Strategic Research Advisor

SURFsara; Utrecht; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

36 holidays per year

NS Business Card 1st class

Home working allowance

Job summary

SURF is seeking a Strategic Research Advisor to foster partnerships with Open Science NL, TNO, KNAW, and funders while guiding the policy direction for the Netherlands’ digital research infrastructure.

You will coordinate with SURF's management and finance teams and participate in high‑level governance discussions to secure sustained support for strategic initiatives.

Qualifications

• Environmental awareness and political‑strategic insight.
• Strong networking and relationship building with external and internal stakeholders.
• Structured, results‑oriented approach to complex governance issues.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain long‑term relationships with strategic partners and funders.
• Contribute to funding strategies for digital research infrastructure.
• Draft policy documents and align SURF strategies with partner needs.
• Collaborate across SURF units to advance digitization initiatives.

Skills

Environmental awareness

Strategic networking

Stakeholder management

Clear communicator

Analytical thinking

Education

Master’s degree

Job description

Would you like to join us in leading the way in the digitization of scientific research in the Netherlands? Can you ensure effective coordination with our strategic stakeholders? Are you committed to building a sustainable, publicly funded digital research infrastructure? And would you prefer to do this at an organization where your work contributes to society and where you can make the most of your networking skills? If so, we’d love to talk to you!

Where you will work

SURF is the collaborative organization for ICT in Dutch education and research. SURF works with educational and research institutions on ICT infrastructure and innovation to make the most of the opportunities offered by digitization. Together with these institutions, we ensure that the education and research community has access to the best and latest ICT infrastructure for cutting-edge research and talent development.

The team you will join

The Strategy, Futuring & Values team coordinates collaboration between SURF and its strategic partners on long-term strategic and governance issues, ensuring that policy and funding for the digital infrastructure for education and research are in order. The team identifies developments in education, research, and society that affect SURF and advises management on issues in a political, strategic, and/or governance context.

What you will do

As a Strategic Research Advisor, you will foster sustainable collaborative relationships with strategic partners in the research field. You will engage stakeholders to secure funding and other prerequisites for the sustainable accessibility of digital research infrastructure. In addition, you’ll play a broader role within the Strategy, Futuring & Values team, addressing complex change and collaboration issues at the intersection of research, education, and ICT, while bringing together political and administrative stakeholders. Internally, you’ll work closely with SURF’s management, board, and finance department.

Together with your team, you will contribute to the implementation of the SURF strategy. In collaboration with the other units, you will position SURF within strategic developments related to the digitization of research and build support for these initiatives within the broader community. In doing so, you will work closely with your fellow strategic research advisor, colleagues from the Advanced Solutions for Research unit, and the Research Innovation Manager.

What exactly will you be doing?

• You will build and maintain long-term relationships with strategic partners, such as Open Science NL, TNO, and KNAW, and engage in ongoing dialogue with the industry associations representing SURF’s members: UNL, UMCNL, MBO Raad, and VH.
• You will contribute to a long-term funding strategy for the digital research infrastructure, in collaboration with NWO and the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW).
• You will work to foster a shared and widely supported vision among funders, members, and partners regarding the design of the digital research infrastructure in the Netherlands. You will ensure visibility and recognition of SURF’s role and value in this process.
• You will develop a vision for the digital research infrastructure from a policy perspective and based on the strategic needs and interests of partners. You will draft policy documents and contribute to SURF’s strategies.
  In addition, you will be versatile and able to contribute to other strategic initiatives within SURF.

Your skills and experience

• Environmental awareness and political-strategic insight;
• A passionate networker and bridge‑builder, with both external and internal stakeholders;
• Team player: the work must be done in collaboration with colleagues from various parts of the organization;
• A sharp thinker who quickly grasps complex subject matter, makes connections, and can clearly distinguish between main and secondary issues;
• Some knowledge of how research, funding streams, and knowledge institutions are organized in the Netherlands;
• Results‑oriented and structured;
• Strong communication and writing skills;
• Academic level of thinking and working (Master’s level)

SURF takes pleasure in doing its recruitment itself; acquisition is therefore not appreciated.

Welcome to SURF!

Location Moreelsepark, 48, 3511 EP, Utrecht Degree Master of Science (MSc) Employment Fixed term with permanent employment intention Salary €6287 - €8982 Hours per week 32 to 40 hours Deadline 14 September 2026 Substantive questions SURF Recruitment
[e-mail]
[phone] Questions about procedure SURF Recruitment
[e-mail]
[phone]

• 36 holidays per year (based on a 40-hour working week)
• An NS Business Card 1st class
• Home working allowance