Managing Director Health & Work

About this position

TNO is an independent organisation for applied research, using science and innovation to contribute to a safe, healthy, sustainable and digital society. Together with governments, knowledge institutions and businesses, TNO develops solutions to complex societal and economic challenges.

TNO’s expertise is organised across six distinctive units, each focused on innovation within a specific domain. One of these is Health & Work.

Health & Work (H&W)
A healthy, resilient and productive society. This is the ambition of Health & Work. The unit develops technological, biomedical and social innovations that sustainably promote health, employability and wellbeing.

H&W addresses pressing societal challenges such as rising healthcare costs, increasing rates of chronic disease, labour market shortages, and the need for healthy living and working environments. It does so in close collaboration with governments, businesses, knowledge institutions and societal partners.

This ambition is closely aligned with TNO’s strategy for 2026–2029. Within this new strategic direction, H&W plays an important role in creating societal impact across health, vitality and work. Over the coming years, the unit faces a clear strategic challenge: to further connect its strong scientific expertise and multidisciplinary capabilities to concrete societal challenges, and translate these into innovative propositions, applications and partnerships that can deliver impact at scale.

H&W is evolving to actively translate TNO’s new strategy into its own propositions and areas of focus. This includes making clear strategic choices about where the unit can create the greatest value and impact, strengthening its market position and entrepreneurial capabilities, and further developing strategic partnerships with both public and private organisations. Broadening the unit’s funding base is another important priority.

In the years ahead, H&W will need to translate these strategic ambitions together with its teams into clear priorities, objectives and actions, while creating the space and momentum for new and ambitious results.

H&W brings together approximately 350 professionals with a broad range of expertise, spanning biomedical, pharmacological and data sciences to behavioural science, biotechnology, labour and economics. This multidisciplinary strength enables the unit to approach complex challenges from multiple perspectives and translate knowledge and innovation into meaningful societal impact.

What will be your role?

As Managing Director of H&W, you will hold overall responsibility for the unit’s strategic direction, performance and development. You will be the leading representative and ambassador of H&W, both internally and externally, representing the unit nationally and internationally towards government, academia, business and societal partners.

You will provide strategic direction for the continued development of the unit, translating ambitions into clear choices, strategy and execution, while creating an environment in which talent, collaboration and innovation can thrive. You will engage and inspire employees, involving them in key decisions and organisational change.

You will operate in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment and be able to bring together different interests, disciplines and perspectives around a shared societal challenge. You are comfortable operating in a political and public-sector context and are skilled at bringing diverse stakeholders and interests together. You understand what is required to build consensus, bring the organisation along and operate effectively across the stakeholder landscape involving government, ministries and private organisations.

At the same time, you have the confidence to make clear choices and take difficult decisions when necessary, always with the long-term development and success of the unit in mind. You will work closely with the Executive Team and report to the TNO Board of Management / COO.

What we expect from you

We are looking for an inspiring and connecting leader with a strong external orientation, natural influencing skills and an excellent understanding of the political and public-sector landscape.

You are a visible leader who knows how to engage people around a compelling vision and ambition, both within the organisation and externally. You combine intellectual curiosity and subject-matter affinity with entrepreneurship, market orientation, and strong political and organisational acumen. You are able to understand different perspectives and interests, build support and navigate effectively across a diverse stakeholder landscape.

You will also bring:

• A proven track record at Managing Director or comparable executive level, successfully leading professionals and teams within an innovative, complex and knowledge-intensive environment. You know how to mobilise the intrinsic motivation of H&W’s teams and provide direction to achieve the unit’s impact ambitions together.
• A strong affinity with the themes addressed by both the Health and Work teams, as well as a sound understanding of the landscape in which science, government and business intersect. You have a strong external orientation and the ability to build, maintain and effectively leverage sustainable relationships, networks and partnerships. You have a relevant external network or have demonstrated the ability to develop and actively leverage one.
• The ability to provide strategic direction in line with the chosen strategy, including broadening the unit’s funding base across both public and private organisations.
• Strong political and organisational acumen, with the ability to operate effectively in a complex stakeholder environment. You know how to build consensus, create support and naturally bring the organisation along in this process.
• An entrepreneurial and market-oriented mindset, with an understanding of how societal impact, innovation and market development can reinforce one another.
• Strong change leadership capabilities; you create momentum, drive development and provide direction in dynamic and evolving environments.
• An academic working and thinking level.
• Excellent command of both Dutch and English, both spoken and written.

You are a leader who inspires and delivers. You connect people, are genuinely people-oriented and decisive when it matters. You combine an affinity with the unit’s core themes with the ability to navigate effectively in a complex political and public-sector environment. You are able to build support both internally and externally and mobilise people and interests towards a shared ambition.

What you'll get in return

At TNO, you will have the opportunity to provide strategic leadership to an organisation with significant societal impact and work alongside leading experts to develop solutions to the challenges of tomorrow. You will join a professional, innovative and knowledge-intensive environment where entrepreneurship, collaboration and development are highly valued.

In addition to a gross full-time monthly salary between €10,120,- and €14,457,- depending on your knowledge and experience, TNO offers an attractive package of employment conditions, including:

• 8% holiday allowance and an 8.33% annual bonus (13th month);
• A flexible benefits budget of 5.58% + €180;
• 33 days of annual leave plus one flexible public holiday, based on a full-time employment contract;
• A flexible mobility plan, including full reimbursement of public transport for commuting and business travel, or the option of a lease car;
• A strong pension scheme;
• A flexible benefits package that allows you to make choices aligned with your personal circumstances.

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

The selection process consists of an initial meeting with the Executive Recruiter, followed by two interview rounds.

The initial meetings with the Executive Recruiter will take place via MS Teams on the 1st and 2nd of October, 2026 and will last approximately 45 minutes.

If the initial meeting is positive for both parties, candidates will be invited to the first interview round, which will take place on the 7th and 9th of October, 2026.

Candidates who progress to the second stage of the selection process will subsequently be invited to complete an in-depth assessment and a reference check. These components form an integral part of the further selection process and will take place prior to the second interview round.

The second interview round will take place in November 2026, once the assessment and reference check have been completed. The exact date and time will be agreed with the candidate progressing to this round. This will be discussed during the feedback following the first interview round.

During the second interview round, candidates will meet with, among others, the TNO Executive Board. Following these interviews, a final decision will be made regarding the preferred candidate.

The candidate ultimately selected will then proceed to a discussion regarding the terms and conditions of employment.

If you join TNO, we will also ask you to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG).

For this position, it is also essential that a Certificate of No Objection (VGB) is issued. To obtain this, a security screening will be carried out prior to the commencement of employment. Read more about security screening.