Industry Developer – Defence / Aerospace
📍 Location: The Netherlands, Delft (hybrid)
👥 Reports to: QDNL Director of Industry
🔗 Role type: Employment (min. 0.8 FTE)
🚀 Help Grow And Develop The Dutch Defence/Aerospace Sector With Cutting-Edge Quantum Technology
QDNL is accelerating the Dutch quantum ecosystem by driving innovation, commercialization and talent development across the country. To further support this mission, we are looking for an Industry Developer with a focus on the defence/ aerospace sectors that can identify opportunities for collaboration, valorisation, and help translate quantum innovation into sustainable economic and societal impact.
As Industry Developer you will operate in and be responsible for our defence and/ or aerospace industry verticals, enabling both the national security, as well as quantum technology agenda. Operating at the intersection of defence and aerospace (quantum) technology, entrepreneurship, and public-private collaboration you will work closely with startups, scale-ups, corporates, knowledge institutions, and government/ military partners.
Regular interaction with the QDNL hubs (Delft, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Enschede, Leiden) and the broader ecosystem is expected.
🔎 Your Role
As Industry Developer at QDNL, you play a central role in expanding and strengthening the quantum technology in the defence sector, preferably in combination with the aerospace sector. You help the ecosystem by raising investments and spotting opportunities to create tangible value in innovative propositions in support of the national security strategy and the quantum technology ecosystem.
You identify and develop new partnerships, support companies, and startups within the ecosystem, and contribute to the design and execution of programmes and initiatives that accelerate innovation and market adoption of quantum technology to support the national defence/security agenda.
You are a defence/aerospace industry expert with gravitas and have a strong network in the Ministry of Defence value chain. You know how to enable your network, make decisions and translate academic and industry opportunities into tangible propositions with a return on investment for the sector.
You will be able to initiate collaborations and projects. It is important in your role to get programmes up and running, but also deliver on mission goals, KPI’s and results. You know how to read a (meeting)room quickly, are very diplomatic and feel comfortable navigating a complex stakeholder landscape. You know how to align different interests towards shared goals and contribute to the national security criteria for quantum technology. You help to decide the standard and ‘write the playbook’ for an aligned and impactful growth of quantum technology in the defence/ aerospace industry.
🎯 Key Responsibilities
Opportunity & Partnership Development: Identify, initiate and develop new industry opportunities, strategic partnerships, and collaborations within the quantum defence (and/ or aerospace) ecosystem.
Ecosystem Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with the Ministry of Defence, startups, scale-ups, corporates, knowledge institutions, and public partners within the defence and/ or aerospace industry.
Programme & Project Support: Contribute to the development and execution of QDNL programmes and initiatives focused on innovation, valorisation, and growth within the defence and/ or aerospace industry.
Industry & Market Insight: Translate national defence, technological and research developments into market-oriented propositions, use cases and collaboration models in support of the national security agenda.
Startup & Company Support: Support companies within the ecosystem in their growth, positioning and access to relevant networks and opportunities.
Representation & Visibility: Actively contribute to the national and international visibility and positioning of QDNL.
🎓 Required Qualifications & Skills
Academic work and thinking level, preferably accompanied by a master, MBA or PhD degree or equivalent experience on an academic level.
Minimum of 3 years of defence (and/ or aerospace) industry experience on similar level to a director, head of a division or a key account manager in the Ministry of Defence supplier chain.
A proven track record in either industry (or otherwise business) development, innovation management and strategic partnerships.
Affinity with high-tech innovation and an interest in quantum technology is preferred.
Eligible to receive the required military security clearance levels quickly.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills in both (near fluent) Dutch and English – with a proven ability to work effectively with a diverse set of stakeholders across public and private domains.
🧮 Core Competencies
Political Sensibility and Acumen: Able to quickly grasp complex political dynamics, address stakeholders appropriately by (military) rank or stature, and steer diverse interests toward shared goals that support investments in the quantum technology ecosystem and the defence/aerospace domain.
Business Judgment: Strong strategic and analytical skills to assess market/commercial potential of the innovations by quantum technology in the defence/aerospace domain and translate them into actionable initiatives.
Communication & Negotiation: Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively across diverse audiences (military, air force, aviation, professors, program managers, patent attorneys, IP managers, business developers) and build trust and align interests across organizations and sectors.
Entrepreneurial Mindset: A proactive, self-starter approach to effectively partner with stakeholders in the defence/aerospace value chain from different backgrounds, disciplines and institutions in a dynamic environment.
Networking: Build and maintain an established network within the Ministry of Defence/ aerospace value chain and the ability to build external relationships with various external stakeholders (e.g. professors, start-ups) in the ecosystem.
Independent Team Player: Able to work effectively in multidisciplinary teams, make independent decisions, and report outcomes and mission targets to team members and (executive) stakeholders in a swift and concise manner.
Pragmatic & Results Driven: Able to move seamlessly between strategy and execution, translate mission targets in tangible actions or KPI’s and personally deliver on results and deliverables with an hands-on attitude.
💡 What we offer
A key role in advancing the Dutch defence/aerospace industry with fast-evolving technology
The opportunity to work at the forefront of the technological capabilities in the Defence/ aerospace industry
A collaborative, mission-driven and informal work environment
Flexibility in where and how you work
Room to grow your role depending on expertise and interests
A contract or collaboration structure that fits your situation (employment, secondment, or contracting)
A competitive compensation package
📩 Apply Now!
Apply through LinkedIn and upload your CV. 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.
Motivational letters are not required to apply. But they are very welcome and additional information like ambition and motivation may be requested in further stages of the selection process.
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