Project Controller Mobility & Built Environment

TNO; Delft; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday allowance

13th month salary (8.33%)

Flex budget (5.58% + €180)

Pension scheme

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

TNO in Delft is seeking a Project Controller to support a diverse portfolio of research projects. You will work with project leaders, researchers and managers to keep financial control, advise on budgets and project performance, and translate financial information into clear insights for timely decisions.

You'll contribute to process improvements, data analytics and AI-enabled reporting, while growing professionally within an innovative research organization that values teamwork, flexibility and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Business Economics, Controlling, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in finance, controlling, project control, business control, or a similar financial advisory role.
• The ability to understand and interpret contract terms and financial documentation.

Responsibilities

• Support a broad portfolio of R&D projects and advise on budgets and project performance.
• Review project proposals, quotations, cost calculations and contracts.
• Identify opportunities and risks and translate financial information into practical insights for colleagues.
• Align projects with unit objectives and wider strategy.

Skills

Analytical skills

Advisory mindset

Dutch language

English language

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance/Business Economics/Controlling

Tools

SAP

Power BI

Generative AI

Microsoft Power Automate

Job description

About this position

Would you like to contribute to innovations that make the Netherlands smarter, more sustainable, and future-proof? As a Project Controller at TNO, you play a key role in a wide variety of research and innovation projects within Mobility & Built Environment. From sustainable mobility to the living environment of tomorrow, your financial insights help project teams turn ideas into tangible results.

You are more than a finance professional. You are a trusted advisor to project leaders, researchers, and managers. Your guidance enables them to make informed decisions and ensures that projects remain successful, feasible, and future-proof.

The field is evolving rapidly. Digitalization, data analytics, and AI are transforming the way we work and make decisions. At TNO, you will have the opportunity not only to keep pace with these developments, but also to actively shape them. You will contribute to new ways of working, smart solutions, and the further development of project control within an innovative research organization.

We are also committed to your professional growth. Whether you want to develop further as a controller, deepen your expertise, or broaden your skill set, TNO offers the opportunities, guidance, and training to help you achieve your ambitions.

What will be your role?

As a Project Controller, you will support a broad portfolio of innovative research and development projects. You will work closely with project leaders, researchers, and managers, helping them maintain control over the financial aspects of their projects.

You will advise on budgets, project performance, and the financial impact of decisions. In addition, you will review project proposals, quotations, cost calculations, and contracts. You proactively identify opportunities and potential risks and translate financial information into clear, practical insights that colleagues can immediately act upon.

You do not only focus on individual projects, but also on the bigger picture. You understand how projects contribute to the unit's objectives and to the societal impact TNO aims to achieve. In doing so, you create value not only for today's projects but also for tomorrow's developments.

Alongside your project responsibilities, you will have the opportunity to contribute to the further professionalization of Finance within TNO. This may include improving processes, developing management information, and applying new technologies such as data analytics and AI.

Your primary work location will be Delft. The MBE control team consists of five Project Controllers, one Business Controller, and one Unit Controller. As we work across multiple locations throughout the Netherlands, staying connected and collaborating closely is important to us. We are therefore looking for a colleague who values teamwork as much as we do.

What we expect from you

We are looking for an entrepreneurial and proactive professional with strong analytical skills, someone who can quickly distinguish between key issues and details and who is not afraid to ask critical questions. You combine financial expertise with a pragmatic mindset and are able to turn advice into concrete actions. You are flexible, can manage varying workloads, and know how to influence others effectively while maintaining an independent perspective.

You build strong, lasting relationships with project leaders, researchers, and managers and are able to establish trust quickly. Thanks to your organizational awareness and communication skills, you can guide stakeholders through financial topics and align different interests. You are conceptually strong, able to connect individual projects with unit objectives and TNO's broader strategy, and you thrive in an environment where innovation, digitalization, data analytics, and AI play an increasingly important role.

What you bring

• A completed Bachelor's or Master's degree in Finance, Business Economics, Controlling, or a related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in finance, controlling, project control, business control, or a similar financial advisory role.
• The ability to understand and interpret contract terms and financial documentation.
• Affinity with digitalization, data-driven decision-making, and emerging technologies that make the controlling profession smarter and more effective.
• Experience with SAP, Power BI, Generative AI, or Microsoft Power Automate is considered an advantage.
• Excellent command of both Dutch (minimum C1 level) 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 € 3,400 and € 6,500 (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13th 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 your time.

A certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required before starting a new job at TNO.