Manager Science & Technology, division Electromagnetics & Military Operations

From electronic warfare and radar technology to integrated air and missile defence, military space technology, and the analysis and support of military operations, TNO develops knowledge and technology that enable the Netherlands Armed Forces to strengthen their information advantage, identify threats at an earlier stage, and respond effectively.

Technological developments are accelerating, while Europe is investing heavily in its defence capabilities. This requires not only solutions to today’s challenges, but also strategic choices about the knowledge and technologies that could make a decisive difference five, ten or fifteen years from now.

TNO's Defence, Safety & Security (DSS) unit comprises approximately 1,200 experts. Within DSS, Electromagnetics & Military Operations (E&MO) is the largest division, with around 400 employees. The division consists of six research groups and a market team, working on a broad range of scientific and technological challenges for the Netherlands Ministry of Defence.

As Science & Technology Manager, you will shape the strategic development of E&MO's knowledge and technology capabilities.

You oversee scientific and technological developments across the division and translate them into strategic choices for the future. You help determine which knowledge and technologies E&MO needs to develop, strengthen or pursue in collaboration with partners to remain relevant and at the forefront of its field in the long term.

In doing so, you connect two perspectives. From an inside-out perspective, you identify emerging knowledge, technologies and capabilities from our research that can contribute to E&MO's strategic priorities and propositions. At the same time, you look further ahead: what developments are coming our way, and what knowledge do we need to develop today to make a difference in the years to come?

• Setting the direction for the S&T portfolio. You translate the Science & Technology strategy into action within E&MO, safeguard the coherence and quality of the knowledge and technology portfolio, and initiate new research directions where needed.
• Connecting Science & Technology to propositions. Together with proposition leads, research managers, the market team and other subject‑matter leaders, you translate new knowledge and technologies into strategic propositions and priorities. Conversely, you identify which future capabilities require the development of new knowledge. Examples include propositions such as Air Defence and Military Space.
• Understanding and connecting with the national and international forefront. You know where leading-edge knowledge and technology are being developed, both nationally and internationally, which organisations and experts are shaping developments in relevant technology domains, and where collaboration with allied research partners can add value. You build relationships that give E&MO access to knowledge, expertise and opportunities for joint development. Examples include DARPA, the Air Force Research Laboratory and Fraunhofer.
• Strengthening scientific and technological excellence. You foster scientific and technological leadership, multidisciplinary collaboration and development across organisational and disciplinary boundaries.
• Helping shape research programmes. You represent E&MO in relevant research programmes, both during their development and throughout their execution, and help ensure that their content, resources and governance remain aligned with the chosen S&T direction.
• Together with the Director of Science & Technology, the other Science & Technology Managers and the Principal Scientists, you form the DSS knowledge leadership team. Within E&MO,…