Director, Operational Excellence

Work location: Ghent, Leuven, Antwerp, Brussels – multi-site role | Employment fraction: 80-100%

Reports to: Managing Directors

About VIB

VIB is a leading life sciences research institute with a unique collaborative model spanning nine research centers and four partner universities. Our mission is to advance life sciences for the benefit of society through scientific excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

Achieving research excellence depends not only on outstanding scientists, but also on high-quality professional support services that create an enabling environment where science can thrive.

Reporting to the Managing Directors (MD), this position will take operations within VIB to the next level by driving key institutional transformation projects.

Role purpose

VIB is entering a new strategic phase in which operational excellence, alignment, and collaboration across the institute become increasingly important. The Director, Operational Excellence plays a key leadership role in elevating the VIB operations at institutional level.

You will guide the gradual transition from a historically decentralized structure to a connected, collaborative support model, integrating local support teams at each location (Ghent, Leuven, Antwerp, Brussels) with central coordination on strategy, standards, and expertise.

The role is responsible for overseeing and continuously improving the way support services such as HR, Finance, Science Policy, Communication, Procurement, and ICT work together end-to-end across the organization. The objective is to ensure that processes are well aligned, efficient, resilient, and supportive of VIB’s scientific mission - while remaining pragmatic, responsive, and non-bureaucratic.

In this role, you combine operational accountability with the ability to lead change through influence and collaboration. You ensure that VIB’s operating model evolves in a thoughtful, sustainable way, balancing institute-wide coherence with strong local engagement and responsiveness.

Key responsibilities

Strategic leadership

• Translate VIB’s strategic objectives into a coherent, integrated support services model;
• Define and implement a future-proof operating model that balances local autonomy with institute-wide alignment;
• Be a strategic partner to executive leadership, research center directors, and governance bodies;
• Provide direction and prioritization for VIB's operational initiatives, in close collaboration with domain leads;
• Act as a visible, trusted leader who communicates clearly and listens actively.

Transformation & change management

• Lead a complex, multi-year change program affecting multiple locations and professional communities;
• Design and facilitate diagnostic workshops to map current practices, identify best ideas, and co-create the future model;
• Ensure phased implementation, piloting, and continuous feedback to build trust and buy-in;
• Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and reporting lines while preserving flexibility and responsiveness.

Operational excellence

• Ensure high-quality, uniform service delivery across all centers, while allowing for local differentiation where appropriate;
• Harmonize policies, processes, and tools where this adds value, efficiency, and consistency; reduce duplication of systems and workflows;
• Strengthen operational resilience through integrated teams, workload balancing, and continuity planning;
• Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Your profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in complex, knowledge-intensive organizations (e.g. research, academia, healthcare, technology).
• Strong track record in organizational transformation, shared services, or operating model redesign.
• Excellent change-management and stakeholder-engagement skills; able to build alignment across diverse communities.
• Strategic thinker with strong execution skills.
• Comfortable navigating decentralized environments and matrix organizations.
• Excellent communication skills in English and Dutch.

Why join VIB

• Lead a strategically critical transformation.
• Make a lasting impact on how a world-class research institute operates.
• Work in an intellectually rich, mission-driven environment.
• Collaborate with highly motivated colleagues across science and support functions.

How to apply

Please complete the online application procedure ( and include a detailed CV and a motivation letter. For further information and questions, please send an email to