The Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in San Francisco has a fulltime vacancy (40 hours per week) for a Innovation, Technology & Science Advisor. This job will be offered at pay scale 8 for a fixed term of 1 year with the explicit intention to extend it and a probationary period of 1 month.

Application letters together with resume should be submitted to: Taake Manning (taake.manning@minbuza.nl) with a motivational letter and CV.

For more information about this vacancy, also please contact above mentioned mail address.
Closing date for applications:  March 31, 2025

Indicative monthly gross salary: $9,363.00 gross (pay scale 8, step 0)
401K Plan is offered. Health/Dental/Vision is provided on a 72-28 Employer-Employee basis.

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has a strong focus on Innovation, Technology & Science and ranks in the top 5 of the global competitiveness index. To ensure its global position as an innovation leader and to strengthen its global competitiveness, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs established a global Netherlands Innovation Network (NIN) based in Dutch embassies and consulates in 15 countries world-wide.

The Netherlands Innovation Network stimulates international cooperation between companies, research institutes and public authorities in the fields of innovation, technology and science. The network's activities help implement the international knowledge and innovation agenda of the Dutch government. We address national and global challenges, aiming to further develop key enabling technologies through international cooperation and a worldwide network of offices.

We strengthen international innovation cooperation by:

• providing knowledge and information on the latest innovation, technology and science developments around the world;
• connecting to potential partners abroad;
• organizing innovation missions, seminars, workshops and matchmaking events abroad;
• identifying funding mechanisms for bi- and multilateral cooperation.

The Netherlands Innovation Network in North America connects companies, research institutes and public authorities from the Netherlands with relevant innovation, technology and science organizations in the US and Canada. NIN collaborates closely with our sister organization the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) and ScaleNL.

Job description

As Innovation, Science & Technology Advisor you will be part of the NIN team North America and based at the Dutch Consulate General in San Francisco. The team is composed of 13 colleagues divided over offices in Washington (6 people), San Francisco (3), Boston (3) and Toronto (1) and covers the US and Canada. The team focuses on the science, technology and innovation developments in North America.

You will be responsible for covering developments in the priority areas for bilateral cooperation, with a strong focus on artificial intelligence, cyber security, knowledge security and “big tech”. With colleagues in the IA network, Embassy and Consulates, you will report on how the American government shapes its policies in these areas and identify the latest relevant developments in industry and in science. Building a strong and relevant network is essential in your work. You identify and facilitate opportunities for cooperation. You initiate and facilitate missions, events and visits and are capable of positioning the qualities of the Netherlands in the US, with a regional focus on the Western states. You will investigate the ways in which these states deal with commercialization and public-private partnerships.

You will work with all departments of the diplomatic network in the US and, to a lesser extent, Canada. In your work you will maintain regular contact and work closely together with the Embassy in Washington DC and the Dutch diplomatic network in North America as well as with our colleagues in the Netherlands.

In your role you will be:

• Investigating and reporting on relevant policy developments and technological sectors and trends, as well as identifying opportunities for matchmaking; your focus in this position will be on areas such as AI, semicon, cyber-security, knowledge security and “Big Tech”;
• Contributing to maintaining and expanding the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) relationships between the Netherlands and the US;
• Contributing to NIN’s, Scale NL’s and NFIA’s strategy and the execution of activities related to it;
• Reporting back to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Attaché home base and relevant stake holders in the Ministries;
• Identify and assess potential partners and areas for STI collaboration and facilitating these;
• Responding to enquiries of both Dutch and US entities with regards to the STI developments & trends and policy;
• Networking with both the Dutch and American industry, government and research communities;
• Networking with the top-tier universities in the Bay-area, especially with their programs on relevant subjects such as AI and security;
• Supporting and organizing programs for incoming Dutch delegations (Government, Industry, Universities and Research Institutes);

Work Environment

The Consulate General (CG) in San Francisco is a medium-sized diplomatic post with 4 seconded diplomats and 21 local employees and is active in the fields of economic and technological cooperation, innovation, climate policy, the promotion of Dutch culture & art, public diplomacy and consular advocacy. The working language at the office is English and the office is situated in downtown San Francisco.

The Consulate General in San Francisco is part of the network of Dutch missions in the US, that consists of the Embassy in Washington D.C. and 5 CGs (Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York and San Francisco). CG San Francisco serves a jurisdiction that covers the thirteen western states (including Alaska and Hawaii), an area of approximately 116 x the Netherlands. The center of gravity of the work is in the state of California.

Required Skills and Expertise

• An evident interest in science, technology and innovation (STI), preferably with relevant work experience in an international environment;
• Higher professional degree, preferably in a relevant technological domain or innovation studies
• 5 years relevant working experience
• Fluency in English (C2 level), a working knowledge of Dutch is an asset.
• Skilled communicator and presenter
• A general understanding of Science & Technology, from both a public as private perspective
• A general understanding of the research community
• Strong networking skills that you use to build a relevant network in the industry and research community in the US and the Netherlands
• A relevant network, either in the USA or the Netherlands, is an asset
• Pro-active, service oriented, flexible and being able to deal with both American and Dutch clients

We offer

We offer a local contract and a competitive salary in a dynamic, challenging and international environment with good secondary conditions.
Salary indication: starting from USD 9,363.00 gross per month.
The initial duration of the contract is one year, with the explicit intention to extend it. The intended start date for the function is the 1st of June 2025.

The Netherlands Government celebrates all forms of diversity and is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive work environment within its organization. Individuals interested in advancing these diversity goals are strongly encouraged to apply.

For enquiries please contact:
Coen Damen (coen.damen@minbuza.nl) or
Taake Manning (taake.manning@minbuza.nl)

To apply for this position, please send a motivation letter (in English) with your CV to Taake Manning (taake.manning@minbuza.nl) stating “Vacancy Advisor Innovation Technology and Science - CG San Francisco”.

The application deadline is March 31, 2025.

* This vacancy is open to internal (local employees and partners of officials posted to a Mission in the US) and external candidates. If a local employee and a partner of an official posted to a Mission are equally qualified, the local employee shall be given priority. Furthermore, if an internal candidate and an external candidate are equally qualified, the internal candidate shall be given priority.

** As per US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), employers in the US are required to ensure that all employees have the legal right to work in the US. Under US State Department requirements, the embassy and our consulates may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders, visa holders with and Employment Authorization Document or “A” visa holders. There is a max term for A2 visa holders of 5 years, the Netherlands Embassy / Consulate General cannot sponsor any work permits for family members.