Director of Technology

As Director of Technology you are responsible for setting ambitious goals, aligned with our vision, mission and long-term strategy. You define and maintain the quality of our scientific and technological expertise and research software output. You supervise and guide a team of technology leads, who are responsible for monitoring technological quality standards. You have a keen eye for possible collaborations with academic, non-profit and for-profit sectors.

Technology leadership

• take responsibility as a member of the Directors Team;
• act as link between the Directors Team and the technology leads;
• contribute to the development and implementation of the eScience Center’s strategy, including the safeguarding of scientific and technological expertise;
• chair the eScience Center’s RSE recruitment team;
• develop the technology strategy of the eScience Center and supervise its execution, including research into applied technology;
• carry accountability for the eScience Center’s knowledge development budget;
• recognize and act on external developments, translating these into policy and strategy;
• contribute to the development and implementation of research projects, including supervision of programmes for software sustainability, reuse and impact;
• assess proposals for external funding;
• act as representative of the eScience Center to external parties, both nationally and internationally.

Line management

• ensure the professional well-being of employees within your team, fostering positive team dynamics and creating a culture of inclusivity;
• provide structure, direction and purpose to the team, maintaining group identity and cohesion;
• stimulate and monitor the personal development of employees and advise on career possibilities, enabling them to develop to full potential;
• conduct annual job performance & development interviews, plus additional start and/or mid-term sessions as needed.

You have a clear vision on, and experience with, ‘eScience’ across multiple academic disciplines and technologies. You love to manage, coach and develop staff, through effective situational line management, ensuring appropriate opportunities for training and development. You have an eye for research funding opportunities.

In addition, you have:

• a PhD degree in a relevant field and a strong research profile;
• experience with working in the Dutch academic context;
• preferably experience in working with industry;
• the ability and drive to develop state-of-the-art technological expertise within the organization;
• a vision on research software quality, research software sustainability, open source software development and high-performance computing;
• a clear sense of the needs of researchers and research communities, and the ability to identify opportunities among stakeholders;
• demonstrable team leadership experience;
• strong communicative, social and organizational skills, and a good command of the Dutch language.

• We work at the forefront of cutting-edge international research.   
• You will be part of a team of intelligent, collaborative and ambitious people with a passion for academic research.    
• You will be given extensive opportunity to further develop your professional and personal capacities. 
• Salary scale 14-15, based on our Collective Labour Agreement (WVOI Cao-OI), depending on qualifications and expertise.   
• Excellent secondary benefits: the possibility to work part time, an allowance for travel and mobile expenses, a holiday allowance (8%), 42 holidays and a year-end bonus (8,33%).   
• Incoming international employees could benefit from significant government tax relief (30% ruling) for a set number of years.
• An informal and creative working environment.
• The opportunity to creatively help shape the future of the eScience Center.
• Room for initiative and ideas.  

The Netherlands eScience Center is the national centre for innovative software solutions in academic research. We aim to bridge the gap in knowledge and expertise between digital technologies on the one hand and scientific and scholarly inquiry on the other. We create the tools and digital methodologies that enable researchers across all disciplines to answer research questions, harnessing our unique blend of academic expertise and software development skills. We attach great importance to software quality and sustainability, and academic recognition of research software.

We stand for a research-focused, professional, collaborative, open and resourceful approach to everything we do, and we require that our staff can identify with these eScience Center values. Our people have a diverse background in education, gender, nationality and ethnicity. Together, we form an inclusive group with a common drive.

Your application must contain a CV, a letter of motivation, and applicable references. The closing date to apply is 22 October 2023. You can apply via the application button.

For more information about job opportunities at the eScience Center or about the hiring process, send an e-mail to hr@esciencecenter.nl.  

In the context of handling the job application procedure, the Netherlands eScience Center processes your personal data. Please find more information about this in our privacy policy.