Director of Deeptech

The Netherlands has world-class science and ambitious entrepreneurs. But too often, deeptech ventures struggle to get off the ground. Great research stays stuck in the lab. Funding gets lost in the process. And founders don’t get the infrastructure, capital, or momentum they need to scale.

We’re here to change that.

At Techleap, we’re taking the national deeptech program to the next level, and we’re hiring someone to lead it. As Director of Deeptech, you’ll shape how the Netherlands supports science-based ventures and founders for the decade ahead, and help us compete where it matters most.

How you'll make impact

This is your moment to build on what’s already in motion, and drive it forward. As Director of Deeptech, you’ll lead the growth of a national program that backs science-driven ventures with real support, real partnerships, and real momentum. You’ll sharpen the strategy, expand into new sectors, and bring delivery to the heart of how the Netherlands supports deeptech. You’ll build on the momentum of our first vertical, Future of Compute, which is already active in domains like photonics, quantum, and semiconductors. From there, you’ll grow the program into new sectors like energy, climate tech, and defence, identifying where the Netherlands can lead, and what founders need to get there. You’ll expand the team, refine the strategy, and work closely with partners like the Ministry of Economic Affairs, TNO, Invest-NL, universities, and corporates to bring alignment, urgency, and delivery to the ecosystem. And as part of Techleap’s leadership team, you’ll help shape how this country turns scientific excellence into ventures that matter, not just in policy, but in practice.

What you’ll do

• Scale the national deeptech program: define the structure and priorities for a multi-year program that helps turn Dutch research into real ventures. Align public resources, policy intent, and execution around founder outcomes. 

• Launch and lead strategic programs: strengthen our existing verticals by identifying high-potential opportunities and delivering targeted initiatives that accelerate scale. You’ll use this as a blueprint to expand into new domains like energy, climate tech, and defense.

• Hire and lead your team: recruit team members who’ll help you build a culture of clarity, urgency, and ownership, together you deliver value early and often.

• Stay close to founders: talk to deeptech founders regularly. Understand their bottlenecks. Design support programs that help them navigate capital, talent, IP, infrastructure, and customers, and connect them to people who can help.

• Drive national collaboration: unite ministries, research institutions, corporates, and public investors around shared goals. Represent Techleap at national roundtables and ensure deeptech founders have a seat at the policy table.

What we're looking for

You’re a builder who turns ambition into execution. Someone who knows how to take bold ideas and make them real, fast. You’ve operated at the intersection of science, startups, and public systems, and you know how to lead when the path isn’t obvious, the stakeholders are many, and the stakes are national.

You’ve probably done some of the following:

• Led innovation programs across public and private domains

• Been close to scaling tech companies as a (co)founder, investor, program lead, or ecosystem operator

• Built and led teams with urgency, clarity, and trust

• Worked with founders, ministries, corporates and universities

• Spoken Dutch at the policy table and English in the boardroom

• Turned research into real companies, and understand what makes that journey succeed or stall

Above all, you care about helping deeptech founders succeed and you want to build the system that makes it possible.

What we offer

We believe the opportunity speaks for itself: you’ll build with national visibility and long-term relevance, and work alongside the people shaping the future of Dutch tech. In addition, we offer:

• An annual salary starting from > €100K (final package tbd)

• A leadership role with access to public leaders, pioneering founders, and the national innovation agenda

• 8% holiday allowance and 15% pension contribution

• Unlimited holidays and a hybrid work setup

• Home office and BYOD support

• A high-trust, high-autonomy environment with a small, mission-driven team