Technical Innovation Consultant

Position: Developer / Software Developer

Location: Zwolle / hybrid

Hours per week: 36

Job description:

The Research and Development Promotion Act (WBSO) is the largest innovation incentive measure in the Netherlands. Through this, entrepreneurs receive funding (a tax benefit) for their research and development projects. From the ICT team, you advise on and decide on the approval of project proposals in the field of R&D. The essence of the assessment is verifying whether genuine technical innovation is taking place and to what extent a company attempts to resolve bottlenecks within the context of software development. In concrete terms, this means that your work consists of reading the applications and forming and formulating your opinion.

To conduct a thorough assessment, you maintain regular contact with entrepreneurs, intermediaries, and fellow advisors. You may ask additional questions, explain your decisions by phone, and provide information regarding the WBSO and other schemes. The applications vary greatly in content and scope. They range from relatively simple applications, where the applicant spends a limited number of hours resolving a single bottleneck, to applications from the truly large companies in the Netherlands involving dozens of bottlenecks and thousands of hours. As a WBSO advisor, the challenge lies in navigating this landscape and providing well-substantiated written advice. Within the ICT team, we work in an agile/scrum manner. You will primarily work in a small team with shared responsibility for planning, production, and quality. Additionally, within the larger ICT team (approximately 25 colleagues), there is room for knowledge exchange, talent development, and social networking.

You can perform your work from any location: from home, at another location, or at the office. For collaboration in and the execution of your work, it is important to also come to the office in Zwolle regularly (1 to 2 times a week).

Assignment background:

Helping entrepreneurs move forward with innovation projects. That is the goal of the WBSO. It is important that the right projects are approved. To achieve this, assessors need to be able to thoroughly analyze written applications for technical innovation. Up-to-date knowledge of various disciplines is required for this. Think of the Internet of Things, smart industry, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and big data. In addition, written communication is important; you must be able to clearly articulate your decision.

To demand:

• This position is not suitable for freelancers, and therefore we would like to receive CVs from employees who are employed by a company they do not own.
• Demonstrable relevant knowledge of or experience with R&D
• At least a relevant completed HBO degree in (Technical) Informatics or similar
• PSPO1 - Professional Product Owner Certificate
• SAFe certificate
• You have extensive experience – 5 years – in software development and ICT. Think of modern programming languages (C# .NET, Java, Python), web services, apps, (mobile) operating systems (Android and iOS), and databases (NoSQL, MongoDB, MySQL).
• 3 years of experience with DevOps
• 2 years of experience collaborating within complex organizations in an international context

Job preferences:

• Experience working within the central government
• Experience with the WBSO
• You are good at making tough decisions, while keeping an eye on our services and results.
• You speak the language of entrepreneurs and can clearly convey your ideas to them. You are able to formulate your advice concisely, both verbally and in writing. This is demonstrated by means of concrete examples in your CV and cover letter.