Principal Consultant in Science, Technology & Innovation Policy

AcademicTransfer; Nederland; Hybrid; EUR 45,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Initial one-year contract

Permanent position prospect

Annual bonus

30 days leave

Remote work

Pension scheme

Laptop

NS Business Card

Job summary

Technopolis Group in Amsterdam is seeking a Principal Consultant to lead complex studies, evaluations and advisory projects at the intersection of science, technology and public policy. You’ll translate findings into clear recommendations and manage client communication, budgets and deliverables.

You will guide less experienced colleagues, develop new business opportunities, and share expertise across our international network while advancing policy insights for European and Dutch contexts.

Qualifications

• A relevant university degree and 7-10 years of experience in science, technology and innovation policy or related fields.
• Experience leading studies, advisory or evaluation projects, preferably international or European contexts.
• Strong network and understanding of European science, technology and innovation policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex studies, evaluations and advisory projects with quality, planning and budgets responsibility.
• Develop research and evaluation approaches and translate findings into clear insights and recommendations.
• Advise clients, build relationships and develop new business opportunities and proposals.
• Collaborate across international offices and mentor less experienced consultants.

Skills

Policy research

Project leadership

Business development

English proficiency

International context

Education

University degree

Job description

Organisation/Company Technopolis BV Research Field Political sciences » Policy studies Political sciences » Public policy Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 9 Nov 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Netherlands Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Not Applicable Hours Per Week 40.0 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Ready to use your expertise to shape the future of science, technology and innovation policy across Europe?

At Technopolis, you work on complex policy challenges at Dutch, European and international level. You lead studies, evaluations and advisory projects for policymakers and public organisations, turning solid research and analysis into insights that help shape policy and decision-making.

As a Principal Consultant, you combine substantive expertise with project leadership, client advice and business development. You lead complex projects, build client relationships, identify new opportunities and develop proposals. From our Amsterdam office, you work with an experienced international team where expertise, collaboration and entrepreneurship come together.

About this job

You take overall responsibility for complex studies, evaluations and advisory projects at the intersection of science, technology, innovation and public policy. You develop robust approaches using qualitative and quantitative research methods and are responsible for quality, planning, budgets, deliverables and client communication.

Alongside delivering projects, you advise clients, build relationships with clients, partners and stakeholders and contribute to business development. You also share your expertise across our international offices and guide less experienced consultants in their project work and professional development.

A few examples of our work

Recent projects include the evaluation of the Digital Europe Programme, the impact assessment of FP10, a study on equal opportunities for researchers across Europe and benchmarking the technology position of European Member States.

Your profile

Are you the person we are looking for?

You are an experienced consultant or policy researcher who combines strong analytical expertise with project leadership, client advice and business development. You know your field, understand the European policy landscape and enjoy using your expertise not only to deliver excellent work, but also to develop new opportunities.

• A relevant university degree and 7-10 years of experience in science, technology and innovation policy, policy research, policy advice, policy evaluation, public governance or related fields. Affinity with policy regarding entrepreneurship and/or private sector development is a plus.
• A proven track record in leading studies, advisory and/or evaluation projects, preferably in an international or European context.
• A relevant network and good understanding of developments in science, technology and innovation policy at European level. Experience in the Dutch policy landscape is a plus.
• Experience with business development and writing project proposals.
• Strong analytical, project management and advisory skills, combined with excellent written and spoken English. Dutch is a plus.
• A proactive and collaborative approach to working in an international team.

Your responsibilities

As a Principal Consultant, you have the freedom and responsibility to bring projects from complex policy questions to clear advice. At the same time, you look beyond your own projects by building relationships, developing new business opportunities and helping colleagues grow.

• Lead complex studies, evaluations and advisory projects, with responsibility for quality, planning, budgets, deliverables and client communication.
• Develop strong research and evaluation approaches and translate complex findings into clear insights and recommendations.
• Advise clients, build and maintain relationships with clients, partners and stakeholders and develop new business opportunities and project proposals.
• Work with consultants across our international offices and contribute to knowledge sharing and the development of our science, technology and innovation policy and evaluation practice.
• Guide, support and coach less experienced consultants in their project work and professional development.

Our offer

At Technopolis, you combine intellectually challenging and meaningful work with the personal atmosphere of our Amsterdam team. Our office is located in a historic building on Spuistraat, right in the heart of Amsterdam and easily accessible by public transport.

We are ambitious and professional, but informal in the way we work together. We have lunch together, play table football, organise team activities and celebrate our successes. You also work closely with colleagues across our international offices and meet during our Technodays for workshops, knowledge sharing and a big celebration.

We offer:

• A position of 32-40 hours per week.
• An initial one-year contract, with the prospect of a permanent position.
• A gross monthly salary of €4,000-€6,500 based on a 40 hour working week, depending on experience, plus an annual bonus based on individual performance and company results.
• 30 days of annual leave based on a full-time position.
• A flexible working environment with opportunities for remote working.
• Participation in Technopolis Group's pension scheme.
• A laptop, mobile phone with subscription and, if you live outside Amsterdam, an NS Business Card for first class commuting.
• The opportunity to further develop your expertise in science policy, create new propositions and strengthen this area of expertise within Technopolis Group, together with experienced colleagues from our Dutch and international offices.