Public Affairs Advisor

About this position

As a Public Affairs Advisor at TNO, you closely monitor developments in politics, the media and society and translate these into strategic advice for the organization. You are a visible and connecting link between TNO and its external environment and play a key role in building and maintaining relationships with companies, knowledge institutions, politicians and interest groups, with a particular focus on digital technologies.

Public Affairs positions TNO as a knowledge partner for policymakers, monitors relevant societal and political developments, and actively engages in lobbying on strategic themes and projects.

You will be part of TNO’s Corporate Communications team and work closely with colleagues in media relations, internal communications and employer branding. Through your expertise, you will directly contribute to strengthening TNO’s reputation, visibility and societal impact. Your substantive focus will be on digital technologies. You will therefore work closely with the M&C team of the ICT, Strategy & Policy (ISP) unit, which is functionally managed by the M&C Business Partner ISP. Together with these colleagues, you will position TNO not only as the independent R&D lab of the Netherlands, but as the architect and orchestrator of Europe’s digital future.

What will be your role?

In this role, you will actively build sustainable relationships and strategic alliances around the core priorities of the ISP unit. You will translate themes such as digital sovereignty, responsible AI, post-quantum cryptography and next-generation digital infrastructure into concrete Public Affairs strategies. You will advise project teams on stakeholder management and play a key role in national flagship initiatives such as GPT-NL and the Dutch AI Factory. In doing so, you will navigate the political landscape in The Hague with ease, closely follow parliamentary processes and the House of Representatives, and know how to identify and capitalize on opportunities in policy and legislative processes at the right time.

You will act as a connecting link. You bring together experts, consultants and project leaders and know how to turn ideas into a shared and coherent position. You will take the organization along in your vision of Public Affairs and know how to translate complex, deep-tech issues into a clear and compelling political and administrative message. In addition, you will prepare the Executive Board and senior management for engagements within the political and administrative landscape. You translate complex dossiers into concrete stakeholder profiles, briefings, position papers and speaking notes, ensuring that colleagues are always well prepared for important conversations.

What we expect from you

You are a strong sparring partner who knows how to translate abstract and complex topics into concrete and strategic advice. Thanks to your sharp analytical skills, you quickly identify trends and developments, both within the organization and externally. You communicate easily at different levels and know how to convince and influence others.

In addition, you bring:

• You are an entrepreneurial and strategic bridge-builder with strong influencing skills and a well-developed political and organizational awareness.
• You are a true connector and find it easy to establish relationships with others.
• You have a clear affinity with digitalization and technological developments.
• You are customer-focused and maintain short, effective lines with experts and stakeholders.
• You have completed a university-level degree.
• You have 3–5 years of relevant experience in Public Affairs or demonstrable professional experience within or around the Dutch House of Representatives.
• You have experience with issue, reputation and stakeholder management.
• You closely follow political developments in The Hague and understand the dynamics of politics and society.
• You have a relevant network within Dutch politics and the digital sector and are familiar with the various government ministries.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills in both Dutch and English.

What you'll get in return

Challenging and varied work with a real impact. And plenty of opportunities as, at TNO, you are in charge of shaping your career. We offer a gross monthly salary between € 4.987,- en € 6.880,- (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13^th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € 180). In addition, you will be given every opportunity to develop yourself.

TNO offers optional employee benefits, enabling you to tailor your benefits package to match your personal situation. You may also expect:

• An extremely professional, innovative working environment where colleagues are leading experts in their field.
• The opportunity to attend courses, workshops and conferences, and to receive training and coaching based on your needs.
• 33 days annual leave plus a flexible holiday that can be used on a cultural, religious, or otherwise important day of your choosing (on a full-time basis).
• An employer working towards a respectful, inclusive, and equitable work environment where every employee can flourish, with various initiatives such as Jong TNO, numerous expertise based guilds, Rainbow Community and Round Tables on diverse inclusion topics.
• We offer a comprehensive and flexible mobility plan that also includes full compensation for public transportation for commuting and business travel.
• Great social events with your team and other TNO colleagues. That’s how you will get to know a lot of people really quickly.
• Flexible working hours, the possibility to work parttime (32 or 36 hours) and the possibility of working from home.
• A good pension scheme.

Read more about tailoring your benefits package.

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring and inclusive working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results.

At TNO, we believe this is our time to help society, government and business move forward faster. Together with driven colleagues, you turn knowledge into concrete innovations or ventures that truly make a difference by combining the power of science and entrepreneurship. And in doing so, you make your mark on our time.

The selection process

Please apply before the 14th of September, 2026. The selection process comprises two interview rounds. In a final meeting we will discuss the terms of employment and your tailored benefits package. We aim to finalize the entire process within four weeks.

The selection process may include an online assessment and a reference check.
A certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required before starting a new job at TNO.

As you will be working for clients in the domain of defence and security, a Certificate of No Objection issued by AIVD (the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service) is mandatory. This means you will have to undergo a security screening. Read more about security screening.