A Co-Founding CEO is sought to work on an exciting new project in Circular Wastewater Treatment.
Apply for this position via our trusted recruitment partner LUKA Global.
- CEO and Co-Founder of Start-Up
- Attractive Equity Stake
- Venture Builder with Extensive Support Networks
To be eligible you should have experience in project finance, infrastructure project scaling (wind parks, solar parks, wastewater treatment plants, bio digesters etc.), and/or business development within the (semi-)public energy, water or chemical sector.
The world needs innovations to reach net-zero and circularity, but a wealth of research inventions never get used at scale. BigCircle Ventures scouts promising DeepTech and turns this into successful startups that tackle the world’s climate and circularity challenges. We focus on the large, untapped pool of early-stage innovations that would otherwise stay untouched on a shelf, hidden in a university, research institute or company lab.
It all starts with a goal-driven project selection process to assess impact and commercial viability. Once identified, the project is paired with a CEO at the point of incorporation. As CEO/Co-Founder you will drive the project to hit milestones with a
strategic exit in mind.
The technology:
The innovation offers a novel method to convert low-value, iron-rich residual sludge from drinking water production into a high-performance liquid coagulant. Iron-rich sludge from drinking water treatment is treated with hydrochloric acid to form an iron-based coagulant. This drop-in replacement is crucial for phosphate removal at municipal wastewater treatment plants. Currently, the industry relies heavily on volatile and expensive commercial iron salts. By utilizing a local waste stream, this technology provides supply security, drastic cost resilience, and a significant reduction in CO₂ footprint.
This venture will likely operate on a project finance structure. Scaling requires establishing a holding company alongside Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to finance, construct, and operate multiple treatment installations, both in the Netherlands and internationally.
A CEO is sought to co-found this revolutionary project.
Your key responsibilities will be:
- Project development & management: Act as Project Director overseeing the full cycle of project development and realization with an SPV structure (design, funding, construction, commissioning, and operation). Set up and lead the project development TopCo vs. the SPV organizations.
- Funding & project finance: Succeed in attracting investors and subsidies for product development (equity for TopCo) and SPVs (project finance/debt/non-dilutive financing).
- Network within potential customers & supply chain: Align with offtakers' technical and financial requirements during the development of the technology. Build a strong network and understand the technical and market requirements of users in the water treatment market, both domestically and internationally, to figure out a fitting business model.
- Leadership & technology development: Build strong, motivated teams for technology- and business development, foster trust, and inspire others to do their best work bridging innovation and market impact. Organize relevant capacities effectively in each specific phase of tech development, focusing on feedstock testing and process engineering.
- Regulations and market trends: Monitor the development of relevant market regulations and market trends regarding the use of coagulants/flocculants. Scout opportunities and threats, act accordingly, and lobby at the necessary authorities or trade organizations.
Requirements
You have experience/competence in the following areas:
- Entrepreneurship: You can turn the technology into real-world impact, by identifying opportunities to create value, innovation, and profit.
- Driven and action-oriented: You are a person who is willing to make things happen by setting relevant goals with a clear path to achieving them.
- Infrastructure & Project Finance experience: You bring hands-on experience in managing EPC/DBFMO projects within the semi-public infrastructure, energy and/or water treatment sectors. You have extensive knowledge of setting up new entities (project factories / SPVs) and raising/structuring project finance.
- Collaborative Technical Mindset: A technical background is a plus, but not essential. You must be enthusiastic about technology and be able to pick up knowledge of limitations and boundaries of the technology. You enjoy working closely with research, product, and engineering teams, translating industrial needs into solutions that make sense.
- Semi-Public Sector & Stakeholder Management: You bring hands-on experience in the semi-public market, preferably within the water treatment sector. You have experience with public tenders, navigating complex regulations, and managing public interests and stakeholder dynamics. International experience (Germany, Belgium, France) is highly favorable.
- Business model development & project realization: You have experience with designing and scaling business models. You have a track record as a Project Director successfully managing the full cycle of capital-intensive project development in for example infrastructure, energy, or chemical plant deployments.
Your work experience ideally includes success in:
- Project development & scaling: You know how to translate pilot-stage chemical processes into commercial realities. You have experience in EPC/DBFMO projects and management of these projects.
- Visionary leadership: You bring clarity and purpose to complex situations, shaping innovation and business growth through creativity, data-driven insight, and long-term thinking. Experience in a start-up or growth-stage environment is a plus.
- Financial acumen: You combine strategic financial insight with relationship-building skills. You can manage budgets and earnings reports, as well as creating growth by finding and engaging with investors for external fundraising.
- Commercial execution: You understand how to successfully introduce sustainable, drop-in replacement technologies to traditional markets, ideally with experience in semi-public markets
- Regulatory knowledge: You have a strong understanding of European environmental standards, waste-to-resource frameworks (End-of-Waste criteria), and the permitting processes required for chemical handling and industrial plant operations.
Other requirements:
- English language proficiency. Additional languages are a plus (German, French, Dutch)
- Currently based in the Netherlands or happy to relocate
- Available at least 3 days a week in start-up phase, although full time is preferable
Benefits
Founding a start-up is the dream of many, but the chance of success via traditional routes is disappointingly low.
We dramatically increase the chances of success by:
- Picking the most promising, impactful technologies
- Match each project with the right entrepreneur
- Put support and infrastructure in place to ensure the best chance of success
The unique benefit of this model is the complete suite of professional services provided.
You will be surrounded by experts in the fields of capital raising (all stages), exit, legal, governance, regulatory, patent expertise & HR support. You will be mentored one-to-one by a senior partner and join a growing community of CEOs within our portfolio of ventures.
You should bring with you the mind-set of an entrepreneurial co-founder, and as such, do not hesitate to apply even if you do not match all listed requirements. You will be a partner with us, not an employee. Your wins and setbacks are shared. This very fact underpins the reason you have access to our highly professional team and networks that give you the best chance of success.
