Techleap is building a vibrant Dutch deeptech ecosystem by designing and delivering impactful programmes that foster connection, collaboration, learning, and visibility. Our mission is bold: make the Netherlands a global hotspot for science-based breakthrough innovation, where bold ideas grow into companies that reshape international markets and deliver lasting societal impact.
As Programme Lead, you will take full ownership of one of our two deeptech verticals, Future of Compute or Energy, and drive the strategic initiatives that help Dutch deeptech startups scale. This is a role with broad responsibility and genuine creative freedom, where your technical depth, strategic thinking, and stakeholder instincts translate into real ecosystem impact.
What You’ll Be DoingYou will design and deliver a portfolio of interventions, from founder programmes and ecosystem events to new partnerships and access to testing facilities, that give Dutch deeptech startups what they cannot find anywhere else. You own the full cycle: strategic planning, programme design, execution, evaluation, and iteration.
Your work is grounded in deep understanding of the technologies being developed in your vertical. You know the landscape, you understand where the real friction is for founders, and you use that knowledge to design targeted, bold, and genuinely useful interventions. You think in systems, not single events, building a staged action plan that maximises impact while managing resources with discipline.
Continuous learning is central to how you operate. Every initiative gets re‑evaluated: what to stop, what to improve, what to double down on. You work closely with other vertical leads and cross‑functional team members to build systemic, cross‑vertical thinking, and you develop impact frameworks that allow Techleap to track its contributions over time.
You will create and nurture an engaged cohort of founders at different growth stages, working with them hands‑on to remove the bottlenecks standing between them and scale.
Our VerticalsFuture of Compute: Novel compute paradigms, including photonics, quantum, and neuromorphic computing as well as advanced semiconductor architectures, offer enormous potential for new materials, security, drug discovery, and economic resilience. Europe has a strategic imperative to master these technologies, and the Netherlands is well‑placed to be where the next generation of hardware champions emerge.
Energy: Whether driven by climate change or energy security, a massive transformation of our energy system is underway. Changing how we produce, store, distribute, and use energy is the defining challenge of our time. Electricity will be the cornerstone of this transformation, and we are only scratching the surface of the coming electrotech revolution.
Who you areYou have genuine subject‑matter expertise in your vertical, deep enough to have real conversations with founders, broad enough to design interventions that move the needle at ecosystem level. You are a builder who thrives in fast‑moving environments, takes initiative, and is not afraid to experiment.
You are low‑ego and service‑oriented. You are here to enable others to succeed, not to take the spotlight. You hold founder success as your first priority and do not accept the status quo as a given. You understand that Techleap’s deeptech programme succeeds only when the founders it serves succeed.
Preferred QualificationsAt least 5 years of experience in a high‑pace environment, preferably a start‑up or deeptech venture.
PhD in a relevant field preferred; alternatively, significant hands‑on experience in a technical role within the vertical.
Strong understanding of the challenges specific to deeptech ventures, from technology readiness to funding and market access.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
Proven stakeholder management experience across diverse organisations and seniority levels.
Familiarity with project management methodologies and a track record of managing multiple workstreams in parallel.
High curiosity and a genuine drive to try new approaches.
Connect: You build trusted relationships with founders, researchers, investors, and partners, and use those relationships to understand what the ecosystem actually needs.
Make Impact: You translate strategy into concrete interventions with clear objectives, KPIs, and a relentless focus on measurable founder success.
Growth Mindset: You treat every programme as a learning opportunity, iterate quickly, and are not afraid to stop something that is not working.
Truly Care: You are in service of the ecosystem. Founder success is your north star, and you bring that commitment to every decision you make.
A structured, staged action plan for your vertical is in place, with clear prioritisation of interventions and efficient resource allocation.
At least one flagship programme or initiative is live and generating measurable engagement from founders.
A core cohort of founders and ecosystem stakeholders — researchers, investors, institutions — is actively collaborating with Techleap through your vertical.
A learning and evaluation rhythm is established, giving the team clear insight into what is working and what needs to change.
Cross‑vertical collaboration is underway, contributing to at least one systemic initiative beyond your own portfolio.
A salary between €5,500 – €6,200 gross per month (full‑time).
8% holiday allowance.
15% pension allowance for you to allocate.
Laptop provided by Techleap (Mac or Windows).
€100/month work from home allowance.
Travel allowance.
Unlimited holidays.
Hybrid working setup (2–3 days in office).
Full‑time contract (40h/week), 12 months.
As part of our mission, we build safe communities that foster diverse, inclusive and equitable collaboration – and that includes our employees. We’re taking on exciting challenges for founders and Dutch society, and we only succeed with a team that represents an inclusive and diverse set of identities and backgrounds.
Ready to make an impact?If you are motivated by taking full ownership our deeptech verticals, and drive the strategic initiatives that help Dutch deeptech startups scale, we look forward to hearing from you.
#J-18808-Ljbffr€5500 - €6200 monthly