The Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) Houston, Texas has a fulltime vacancy (40 hours per week) for Deputy Representative. This job will be offered at pay scale 7 for a fixed term of two years, with a probationary period of two months (see job description below - English version only).

For more information about this vacancy, please contact
Bee Kothuis, e-mail: bee.kothuis@nbso-texas.com

Application letters with resume, both in English,

and be submitted via email to:
Bee Kothuis, e-mail: bee.kothuis@nbso-texas.com

Closing date for applications:  May 17, 2024

Starting date: as soon as possible.

Indicative monthly gross salary: $ 5,653.00 gross (pay scale 7, step 0)

401K Plan is offered. Health/Dental/Vision is provided on a 72%-28% Employer-Employee basis.

*This vacancy is open to internal candidates (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, visa holders with and Employment Authorization Document 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.

NBSO Texas

The NBSO Texas is part of Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and is the official representative office of the Netherlands in Texas. Our mission is to support Dutch companies in their efforts to expand their business in the southern United States, and to promote trade and investment between the Netherlands and Texas. We work closely with a wide range of stakeholders, including Dutch companies, American companies, government agencies, and trade associations.

There are numerous ways in which the NBSO supports Dutch companies, broadly speaking we can divide them into 2 categories:

1. Individual Business Support: Each year, the NBSO TX supports more than 100 unique Dutch companies through virtual and in-person meetings. During and after these meetings, the NBSO provides guidance, coaching, market information, practical information, and relevant contacts.
2. Collective Business Support: The NBSO (co-)organizes various small and larger events and activities on a regular basis. Ranging from networking events for Dutch entrepreneurs in TX to trade missions for the Dutch water & resilience, energy transition, sports tech, healthcare, mobility, digital tech, climate tech and the start-up sector.

The Texas Triangle

With the economic powerhouse Houston as its home base, NBSO Texas’ primary operating area is in the so-called “Texas Triangle”. This triangle is formed by the cities of Houston, Austin, Dallas - Forth Worth and San Antonio, with our NBSO office located in the Innovation District in Houston. The Texas Triangle is roughly 5 times the size of the Netherlands, with a population of about 18 million people, expected to grow with another 3+ million by 2030.

• Houston is the acknowledged energy capital of the world, fast moving towards Energy 2.0 with its complex of energy headquarters, financing institutions, research centers, and processing and transportation facilities. Its medical center houses more than 85 clinical institutions and life sciences research facilities, more than any other medical complex in the world. Sports is another focus area: Houston is a host city for Soccer World Cup 2026! As a coastal city with resiliency challenges, water and coastal protection is also a priority sector for Dutch expertise in Houston.

• Austin and San Antonio are connected by 75 miles of continuous urbanization, including the vital region around San Marcos and a string of the fastest growing small cities in the nation. Austin is home to world-class companies, particularly in technology, the University of Texas, and also is home to the government of the nation’s second largest state. San Antonio is home to the nation’s second largest concentration of cybersecurity companies, and Port San Antonio’s Tech Port Center and Arena is expected to be a major competitor for established esports venues.

• Dallas-Fort Worth is an established financial center, telecommunications pioneer, and its two airports are the hubs of flights connecting the Southwestern U.S. to the nation and to the world. It has become a favored location for corporate expansions and relocations for both domestic and foreign companies. On top of this, the sports business is extremely well developed: all major professional sports are represented in this area, and also Dallas is a host city for Soccer World Cup 2026.

In the past years, trade partnerships between Texas and the Netherlands have been strong and consistent and Texas keeps offering more economic potential for Dutch entrepreneurs that will only increase significantly in the coming years. Texas is the second-largest economy of the US and the no. 1 state for Dutch trade and investments, measured in terms of volume. The NBSO will play a central role in optimally supporting and positioning Dutch companies for these developments, following the priorities identified in the Texas strategy of the NBSO and the Consulate General in Miami. The current priority sectors are Energy Transition, Water & Resilience, Sports tech, Life Science & Health, Green Mobility, and Start-ups.

The NBSO and the bigger picture

The NBSO TX is part of the Netherlands Economic Network in the United States of America. This network consists of an NBSO in Los Angeles, Consulates General in Miami, Atlanta, New York, Chicago and San Francisco, and the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Washington DC. NBSO Texas collaborates on daily basis with the colleagues at the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Miami.

The NBSO TX focuses primarily on supporting Dutch entrepreneurs and trade towards Texas. In addition to being affiliated with the Netherlands Economic Network in the U.S., the NBSO Texas is part of a network of 22 NBSOs worldwide that is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and administrated by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) in The Netherlands.

Tasks & Responsibility of the NBSO Texas Deputy Representative

The position of Deputy Representative is a supporting role to the Chief Representative, whose main task is strategic and business development. At the same time, independence is expected in supporting Dutch companies showing interest in the Texas market. The main tasks and responsibilities of the DR include:

Operations:

• Managing the Houston office and financial administration
• Registering and updating all NBSO activities in the database of the Dutch government, in travel systems and other relevant work documents
• Organizing and maintaining the NBSO TX knowledge data management
• Preparing reports on projects managed by NBSO
• Taking over the daily responsibility for the office during the absence of the CR.

Individual Business Support:

• Advising Dutch companies in their orientation on the Texas market
• Scheduling and follow-up after business meetings
• Providing services such as general & tailored market information and partners scans
• Making connections and introductions to the local network and other relevant stakeholders

Marketing & Communication:

• (Co-)organization of promotional activities, informative export meetings, fairs and seminars, visit programs for trade missions, official delegations and business organizations
• Implementing the communication strategy and social media campaigns to increase the number of followers and reach the target audience
• Manage the NBSO's social media channels (content, posts, management)

Sector Account:

• Building up knowledge and relations concerning one of the priority sectors of NBSO Texas
• Proactively collect and process relevant market information for the sector; identify export or investment opportunities for Dutch companies
• Being the contact point within the NBSO TX for this sector

Qualified candidates will have:

• Higher education degree
• Excellent command of written and spoken English
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills
• Experience with marketing activities and social media
• Experience with administrative tasks and responsibilities and office management
• Experience with organizing business events
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Adaptability to varying work schedules and flexibility with working hours

A plus for those with one or more of these:

• A good understanding of Topsectors and the business ecosystems in NL
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, in English and Dutch.
• A good network in Texas in general or one of the cities in the Texas Triangle
• Experience with tax, legal, logistics, HR, investment and finance in a business context
• 1 to 2 years working experience in a business support and/or networking organization
• 3 to 4 years working experience in a Dutch company or US multinational.

Successful candidates excel in being:

Result- and Service oriented, Proactive and Network savvy, Hands-on and Pragmatic, Flexible and a Jack-of-all-Trades, Structured and Organized, a Team player, Creative and Entrepreneurial, Responsible and Ethical.

What we offer:

• The Deputy Representative is contracted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Washington and located in the Houston NSBO office.
• We offer full-time employment (40 hours a week) for 2 years on a local contract with the possibility of extension. There is a probationary period of 2 month(s).
• You will be entitled to 18.75 days of paid vacation and 13 holidays per year.
• Indicative monthly gross salary: $ 5,653.00 (based on a fulltime workweek, pay scale 7, step 0).
• 401K Plan is offered. Health/Dental/Vision is provided on a 72%-28% Employer-Employee basis.
• Additional employment conditions are stipulated in Embassy Staff Handbook (LSR).

Interested?*

For more information, please contact Bee Kothuis, e-mail: bee.kothuis@nbso-texas.com
More information on the NBSO Texas can be found here.
More information on RVO and the NBSO network can be found here.

This position is open to both internal and external candidates. We encourage all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. Please note that when all qualifications and experience are equal, preference will be given to internal candidates. This is in line with our commitment to promote and develop our existing workforce.

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.

How to apply

Interested candidates may express their interest by mail to bee.kothuis@nbso-texas.com. Please attach a motivation letter (max. 800 words) and resume that clearly outlines your work experience, educational qualifications, and relevant skills.

We will invite selected candidates for interviews. Applications will be accepted until the 17 May 2024. We look forward to hearing from you!

* 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.