The Department of Biomedical Engineering offers top-level education and research in one of the most relevant and exciting scientific disciplines of the 21st century: engineering health. In combining engineering and life sciences, through challenge-based learning and a multidisciplinary approach in collaboration with hospitals, industry and others, the department addresses the great challenges of the future, striving to improve healthcare and society as a whole.
HEALTH at TU/e
The field of healthcare continues to be a very active field of innovation. Innovation has had a significant impact on health outcomes. However, today, even in the wealthiest regions, accessibility and affordability of care are challenged. Demand for care and cure is increasing, and costs are rising to unaffordable levels, so drastic changes are required. In this complex new reality, technology and innovation hold the promise of providing solutions to the challenges that the healthcare systems face. In this process, it is of crucial importance that the needs in the healthcare systems are re-explored and re-defined as the basis to connect, re-design or develop appropriate innovative solutions
TU/e is well-placed to play an impactful role in the transformation of healthcare, based on its core strengths in crucial technologies, scientific excellence, capabilities in innovation management and industrial design, track record in building partnerships, and its educational system that includes programs for lifelong learning (SMPE/e).
The Executive Board of TU/e has decided in April 2026, that a Health Research Institute will be established as one of the four TU/e wide Research Institutes. It is foreseen that the new institute will be synergistically led by a senior leadership team of scientific director (SD) and managing director (MD). Their complementary roles will cover and balance the leadership, focusing on the (scientific) content and strategic directions on the one hand, and aspects like organization, partnerships, outreach, funding strategies, and daily operations and management, (MD) on the other hand. Both directors will operate within TU/e as well as interact with parties external to TU/e.
Together the leadership will represent the full breadth of activities of TU/e, related to Health. They will be “Connecting Leaders”, capable of establishing a strong TU/e health community, building strategic collaborations and dedicated support routes for valorisation and implementation, and developing leadership in the health technology domain, regionally and (inter)nationally.
The daily leadership team of SD and MD is complemented by key scientific representatives of TU/e’s main technology domains as well as a lean but dedicated institute support. The scientific experts will bring detailed expertise and understanding from their domains, necessary to effectively engage with internal and external parties, identify opportunities, and initiate, shape and defend programs. They will team up with the leadership team to jointly ensure the execution and the success of the Institute’s activities. A advisory board of four representative deans will align the activities of HEALTH with the developments within the departments and TU/e wide
Role of the Managing Director of the Institute for Transformative Health Technology (HEALTH)
The Managing Director of the HEALTH Institute manages the institute from an operational perspective. The Managing Director works closely with the Scientific Director, as a team, to fulfil the ambitions of HEALTH as stated in the mission document, in close relation with the internal community and with external clinical, societal, governmental, and commercial partners. Both operational and strategic, the Managing Director aligns and positions the internal community to have a joint voice on HEALTH so that TU/e can present itself as a thought leader and impactful collaborator in health technology.
In line with the defined research directions, the Managing Director plays a powerful role in identifying, initiating, shaping and defending large programs that overarch departments. This is done by effective community building and inter- and transdisciplinary collaboration. Silos are fought via info sharing and community building. Collaborative strengths are leveraged to increase the funding success rate. The Managing Director is the key player in coordinating support activities that are relevant for health technology as needed (infra, facilities, health data, compliance, legal).
The Managing Director is the operational heart of the institute knows the landscapes of healthcare and health technology and its various stakeholders, has a strong affinity for collaboration, valorisation, and actively seeks ways to translate research into practice.
Key Responsibilities
In the interaction of TU/e with all relevant stakeholders in health and healthcare (such as governments, providers & payers, patient groups, Brainport, industry, institutes, consortia, alliances and partnerships), the Managing Director will:
-
Be the strategic sparring partner for the Scientific Director.
-
Take responsibility for organizing and running the TU/e wide Research Institute HEALTH.
-
Built a strong internal network to profile and promote TU/e as a strong partner in the various domains of health technology
-
Initiate and leverage inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations from an operational perspective with internal and external partners (in close alignment with the Scientific Director).
-
Drive the translation of research outcomes into impactful real-world solutions for humans and the healthcare system, by taking the responsibility for economic and societal valorization, implementation and adoption of health technology
Together with the Scientific Director and the key scientific representatives of TU/e’s main technology domains you will establish TU/e as a top university in health technology and frontrunner creating impact on the transformation of healthcare in The Netherlands and abroad.
Profile
The Managing Director is passionate about the HEALTH mission and has an inner drive to contribute to the transition in health through technological innovations and the creation of smart solutions. Being the strategic sparring partner to the Scientific Director, she/he has a general understanding of the integration of technology and health and of the many sub domains of health technology TU/e is active in. The Managing Director has substantial experience in operational leadership roles, with a strong track record as a connecting leader, skilled at building a culture of collaboration and of building on each other’s strengths. He/she understands the needs of the various stakeholders deeply, and on this basis, strong win-win partnerships are built. Even without hierarchical authority, the Managing Director has a clear ability to lead and motivate those around.
We are looking for a candidate who meets the following requirements:
-
You have domain knowledge and a strong professional track record in the fields of health and technology.
-
You have outstanding organizational and strategic leadership skills. You have a clear vision for advancing the HEALTH mission and aligning with the TU/e goals - take the helicopter view, provide strategic oversight and direction across this broad and multidisciplinary field.
-
You are an excellent and inspiring communicator who brings stakeholders together, thinks strategically, and translates vision into concrete plans, priorities, actions, and measurable results, with strong follow-through and operational execution.
-
You are strong in building a culture of collaboration and of building on each other’s strengths to engage both internal key players as well as external stakeholders..
-
You have the sensitivity to move and keep the balance in a highly dynamic and complex environment with different stakeholders.
-
You have networks with medical/clinical partners at local, regional and national level, industry, funding organizations, (local) government, societal partners (such as health foundations, research organizations, and alumni.
-
You take the lead in challenging, multi-stakeholder environments.
-
You have excellent proficiency in Dutch and English as well as in writing as in speaking
-
You have a clear ambition and willingness to take up this unique role and to work as a team with the Scientific Director of the institute.
You will be appointed (0,8-1 fte) by the Scientific Director as Managing Director of the HEALTH Institute, for a period of four years, with the possibility of reappointment for another term of five years.
-
Salaryscale: 14 (€ 7,097 - € 8,992)
-
In addition to holiday allowance, you will receive an annual end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
-
41 paid vacation days per year based on a full-time (40-hour) workweek.
-
A flexible benefits scheme allowing you to tailor additional employment benefits to your personal needs.
-
Flexible working hours, agreed in consultation, to support a healthy work–life balance.
-
Ample opportunities for professional growth and career development through mentoring, workshops, coaching, and other learning initiatives.
-
Partially paid parental leave, as well as reimbursement of commuting, remote working, and internet expenses.
-
A generous employer contribution to the ABP pension scheme, one of the Netherlands' most attractive public sector pension plans.
We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.
Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.
For more information about the content of this vacancy or questions regarding the application procedure you can contact Carlijn Bouten, the Scientific Director (from 29 July until 3 August) onwards, or Ceciel Gijsbers, recruiter, e-mail: [email protected].
If you are interested in working in an exciting, dynamic, high-tech environment, where you will contribute to creating the society of the future, you can respond to this vacancy.
Please share a motivation letter and your CV via the link: www.euflex.nl/vacatures/managing-director-health-institute/. The selection of the applicants will take place immediately after receipt, the final closing date of the vacancy is September 1, 2026.
-
You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
-
A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
-
Important for non-EU applicants: Please be aware that for this position, specific residence permit requirements apply. If you are a non-EU national, you may not be eligible to legally work in this role under current Dutch immigration regulations. We strongly advise you to contact our Staff Immigration Team ([email protected]) before applying to check your eligibility and to receive further guidance.
-
Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
Type of employment: temporary employment with possibility of permanent employment | Contract type: full-time/part-time | Number of positions: 1 | Full-time equivalent: 0.8 - 1.0 FTE | City: Eindhoven | County: Noord-Brabant | Country: Netherlands | Reference number: 2026/423 | Published: 2026-07-14 | Last application date: 2026-09-01
