Director QNO – Quantum Network Operator Cooperative
📍 Location: Randstad area, The Netherlands (hybrid)
👥 Reports to: Director Programmes & Infrastructure
🔗 Role type: Employment (1.0 FTE)
🗓️ Starting date: As soon as possible
🚀 About QNO
QNO is a member-based cooperative (coöperatie) established to develop a commercially viable quantum operator service. The cooperative pools resources from Dutch telecom industry and knowledge institutions to deploy and operate a quantum key distribution (QKD) network in the Randstad region, connecting to the European backbone via the Amsterdam Science Park.
Founded by QDNL, QNO aims to provide quantum-secure communication services to critical infrastructure operators while validating commercial use cases with users and ecosystem partners.
This is a rare opportunity to join as the founding executive during the critical zero-to-one phase. You will simultaneously direct the cooperative’s institutional development and lead the complex, multi-stakeholder deployment project funded by QDNL.
🔎 Your Role
You will hold dual accountability as Director (40%) and Project Lead (60%), with a clear trajectory toward full-time Director responsibility as the organisation scales.
This is not a pure strategy role, nor is it a back-office project management position. You will be the public face of the cooperative toward members and stakeholders, the primary interface to the funding body, and the operational engine ensuring milestones are met, often with limited resources and evolving governance structures.
🎯 Key Responsibilities
Strategic & Governance Responsibilities (40%)
Lead the transition from founding-member governance to a formal cooperative structure, including drafting (with legal support) and implementing the governance code, membership criteria, and voting protocols.
Design and execute the membership growth strategy: identifying, recruiting and admitting new members (telecom operators, data centres, real estate services, government agencies, research institutions) while balancing diverse stakeholder interests.
Serve as the primary liaison to the QDNL founding members and future cooperative members, ensuring alignment between the project’s tactical execution and the cooperative’s long-term strategic interests.
Establish institutional policies, risk management frameworks and fiduciary oversight for cooperative assets.
Prepare the organisational architecture for operational independence, including future recruitment of a dedicated Project Lead to separate operational and strategic functions.
Project Execution Responsibilities (60%)
Hold ultimate accountability for project delivery, budget execution and compliance toward the QDNL funding body, including formal progress reporting.
Direct the operational team (Technology Adoption Lead, Development & Operations Lead, and sub-contractors) through the deployment of the Randstad MVP quantum network.
Manage sub-contractor relationships: Randstad network deployment consortium, software development vendors, and technical architecture consultants.
Ensure rigorous separation between project governance (your authority) and emerging cooperative governance (member-driven), protecting project continuity while enabling democratic member participation.
🎓 Required Qualifications & Skills
You are a pragmatic founder-type with experience navigating the ambiguity of early-stage infrastructure ventures. You understand how to build credibility with both government funders and private consortium partners.
For this role, we are looking for candidates who demonstrate a majority the following essential and advantageous qualifications and skills. You do not need to meet every requirement listed, but you should match the majority of them.
8 or more years of experience in infrastructure project leadership, preferably in telecom, data centre, or managed network services environments.
Demonstrated track record managing €5M+ (publicly funded) technology deployment projects, including sub-contractor management.
Experience with cooperative, consortium or multi-stakeholder governance models, comfortable navigating member relations, fiduciary duties and strategic decision-making processes.
Proven ability to operate in resource-constrained "build mode": simultaneously setting strategy, managing budgets, and executing operational tasks.
Deep commercial and operational understanding of network business models (wholesale fibre, IXPs, managed security services, or adjacent ICT infrastructure).
Eligible to work in the Netherlands and willing to travel occasionally within the EU.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills in English, with a proven ability to work effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders across public and private domains. Fluent Dutch language skills are preferred but not required.
Experience with critical infrastructure certification, security accreditation, or regulated utility models.
Prior exposure to quantum key distribution (QKD) or cryptographic infrastructure (technical depth not required, but market awareness valued).
Previous involvement public-private partnership (PPP) structures.
Network within the Dutch digital infrastructure ecosystem (telecom operators, government digital agencies).
💡 What we offer
A foundational role in building Europe’s quantum communication backbone with direct impact on national digital sovereignty.
The opportunity to shape a new category of critical infrastructure organisation from its inception.
Collaborative working environment with access to QDNLs’ ecosystem and international EuroQCI partner networks.
Hybrid working options.
A competitive compensation package.
📩 Apply Now!
Send your CV and motivation in a single PDF via LinkedIn or email. For questions, feel free to reach out to Jordi Spijker, Recruiter – [email protected]
🔎 Selection Process
The screening of CVs and motivation letters will take place on a rolling basis. Candidates who are selected will be invited for an interview. Those progressing to the next stage will be invited for a second interview with members of the QDNL board and/or core team.
