Policy Advisor (Regulatory Affairs)

Help shape the Dutch tech ecosystem with sharp policy and regulatory insights.

As Policy Advisor (Regulatory Affairs) at Techleap, you will be the expert who translates complex policy developments into actionable positions for Techleap and the founders we serve.

This role combines deep policy analysis with strategic positioning. Working closely with the Head of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications, you ensure that Techleap's public affairs agenda is grounded in the regulatory field, translating national and European topics into clear positions that drive real impact for the Dutch ecosystem.

What You’ll Be Doing

Policy Intelligence & Analysis

You track and analyse policy developments at national and European level across domains such as capital markets, talent and deeptech-specific regulation. You understand the dynamics between political priorities and relevant policies and translate these into concrete risks and opportunities for founders, ensuring Techleap always has a current, well-grounded point of view.

Ministry Relations & Position Development

You know your way around the relevant ministries and keep Techleap closely connected to what is moving on their agendas. You maintain frequent and substantive relationships with policy officials, stay closely informed, and develop and maintain Techleap's positions on key regulatory and policy topics, producing briefings, position papers, and input documents that support conversations with external stakeholders.

Deeptech Vertical & Spin-off Support

You equip Techleap's deeptech verticals and valorisation programme with a clear understanding of the regulatory context in which ventures operate. You identify deeptech-specific regulatory challenges and translate these into accessible insights. Where relevant, you flag emerging regulatory risks early and ensure they are reflected in Techleap's broader policy agenda.

Founder & Policy Engagement

You serve as the point of contact for founders on policy-related matters. You surface challenges faced by founders and bring these into the political and policy debate. You work closely with ministries and industry associations to develop solutions that improve the operating environment for startups and scaleups, and you activate founders as a source of insight and advocacy.

Who you are

You are a policy professional with a sharp analytical mind and a genuine interest in the innovation economy and tech entrepreneurship. You understand how national and EU bodies operate and how political processes work, and you know how to navigate the gap between policy intent and impact for entrepreneurs.

You are comfortable working independently on complex policy dossiers as well as collaborating closely with colleagues, and you know how to break down a dense regulatory landscape into a clear and usable position. You are flexible and thrive in a dynamic, innovative organisation that is always pushing for the best for founders and the deeptech ecosystem. Your deep interest in policy is what drives you.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a policy advisory, regulatory affairs or government (relations) role or similar.
• Strong knowledge of Dutch political and administrative processes, including the workings of relevant ministries and the relationship between national and EU-level policy.
• Familiarity with the startup and scaleup ecosystem, or a strong interest in deeptech and innovation policy.
• The ability to write clearly and persuasively for different audiences, from policy briefs to accessible summaries.
• Fluency in Dutch and English is required.

How You Work

• Connect: You collaboratively engage colleagues and stakeholders proactively.
• Make Impact: You drive maximum impact for entrepreneurs and the Netherlands by continuously identifying opportunities to enhance growth conditions.
• Growth Mindset: You approach new policy domains with curiosity and rigour, continuously building your knowledge of the Dutch deeptech ecosystem.
• Truly Care: You show genuine care for founders and colleagues with sincere interest in their needs and backgrounds, and you keep their realities at the centre of your analysis.

Your Success in 6 Months

• You have built a clear and current map of the policy and regulatory dossiers most relevant to Techleap’s mandate and the Dutch deeptech ecosystem.
• You have developed or updated Techleap’s positions on the key policy themes affecting startups and scaleups, including at European level.
• You are a trusted internal resource for the Head of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications and the vertical and valorisation teams, providing timely and well-grounded regulatory input.
• You have established working relationships with relevant policy professionals and are embedded in the networks that matter for Techleap's regulatory affairs work.

What we offer

• 8% holiday allowance
• 15% pension allowance for you to allocate
• Home- and BYOD allowance
• Travel allowance
• Unlimited holidays
• Hybrid working setup (max. 2 days WFH)