CEO & Co-Founder - Circular Wastewater Treatment
On-siteAmsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
Job Summary
Drive project development and management for a circular wastewater treatment startup, overseeing the full lifecycle from design through construction and commissioning within a Special Purpose Vehicle structure. Secure funding and project finance by attracting investors and subsidies for both equity and debt, while building networks with off-takers to align technical and financial requirements. Lead technology and business development teams, fostering innovation in converting iron-rich sludge into high-performance coagulants, and monitor regulatory trends to lobby authorities as needed. Manage stakeholder dynamics in semi-public markets and navigate complex permitting processes to scale operations domestically and internationally.
Required Qualifications
- Experience in project finance
- Experience in infrastructure project scaling (wind parks, solar parks, wastewater treatment plants, bio digesters etc.)
- Business development within the (semi-)public energy, water or chemical sector
- Hands-on experience in managing EPC/DBFMO projects within the semi-public infrastructure, energy and/or water treatment sectors
- Extensive knowledge of setting up new entities (project factories / SPVs) and raising/structuring project finance
- Hands-on experience in the semi-public market, preferably within the water treatment sector
- Experience with public tenders
- Experience navigating complex regulations
- Experience managing public interests and stakeholder dynamics
- Experience in a start-up or growth-stage environment
- Experience in EPC/DBFMO projects
- Experience in managing the full cycle of capital-intensive project development in infrastructure, energy, or chemical plant deployments
- Experience in introducing sustainable, drop-in replacement technologies to traditional markets, ideally with experience in semi-public markets
- Strong understanding of European environmental standards
- Understanding of waste-to-resource frameworks (End-of-Waste criteria)
- Understanding of permitting processes required for chemical handling and industrial plant operations
- English language proficiency
- Currently based in the Netherlands or happy to relocate
- Available at least 3 days a week in start-up phase
- Mind-set of an entrepreneurial co-founder
Desired Qualifications
- Technical background (a plus, but not essential)
- Enthusiasm about technology
- Ability to pick up knowledge of limitations and boundaries of the technology
- Experience working closely with research, product, and engineering teams
- Ability to translate industrial needs into solutions that make sense
- International experience (Germany, Belgium, France)
- Experience in translating pilot-stage chemical processes into commercial realities
- Experience in EPC/DBFMO projects and management of these projects
- Experience in a start-up or growth-stage environment
- Strategic financial insight
- Relationship-building skills
- Ability to manage budgets and earnings reports
- Ability to create growth by finding and engaging with investors for external fundraising
- Additional languages (German, French, Dutch)
- Experience in start-ups
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