The position of Chief Representative (CR) is now vacant for the Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Phoenix (AZ), United States. The office will open its doors in 2024. NBSO Phoenix is ​​an integral part of the economic network of the Netherlands in the US, consisting of the Dutch Embassy in Washington, the Consulates General in Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, New York and San Francisco, and the NBSOs in Houston and Los Angeles.

The Greater Phoenix Area is of great and growing economic significance for the Netherlands and offers many business opportunities for Dutch SMEs. Due in part to the growing Semicon cluster, which has seen significant Dutch investments, there are many areas for collaboration in the high-tech sector. There are also opportunities in Bio-Life Sciences, Aerospace and Clean Tech, partly fuelled by the presence of top rated universities such as ASU, NAU and UofA. Phoenix has been one of the fastest growing conurbations in the US in recent years, bringing both opportunities and challenges. To fully optimize these developments, NBSO Phoenix will open in 2024 and will play a central role in positioning and supporting Dutch SMEs with doing business and market entry in the region.

The core task of the Chief Representative is to provide information and guidance to individual Dutch companies in and around Greater Phoenix. To this end, you build and maintain an extensive relationship network with local and regional authorities, American and Dutch companies and business organizations. You regularly organize (including digital) promotional activities (Netherlands Branding) and visitors programs for delegations and trade missions and you inform about relevant business developments in the US. You report to the NBSO Homebase of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) in The Hague and coordinate the activities of the NBSO with the Head of Economic affairs at the Dutch Embassy in Washington. You work closely with the other participants in the economic network, in particular with the Consulate General in San Francisco and with the Dutch Honorary Consul in Phoenix. You are also ultimately responsible for the results and management of the office.

In the start-up phase you will be the only representative of the Netherlands on site and the setup of the NBSO will also be an important task. Within two years, a decision will be made about the possible appointment of a Deputy Representative (DR), whom you will then lead.

Profile

You have an entrepreneurial spirit, have an eye for opportunities and can transform these into tangible results. You have extensive and practical experience as a business developer, preferably for companies in different industries. You communicate easily with both SMEs and (C-suite level) multinationals and you are familiar with the top sector policy (‘topsectorenbeleid’) of the Netherlands . You are a (proven) good networker, have a positive attitude and enjoy a challenging (business) environment. You are a good self-starter and a pleasant team player. You have strong analytical skills and good writing skills.

Required competencies are: networking, results-oriented, flexibility, initiative, planning and organizing, collaboration, management and organizational sensitivity and integrity.

Job requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (university/higher professional education) preferably in an economic track or relevant work experience at university/higher professional level;
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience;
• Excellent command of the English and Dutch language (minimum C1 level), both spoken and written.
• Having an extensive network in the Greater Phoenix Area, as well as good knowledge of and experience with one or more of the aforementioned sectors HTSM; Clean Tech and renewables; Semicon and Electronics; Aerospace and Defense Industry; Water; Life Sciences & Health and BioTech is a plus;
• Practical experience with business development for Dutch SMEs and doing business in an international environment; also proven managerial experience;
• Extensive experience with US (business) culture and affinity with internationalization and international marketing. Demonstrable experience in organizing meetings and promotional activities;
• Sufficient knowledge of relevant (online and digital) applications and social media;
• Available on short notice.

Activities

Services to Dutch companies

• Promoting trade and investment for Dutch companies in a number of promising sectors in the Greater Phoenix Area, including HTSM; Clean Tech and renewables; Semicon and Electronics; Aerospace and Defense Industry; Water; LSH and BioTech
• Providing information and guidance to individual Dutch companies by, among other things, answering trade requests and finding the right business partners in the Greater Phoenix Area;
• Organizing matchmaking programs (e.g. during trade missions) and identifying opportunities for the Dutch business community;
• Providing information to the Dutch business community and RVO about trade and cooperation opportunities and monitoring relevant developments in the field.

Other services

• Providing support to other members of the economic cluster, such as the economic department at the embassy and CGs; other NBSOs; the councillors for Innovation, Agriculture and Customs; and NFIA (Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency);
• Create sector reports for one or more (top) sectors.
• Reversed matchmaking for strategic incoming missions and companies with interest from AZ for investments in the Netherlands.

Export promotional activities

• Independently organize information sessions, seminars and other promotional activities;
• Organize visitor programs for Dutch companies, branch organizations and trade associations;
• Provide local companies, institutions and government organizations with information about the Dutch economy.

Supporting delegations, missions and visitors

• Supporting visitor programs for economic missions (e.g. ministers and high official delegations), as well as assisting in the organization of economic missions of authorities.

Networking

• Proactively building and maintaining a relationship network in the working area.

Office operations

• Responsible in a broad sense for the smooth daily operations of the office; among other things, ensuring timely payments from suppliers and service providers and registration of activities in the CRM system (Achilles);
• Responsible for timely preparing the budget for the coming year, and for the annual preparation of a work plan for the office which will be included in the annual economic plan of the embassy in Washington.

The NBSO

NBSOs are trade offices of the Dutch government established to support Dutch companies on location with their activities abroad. The network currently consists of offices in Argentina, Australia (to be opened in 2024), Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They work closely with embassies and consulates and the other members of the Dutch economic network. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) is ultimately responsible for the management and operation of the NBSOs.

The area covered by NBSO Phoenix is ​​the Greater Phoenix Area. The NBSO staff will consist of a Chief Representative at the start. Within two years after the office is operational, a decision will be made about the need and options for appointing a second employee (Deputy Representative).

Job offer

We offer a full-time position for an initial period of two years. You will be contracted by the Netherlands embassy in Washington. The employment conditions that apply to local employees are set out in the Legal Status (Local Employees) Regulations 2020 (LSR 2020) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and are worked out in the mission version for the US.

Before the two year period expires, it will be determined whether the contract will be terminated or continued after that period, taking into account the applicable American labor law** at that time, the employee's performance and the options for continuing the office.

The position of Chief Representative NBSO Phoenix is job scale 9 (LSR 2020), with a minimum gross salary of USD 6,942. Salary and grading depend on your knowledge and relevant work experience.

A background check may be part of the selection procedure.

The Netherlands Government celebrates all forms of diversity and is deeply committed to foster an inclusive environment within its organization. Individuals interested in advancing these diversity goals are strongly encouraged to apply.

* This vacancy is open to internal (local employees and partners of officials posted to a Mission in the US) and external candidates. If a local employee and a partner of an official posted to a Mission are equally qualified, the local employee shall be given priority. Furthermore, if an internal candidate and an external candidate are equally qualified, the internal candidate shall be given priority.

** As per US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), employers in the US are required to ensure that all employees have the legal right to work in the US. Under US State Department requirements, the embassy and our consulates may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or “A” visa holders. There is a max term for A2 visa holders of 5 years, the Netherlands Embassy / Consulate General cannot sponsor any work permits for family members.

Contact persons
For additional information please contact:
- Bart van Bolhuis, Head Economic affairs, Dutch embassy in Washington,
Phone: +1 (202) 876 4632
and/or
-Jisse Kranen, Coordinator NBSOs, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO),
Phone: +31 6 2196 8096

Job applicants
Applicants are invited to send a cover letter and CV to nbso@rvo.nl no later than May 1, 2024. Incomplete applications will not be taken into account.