Senior Business Developer Ecosystem Development & Scale-up

About this position

The Netherlands’ economic competitiveness, quality of life and security depend on our ability to accelerate complex transitions. Individual pilots alone are not enough. Businesses, governments and knowledge partners need to develop the collective capacity to take innovations further and scale them up.

As Senior Business Developer Ecosystem Development & Scale-up, this is exactly the challenge you will work on. You immerse yourself in a sector or societal challenge, build a network of relevant parties and bring different interests together. You enable organisations to take joint action, make commitments and invest. In doing so, you build public-private ecosystems in which shared ambitions can develop into concrete programmes and business opportunities.

You will work within TNO Vector and report to the Market Director.

• The Hague
• Hybrid
• Master
• 32-40 hours/week

What will be your role?

Your work starts outside TNO. You explore what is happening within a sector or ecosystem, where interests converge and what is needed to create momentum. You build a network at decision-making level and bring together businesses, governments and other relevant stakeholders. Through these relationships, you identify opportunities for collaboration and scale-up.

You ensure that the right agenda, funding and expertise come together. You create the conditions for parties to commit to a joint approach and invest in it. You then translate this external challenge into an appropriate role for TNO. You involve the right experts and ensure that ecosystems lead to concrete programmes, funding and assignments.

Consider, for example, a value chain of companies that can only become more sustainable if they fairly distribute costs, benefits and risks, as in a biobased value chain. Or the security of supply of sustainable steel, where an organisation such as ProRail can only move forward if the entire value chain moves with it. You make these interdependencies clear and help parties reach agreements.

What we expect from you

We are looking for a builder: someone with a proven ability to develop new networks and ecosystems and to mobilise different organisations around a shared challenge. You combine strategic insight with commercial acumen and know how to turn collaboration into concrete programmes, funding and assignments.

You are a strong discussion partner for businesses and other stakeholders. You are not afraid to ask probing questions and first explore what is needed outside TNO before connecting this to our knowledge and expertise. You understand different interests, bring structure to complex situations and know how to get parties moving without relying on formal authority. At the same time, you keep a sharp eye on the commercial value for TNO. You also act as a trusted sounding board for the Market Director of TNO Vector.

What you bring:

• A university Master’s degree, for example in business administration, economics, innovation management, engineering and policy, or another relevant field.
• At least ten years of professional experience, for example at TNO, a large company, a start-up or scale-up, a regional development agency, or another organisation working with or for businesses.
• Demonstrable experience in building or developing networks and ecosystems in which multiple organisations collaborate.
• A proven track record in business development and in generating concrete business opportunities, funding or investment through partnerships.
• Experience working with or for businesses and in public-private partnerships.
• Experience bringing together parties with different interests around a shared challenge.
• The ability to work from market needs and connect them to relevant knowledge and expertise within TNO.
• Strong communication skills in both Dutch and English.
• Energy, entrepreneurship and flexibility.

What you'll get in return

Challenging and varied work with a real impact. And plenty of opportunities as, at TNO, you are in charge of shaping your career. We offer a gross monthly salary between € 6,500 and € 9,000 (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € 180). In addition, you will be given every opportunity to develop yourself.

TNO offers optional employee benefits, enabling you to tailor your benefits package to match your personal situation. You may also expect:

• An extremely professional, innovative working environment where colleagues are leading experts in their field.
• The opportunity to attend courses, workshops and conferences, and to receive training and coaching based on your needs.
• 33 days annual leave plus a flexible holiday that can be used on a cultural, religious, or otherwise important day of your choosing (on a full-time basis).
• We offer a comprehensive and flexible mobility plan that also includes full compensation for public transportation for commuting and business travel or a lease car.
• Great social events with your team and other TNO colleagues.
• Flexible working hours, the possibility to work parttime (32 or 36 hours) and the possibility of working from home.
• A good pension scheme.

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration.

• A Certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required before starting a new job at TNO.
• The selection process may include an online assessment and a reference check.