Ecosystem Developer at Future Energy Systems (36–40 hours per week for a period of 3 years (through December 2029))

Would you like to help build one of the most important economic ecosystems in the Northern Netherlands?

The energy transition has long since ceased to be solely about sustainable generation. The next step is to develop future-proof energy systems: smart energy systems in which energy generation, storage, energy hubs, infrastructure, digitization, and industrial applications are becoming increasingly interconnected. It is precisely at this intersection that the innovations, companies, and value chains that will determine the future earning potential of the Northern Netherlands are emerging.

The Northern Netherlands is in an exceptionally strong position to achieve this. With a robust energy infrastructure, innovative companies, research institutions, industrial clusters, and the space to develop new energy systems in practice, the region is emerging as one of the most promising testing grounds for the energy system of the future.

As an Ecosystem Developer at Future Energy Systems, you’ll help create the conditions under which companies and innovations in the Northern Netherlands can thrive. You will develop a vision of what a strong ecosystem for Future Energy Systems requires, identify what already exists and what is still missing, and, together with companies, research institutions, and government agencies, chart a course to achieve that vision. In this way, you will strengthen the innovation and economic potential of the entire Northern Netherlands.

The NOM (Investment and Development Agency for the Northern Netherlands) is the regional development agency for Drenthe, Fryslân, and Groningen. For more than fifty years, we have been committed to strengthening the economy of the Northern Netherlands. We do this by helping entrepreneurs with funding, knowledge, and connections.

NOM operates at the intersection of entrepreneurs, research institutions, and government agencies. We bring parties together and help build strong ecosystems in sectors where the Northern Netherlands can truly make a difference: energy, green chemistry, agri-food, water technology, life sciences & health, high-tech, and maritime. In this way, we work together to accelerate the innovations that contribute to societal transitions.

We are one of the nine Regional Development Agencies in the Netherlands. Together, we form ROM-Nederland: a powerful national network that helps innovative companies in the regions grow and innovate. ROMs bridge the gap between the national government and the regions and ensure that entrepreneurs have access to knowledge, networks, capital, and markets. With nearly 600 specialists and fund assets totaling over €2.3 billion, we are the largest venture capital investor in the Netherlands  

The Northern Netherlands is known nationally and internationally as one of Europe’s most important energy regions. The next step in the energy transition revolves around smart energy systems, which bring together energy hubs, energy infrastructure, storage, flexibility, digitization, and industrial applications. As an Ecosystem Developer for Future Energy Systems, you will be tasked with further developing this ecosystem for the Northern Netherlands in a targeted manner. You will formulate a vision of where the Northern Netherlands aims to be in five to ten years, analyze the knowledge, companies, infrastructure, technology, collaboration, and value chains required to achieve this, and translate this into a concrete development agenda and roadmap. Within this broad scope, battery and other storage technologies play a key role as a crucial link in flexibility, energy hubs, and the smart utilization of the available energy infrastructure.

A strong ecosystem has two sides to it. On the one hand, it helps the Northern Netherlands develop and implement new smart energy systems in practice, thereby demonstrating what a future-proof energy system could look like. On the other hand, it must serve as a breeding ground for companies and startups that develop new products, technologies, and services for Future Energy Systems—thereby creating new economic activity and revenue-generating capacity for the Northern Netherlands. You therefore explicitly look beyond individual technologies or projects. You identify the Northern Netherlands’ strengths, pinpoint where crucial links are missing, and determine which stakeholders, knowledge, infrastructure, and investments are needed to advance the ecosystem as a whole.

You’ll constantly be moving between strategy and practice. You’ll engage with companies, research institutions, grid operators, government agencies, and other stakeholders to understand where the energy system and the market are headed, what opportunities this presents for the Northern Netherlands, and what’s needed to actually capitalize on those opportunities. Based on this overview, you’ll mobilize stakeholders and work strategically to fill the gaps in the ecosystem. Within the Energy Sector Team, you’ll play a leading role and collaborate closely with colleagues from the Investment, Innovation, and Internationalization teams. You’ll also make a significant substantive contribution to the development of the annual plans and long-term strategy for the energy sector.

From Ecosystem to Innovation

Positioning and Long-Term Development

The result of your work will be a stronger and increasingly self-sustaining ecosystem for Future Energy Systems in the Northern Netherlands. An ecosystem in which:

You will work closely with:

You are an experienced business developer or ecosystem builder with your own vision for the development of Future Energy Systems and for what it takes to successfully grow an economic ecosystem. You have a broad understanding of technology, the market, infrastructure, and public interests, and based on that holistic view, you can determine the Northern Netherlands’ strengths, identify gaps, and outline the steps needed to move forward. You also have a relevant and active network within the energy sector and can engage with companies, research institutions, and government agencies at a strategic level from day one.

Knowledge and Skills

You feel at home in an environment where not everything is set in stone yet, and you’re energized by building new ecosystems that will help shape the economy of the Northern Netherlands in the coming decades.

At NOM you will work in an organization that is open, entrepreneurial and independent. We are not a classic investor or consultancy: we think along, connect and pioneer. Here you contribute directly to the development of entrepreneurs and to the future of the region. You see up close how companies grow, how innovations arise and how the Northern Netherlands becomes stronger.

The NOM: working together on mission-driven innovation for a smarter, healthier, and more sustainable Northern Netherlands.

We offer a salary between €5,394.37 and €8,017.88 gross per month (based on a 40-hour workweek). The generic job description for Business Developer C applies to this position. The term of employment is a maximum of three years, starting with a one-year employment contract.

To apply for this position, please fill out the application form. We look forward to receiving your cover letter and resume by September 21, 2026. Interviews are scheduled for Monday, October 5, and Thursday, October 8.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Melissa Fuller (Innovation and Internationalization Manager) by phone at 06 150 785 49. She’d be happy to tell you more about this exciting position!

This job opening has been posted internally and externally simultaneously. If candidates are equally qualified, internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates.

Obtaining references is part of the application process.