners with the most promising innovative companies. Working together is the way we work. Talking of Rabobank: We are a Dutch bank that operates in 38 countries for over 9,5000,000 customers. Together with these customers, our members and partners we stand side by side to create a world in which everyone has access to enough healthy food. In the Netherlands we work to create a country in which people are happy with how they live, work and do business.

You and your talent

• Experience: You have 3 to 5 years of work experience in research and analysis, ideally within an (corporate) innovation setting. Furthermore, you have working experience in the Netherlands and you are familiar with the Dutch culture and business environment
• Curiosity: You are curious and willing to scout the best parties & solutions in the market and find areas for improvement within Innovation Factory 
• Expertise: Preferable you have experience with scouting tools and an ‘Open Innovation mindset’
• Education: You have a completed university degree, ideally in Strategic Product Design, Innovation Sciences/Management, Entrepreneurship, (technical) Business Administration, or Business Economics
• Interest: You have knowledge and interest in the innovation and start-up landscape, including trends and emerging technologies 
• Learning: You are eager to learn, explore new things and challenge status quo
• Communication: You are a strong communicator and know how to make & give presentations and convince colleagues & senior management
• Language: Proficiency in English is essential. Speaking Dutch is a preference 
• Optional skill: Excel pro and affinity with data and IT
• Optional skill: Facilitation experience in order to host and facilitate workshops

A day in the life of an OI research consultant: 
You start the day with an intake meeting to know more about the product owner's scouting request. For instance, his request could be a competitor analysis to better understand the home battery landscape and how does Rabobank proposition compete with others in the market. 
Then you scout some start-ups, reach out to a few of them and to experts within Rabobank to gather more knowledge around the topic. Later, you do a final presentation for another project you have finished. 
You end the day by scanning interesting innovation events happening in the Netherlands that you plan to attend this year.

This is what we offer you 
We give you the space to innovate and initiate. We offer you numerous opportunities to grow and help you exceed your expectations, to do the right thing exceptionally well, and to therefore grow as a professional.

• A gross monthly salary based between € 4292,- and € 6130,- (scale 9) depending on your experience;
• a thirteenth month and holiday pay;
• an Employee Benefit Budget. You decide how to spend this budget. This may include purchasing extra leave days, making extra pension contributions or even receiving a monthly cash payout;
• a personal budget that you can spend on activities related to your personal development and career;
• flexible working times and location-independent working (subject to assignments);
• 100% reimbursement of commuting costs if you travel by public transport! Do you still prefer to travel by car or motorbike? Then choose a commuting allowance;
• a pension scheme, to which your contribution is only 3,5% or 5%, that's your choice.

This is a selection from the terms of employment for an Open Innovation Research Consultant based on a 36 hour working week. You can find all terms of employment on rabobank.jobs/en/conditions-of-employment.

You and the job application process
You're probably really enthusiastic already. Which is only logical with such an exciting vacancy for Open Innovation Research Consultant at Rabobank. Apply straight away.

• Any questions about the job content? Contact Max Kranendijk, Lead Open Innovation via max.kranendijk@rabobank.nl or 0625304183 
• Any questions about working at Rabobank and the process? Sylvana Janssen, Recruiter via sylvana.janssen@rabobank.nl
• We will hold the interviews at our office in Utrecht or through a video call.
• Part of the hiring process is making a case study and/or discussing how you would perform Open Innovation research and activities. 
• You can find answers to the most frequently asked questions on rabobank.jobs/en/faq.
• A security check is part of the process.
• We respect your privacy. 

#LI-SJ1