Innovation & Market Researcher – Nature- Solutions; NBS FTE

Innovation & Market Researcher – Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) 0.2 FTE Departments, Department of Built Environment Introduction

Would you like to bridge the gap between urban climate resilience and commercial real estate development? We are seeking an researcher to conduct customer discovery with private developers and build a parametric library to mathematically quantify the value of green interventions.

The Department of the Built Environment is executing an applied research project focused on building a trustworthy AI framework to assist municipalities and private developers in recognizing the multi-dimensional values of nature. This position is vital for aligning regulatory climate mandates with commercial market realities.

As an Innovation and Market Researcher, you will tackle two concrete challenges:

• Customer Discovery & Market Analysis:
  You will conduct structured interviews and map out Decision‑Making Units (DMUs) across private developers and municipal departments. Your focus will be on understanding where the internal alignment breaks down regarding nature‑inclusive investments and identifying where current workflows—such as relying on fragmented external cost consultancies or static Excel‑based validation tools—fail to capture long‑term performance.
• Parametric NBS Library Development:
  You will translate scientific literature and empirical data into a standardized database of Nature‑Based Solutions (NBS). You will map out the precise physical boundaries (e.g., roof pitch limitations, load proxies) and eco‑financial benefits (e.g., energy efficiency, stormwater interception, carbon calculation metrics) of green infrastructure. Additionally, you will catalog financial catalysts, such as municipal green funds or private banking subsidies for biobased materials, to directly support return‑on‑investment (ROI) modeling.

Within our team, you will collaborate closely with technical engineers and external industry pioneers, turning qualitative market insights into hard variables that feed our computational logic engine.

• A recently completed Master’s degree in Innovation Management, Industrial Engineering, Structural Engineering, Sustainable Urban Development, or a closely related field.
• Experience with, or a strong interest in, qualitative research methods, corporate customer discovery, and stakeholder interview mapping.
• Basic familiarity with commercial real‑estate development processes, land exploitation (GREX) models, or urban planning frameworks.
• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to translate technical environmental parameters (e.g., water retention coefficients, thermal insulation values) into structured financial or logical data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; proficiency in Dutch is considered a major asset for interacting with local municipalities and regional developers.
• Self‑motivated, structured, and comfortable working in an interdisciplinary setting that bridges technology, policy, and business.

If you are concerned that you don’t meet all the requirements sufficiently, but the job does excite you, then be sure to respond, we would love to look at your profile.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• A year‑end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• A favorable arrangement for more holidays or a sabbatical.
• Working hours in consultation for an optimal work‑life balance.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on‑campus children’s day care and sports facilities.
• Scope for your talent with advancement prospects and excellent development opportunities such as mentoring, workshops and coaching.
• Partially paid parental leave and reimbursement for commuting expenses, working from home and the internet.
• A generous employer contribution to the favorable ABP pension plan.