Senior Business Manager

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Business Manager to lead our growing team in the Netherlands. This is a strategic leadership role designed for an entrepreneurial individual who can execute our vision, expand our footprint in both the European and Dutch national markets, and ensure operational excellence.

As Senior Business Manager Martel NL, you will play a key role to ensure its sustainable, profitable growth. You will balance hands-on business development with inspiring team leadership, all while championing Martel's values of quality, commitment, and intellectual curiosity.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:  

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Develop and execute a robust business plan for Martel NL, in alignment with the group's strategic objectives.
• Drive the diversification strategy, pursuing new commercial revenue streams and systematically tapping into the Dutch national R&I funding landscape.
• Identify emerging market opportunities and position Martel NL as a key partner in the Dutch ICT research and innovation ecosystem.
• Act as Martel's "sentinel" in the Netherlands, providing market intelligence and strategic insights to group management.

Operations and Project Management

• Oversee the Martel NL project portfolio, ensuring high-quality delivery, client satisfaction, and financial profitability.
• Coordinate resource allocation and workload planning for the team in close collaboration with the upper management team of the group.
• Help implement and refine standardized processes to improve efficiency, in line with group-wide optimization goals.
• Personally lead high-value proposals, tenders, and new business negotiations, leveraging your expertise and network.

Team and People Supervision

• Lead, mentor, and inspire a high-performing, remote-first team of 8+ experts, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Help manage local HR aspects, including recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, and the professional development of your team.
• Champion effective knowledge sharing and integration between the NL team and the wider Martel group in Switzerland.
• Cultivate a strong team identity and engagement, despite the remote-first working model.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary representative and "face" of Martel NL, engaging with key stakeholders, partners, and clients.
• Leverage your existing network to build new strategic consortia and commercial partnerships.
• Collaborate closely with Martel's group management, ensuring transparent reporting, open communication, and strategic alignment.
• Represent Martel at key industry events, info days, and networking functions in the Netherlands and across Europe.

Mandatory Requirements:

• Residency in the Netherlands.
• A minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience with EC R&I projects (Horizon 2020 / Horizon Europe), demonstrating deep knowledge of the project lifecycle (e.g., proposal writing, project management, communication, or research).
• Proven work experience in the Netherlands with a solid, active, and relevant professional network in the Dutch R&I, public, and/or business community.
• Demonstrable entrepreneurial / business development expertise, with a track record of identifying opportunities and generating new revenue streams.

Skills and Qualifications:  

• Strong leadership & management skills, with experience leading remote or hybrid teams.
• Full professional fluency in English; proficiency in Dutch is a strong advantage.
• A background in ICT R&D, and/or policy, and/or media/communications, is a significant plus.
• Experience in IPR/Innovation Management is a significant plus.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Master's degree or higher in a relevant field.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to think critically and strategically.
• Proactive and self-motivated.
• Adaptable and flexible.

We Offer You:

• 40-hour work week with flexible working hours
• Monthly allowance for private phone and internet expenses
• Flexible work arrangement options
• Entrepreneurial and matrix organized company with a non-hierarchical mindset

Do you want to apply?   

Send: 

• Your CV 
• Cover letter (clearly elaborate on why you are the right person for the job) 

via email to indicating “Senior Business Manager” in the subject.

All applications will be treated as strictly confidential.

For any questions or additional information, feel free to reach out:  

Martel is a dynamic digital innovation agency with 30 years of experience, empowering organisations across Europe and beyond to transform novel ideas into technological solutions, media strategies, and market success. With more than 200 cutting-edge projects completed, Martel has evolved from a small consulting agency based in Switzerland into a thriving international organisation. Building on its expertise in European Commission-funded project management and EU consulting, Martel has expanded into research and development across several advanced domains, while also offering a comprehensive suite of communication, media, policy analysis, exploitation, and training services. 

Martel Innovate BV, our Dutch subsidiary, was established in 2021 and has since become a rapidly expanding organization. It is actively engaged in, and coordinates, multiple high-profile Horizon Europe and other EU-funded research programs.