Head of Compliance, Ethics & Integrity

About this position

Would you like to work at the forefront of emerging technologies and contribute to solutions for societal challenges such as climate change, security, mobility, defense, ICT, health, and digitalization? And would you like to play a key role in building an ethical, resilient, and future-oriented organization? If so, we are looking for you.

As Head of Compliance, Ethics & Integrity, you will lead a team of 12 dedicated professionals and work on a broad range of compliance, ethics, and integrity matters. Together with your team, you will focus on promoting an open and ethical organizational culture and establishing and maintaining compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including digital legislation, AI regulation, export control and sanctions regulations, privacy and data protection, business relationship due diligence, confidential advisers, as well as reporting and incident management.

In this role, you will connect core values, strategy, risks, legislation, policies, and day-to-day practice. You will play an important role in strengthening a culture where ethical and responsible behavior is second nature and where employees are empowered to make the right decisions and act accordingly.

You are comfortable operating within a complex stakeholder environment and possess a high degree of organizational awareness. You thrive in a politically and administratively complex setting and are attentive to interests, relationships, stakeholder support, timing, and impact. You are able to engage effectively at all levels of the organization. At the same time, you are pragmatic, flexible in your thinking, and skilled at connecting different perspectives.

The Compliance, Ethics & Integrity (CE&I) department is part of the broader Legal, Compliance & IP (LC&IP) division, consisting of approximately 65 colleagues. This is a newly created role. You will work closely with the heads of the other three LC&IP departments—Corporate Legal, Legal Contracting, and Intellectual Property—and, like them, report directly to the General Counsel. You will also be a member of the LC&IP Management Team. Together, you will build a strong, agile, and multidisciplinary department.

What will be your role?

As Head of Compliance, Ethics & Integrity, you will be responsible for both the managerial and substantive leadership of CE&I. You will ensure a cohesive approach across compliance, ethics, and integrity. The creation of this role is intended to strengthen accountability and governance within these domains.

A key element of your role will be ensuring effective cooperation between the central compliance function and decentralized execution within TNO’s operational processes. You will work closely with other departments within LC&IP and across TNO.

You will develop, implement, maintain, and monitor an integrated, risk-based compliance program that aligns pragmatically with TNO’s operations and risk appetite. You will anticipate relevant internal and external developments and contribute to the execution of TNO’s strategy.

Together with your team, you will translate applicable laws and regulations, ethical standards, and internal frameworks into policies, procedures, and practical control measures. You will oversee reporting, monitor the follow-up of reports and incidents, and initiate improvements where necessary.

From a helicopter perspective, you will proactively advise management and executive leadership on compliance issues and risk appetite, particularly regarding export controls and sanctions, digitalization, data, and AI. You will effectively position compliance, ethics, and integrity topics on the agenda, while taking into account stakeholder interests, support, timing, and impact. You will successfully balance risk management, operational feasibility, and TNO’s societal and technological impact.

You will also maintain relationships with regulators, government bodies, and other external stakeholders when required.

In addition, you will strengthen ethical and responsible behavior throughout TNO. You will encourage dialogue and role modeling, promote an open and safe culture, and ensure the effectiveness of the central confidential adviser function and the broader network of confidential advisers within TNO.

As a people leader, you will set priorities in consultation with the General Counsel and in line with organizational needs. You will oversee workload, staffing, expertise, working methods, processes, and stakeholder satisfaction. You will conduct development discussions, stimulate talent development, and actively contribute to team building, organizational values, professional conduct, and psychosocial safety.

What can you expect from your work environment?

CE&I is a broad and socially relevant department within LC&IP, where legal, ethical, organizational, and technological issues come together.

You will be based at TNO’s headquarters in The Hague and, where necessary, visit other TNO locations to maintain close connections with operational practice and the various parts of the organization.

Technology is transforming society at a rapid pace. TNO is at the heart of these developments, working on challenges ranging from climate and security to digitalization, health, defense, and AI. In such an environment, it is essential that innovation goes hand in hand with trust, diligence, and ethical conduct.

What we expect from you

You are an experienced leader and a strong, collaborative professional with proven experience in AI and digitalization, compliance, ethics, integrity, risk management, or related disciplines. You possess a high degree of organizational sensitivity, a deep understanding of governance dynamics, and the ability to operate effectively within a complex organization.

You combine strategic insight with execution power. You know how to set priorities, influence agendas, and drive implementation in a way that fits the organization and creates support. You communicate clearly and constructively, without creating unnecessary resistance, and you know how to coach, develop, and empower professionals.

To be successful in this role, you should have:

• A university-level education and thinking ability;
• Proven experience leading professionals, preferably within a complex organization;
• Extensive experience in compliance, ethics, integrity, digitalization, risk management, governance, or a comparable field;
• Experience developing, implementing, and monitoring policies, programs, processes, and control measures;
• Affinity with compliance domains such as digital regulation, data and AI, export controls and sanctions, due diligence, privacy, and data protection;
• A clear vision on the future development of compliance, ethics, and integrity, and the ability to translate internal and external developments into direction and priorities while engaging stakeholders;
• Strong communication skills and a collaborative, relationship-oriented approach;
• A results-oriented, proactive, and meticulous mindset, with the ability to distinguish priorities from details;
• A strong focus on team development, psychosocial safety, and fostering an open and ethical organizational culture;
• Excellent command of both Dutch and English, spoken and written.

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 (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).
• 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.

As you will be working for clients in the domain of defence and security, a Certificate of No Objection issued by AIVD (the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service) is mandatory. This means you will have to undergo a security screening.