Vacancy Ottawa - Senior Trade Officer, Defence Industry

  • Location: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ottawa
  • Duration: temporary from March 1, 2026 until March 1, 2028 (two year contract)
  • Renumeration: Dutch civil service pay scale 8 (CAD 5.713 – 8.569 plus attractive benefits package)
  • Deadline for applications: January 23, 2026
The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ottawa is looking for a senior trade officer / advisor defence industry (37,5 hours per week). They will support the Embassy understanding the Defence industrial ecosystem and the needs for the Canadian Armed Forces, in identifying opportunities for Dutch companies in the Canadian defence sector, in assisting Dutch companies to connect with Canadian counterparts and understanding the Canadian procurement system, as well as supporting defence industrial cooperation between the Netherlands and Canada. This includes supporting Dutch participation in CANSEC and DEFSEC and assisting Dutch companies to explore their options in Canada and making connections between companies, government and knowledge institutes. The candidate will include both federal and relevant provincial ecosystems and will be supported in this work by the other Dutch diplomatic missions in Canada. The scope also includes dual use applications where applicable, as the cross pollination with several high tech industries like quantum computing increases. These new connections will strengthen the close cooperation between the Netherlands and Canada at a crucial time.
 
Geopolitical challenges have resulted in increased defence spending. Both the Netherlands and Canada signed up to the NATO The Hague pledge to spend 5% of their GDP by 2035. Canada is planning to invest heavily in its defence industry and its defence infrastructure. This should give opportunities for more cooperation, even more since Canada and The Netherlands are natural partners  and the EU and Canada have signed a Security and Defence Partnership.
The ideal candidate is a strong communicator with knowledge from and experience in the defence sector and excellent networking skills. If you have an academic Master’s degree and experience in making connections and identifying new opportunities while building a broad network of stakeholders, are results-oriented, and are a team player with a can do mentality, we’d love to hear from you! Understanding defence industry needs is a must, experience working within international organizations is a plus.

 

General

The Embassy of the Netherlands in Ottawa looks after the interests of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and its citizens in Canada and is supported in this task by the Consulates General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Toronto and in Vancouver, several attachés stationed in Washington, honorary consuls in various Canadian provinces, and the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA), promoting investment into the Netherlands.
Our team at the Embassy in Ottawa currently consists of 16 employees. We primarily focus on the political, security and economic relations between Canada and the Netherlands, consular affairs and public diplomacy. We value open, responsible and professional internal relations and high integrity. We also help each other out with events and activities that are focused on the promotion of the Netherlands in general and the values that Canada and the Netherlands share.

 

Job description

  1. Follow-up on leads (market study), that facilitate b2b and b2g contacts and contracts in the defence industry, if relevant supported by g2g cooperation, and in close collaboration with the Defence team in Ottawa and involvement of the economic colleagues in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver
  2. Map out areas of (commercial) cooperation and opportunities for the Dutch defence sector, deepening information from the market study
  3. Build a broad network with the private sector, with government, trade and investment agencies, industry organizations and knowledge institutes
  4. Promote the Dutch defence sector to Canadian stakeholders and vice versa, in close cooperation with the Defence team in Ottawa, including at tradeshows CANSEC and DEFSEC and if of interest, during a dedicated incoming or outgoing trade mission (e.g. through matchmaking, seminars, workshops, etc)
  5. Explore and follow-up on defence related business opportunities, in close cooperation with the economic leads in the mission network, arising from the increased budget, for instance related to (large) infrastructure, CRM and energy projects
  6. In cooperation with the Defence team, follow-up on leads (market study) that facilitate (more) cooperation on defence procurement, and/or joint procurement and development of materiel
  7. In cooperation wit the Innovation Advisor, NFIA and the economic teams, build on dual-use application opportunities by Dutch industries in connection to their Canadian counterparts
  8. Contribute to events and communications of the Netherlands’ mission network in Canada and the implementation of our annual plan/multi annual country strategy.

 

Tasks

  • Make/keep contact with defence industry (organizations, companies), build a network
  • Participate at and/or prepare relevant meetings and conferences related to defence industry
  • Provide (pro-active) information to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, Dutch companies and organizations in the defence-industry on Canadian needs and opportunities, in close cooperation with the Defence team in Ottawa
  • Provide (pro-active) information to Dutch companies and organizations in other sectors that will receive investments (like infrastructure) on Canadian needs and opportunities, in close cooperation with the economic leads in mission network Canada
  • Promote the Dutch defence sector in Canada and assist Dutch companies with business opportunities
  • Act on or support opportunities in adjacent industries with dual-use applications, such as quantum and AI, in close cooperation with the economic teams in the Consulates and Embassy, the Innovation Advisor and NFIA
  • Grasp the bureaucratic Canadian procurement system in order to position Dutch companies for government contract

 

Requirements

  • An evident interest and relevant experience in the defence sector
  • Experience with trade promotion, connecting businesses, and project management 
  • Fluent in English. Working knowledge in Dutch and French is an asset but not a prerequisite.
  • Excellent writing skills and able to present data clearly
  • A relevant network in the industry. A network in the Netherlands would be an asset
  • Skilled at communicating, networking and outreach to third parties
  • Representative and professional
  • Pro-active, service oriented, flexible
  • Experience with various IT applications.
  • Flexible and prepared to work occasionally in the weekends and evenings
  • Candidate should be comfortable to work and communicate with people of all levels of seniority / authority and a should be an open-minded team player
  • Candidate is an excellent team player able to include and make use of the capacity at all three diplomatic missions

 

Diversity and Inclusion

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs pursues an active diversity policy and is committed to an inclusive organization. We do this by optimally deploying and utilizing people's differences. And by creating a work culture where everyone can be themselves and feel valued. When composing teams and hiring new talent, we strive for diversity in, among other things, age, gender (identity), culture, religion, background, orientation, (occupational) disability, knowledge and competencies.
 
Gross salary: Dutch civil service pay scale 8, presently ranging between CAD 5.713 – CAD 8.569 per month. Our salary offer will be based on the number of years of relevant work experience. The Embassy also offers attractive secondary labor conditions, such as collective medical and dental insurance with Canada Life and 13 official public holidays plus 18 vacation days per calendar year with the possibility to expand with an extra 14 days if you decide to go for a 40-hour workweek instead of 37,5 hours. The duration of the contract is two years. This position is based and performed on-site at our Embassy office at 350 Albert Street in Ottawa.
Probationary period: 3 months.

 

How to apply

Application letter motivating why you apply for this position, together with resume (in English) should be sent by e-mail to the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ottawa to the attention of Mr. Paul van Oostveen, Deputy Head of Mission, e-mail address: OTT@minbuza.nl.
Only applications received by January 23, 2026 at end of day will be considered.
Interviews will be held between Monday, February 9 and Friday, February 13 2026.
For further information regarding this vacancy, please contact Mr. Paul van Oostveen, Deputy Head of Mission, at e-mail: ott@minbuza.nl
Please note : A valid residence/work permit in Canada is a requirement; as part of our hiring process, we will request the successful candidate for a Police Record Check.