Within the Defence, Safety & Security (DSS) unit, you work on solutions that contribute to national security, defence capabilities, and societal resilience. The DSS unit develops knowledge and technology for, among others, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice and Security, and operators of critical infrastructure.
As a Sales Support Professional, you provide essential support to our business developers, project managers, and market managers within the Acoustics & Underwater Warfare (AUW) division. You contribute to streamlining commercial processes and enhancing the quality of proposals, tenders, and customer interactions.
As a true coordinator, you streamline critical administrative and sales processes within the unit. You ensure accurate administrative registration in systems such as our CRM, working closely with business developers and opportunity managers. Your responsibilities are diverse and span the areas of project development, process governance, and operational efficiency.
Your duties include identifying, monitoring, and safeguarding agreements and deadlines related to customer interactions and the sales process. You ensure that procedures and templates are aligned with the TNO Management System. In addition, you identify opportunities for improvement and initiate solutions to enhance processes and effectiveness.
For proposals and quotations, you oversee the entire process, verify the accuracy of quotations, request credit checks, and coordinate the approval and signing process in accordance with the delegation of authority framework. In the case of funded projects and tender procedures, you also support the submission process and the administration of all required information in relevant portals, such as those of the European Commission or the Dutch government. When quotations or proposals are awarded, you review all associated documentation for completeness and accuracy, coordinate with the IP & Contracting department when necessary, and ensure that all records are stored correctly. Upon completion of a project, you make sure that the customer satisfaction audit is conducted. Throughout all activities, you ensure that administration is processed in compliance with the requirements of the TNO Management System.
You maintain close contacts with research departments, the secretariat, and other decentralized Sales Support colleagues. You keep information in CRM and SharePoint up to date and provide support for reporting activities.
In this role, you will work closely with three other colleagues within the Sales Office. While everyone has their own area of focus, responsibilities are not set in stone—we continuously adapt based on business needs. As a team, we are flexible and support one another by stepping in and providing cover during absences. This ensures continuity for both our customers and our colleagues. In this position, you report to the Market Director.
What can you expect from your working environment?
The Sales Support Office (SSO) within the DSS unit is organized as a team in which each employee is responsible for supporting a specific division. There is one coordinating colleague, but team members work closely together and provide mutual backup when needed. The SSO's mission is to enable colleagues in business development, project management, and market management to perform optimally and focus on their core responsibilities. You achieve this by ensuring high-quality data management and supporting more effective business acquisition processes.
You make it possible for your colleagues to concentrate on their key tasks. Together with your teammates, you are the central connecting link within the organization. Colleagues frequently reach out to you for advice and support—and when they do not, you proactively engage with them. There are many processes and tools available to support your work, as well as highly knowledgeable colleagues in the staff departments who can assist with specialist questions. We are dedicated to contributing to a safer Netherlands, while also making time for collaboration, collegiality, and enjoyment at work.
You are proactive and a true go-getter who takes initiative and sees things through to completion. You enjoy working in a project- and process-oriented manner while keeping administrative tasks organized. You handle stress well and manage workloads and deadlines effectively. You work accurately and pragmatically, quickly spotting inconsistencies or missing information. You set things right and ensure all necessary information is provided, because you get the job done. You hold others accountable regarding processes while maintaining strong relationships with all individuals and departments involved in the sales cycle. You are a team player who collaborates effectively with colleagues, even remotely.
What else you bring:
- At least MBO-4 level of education/thinking (vocational/technical college), preferably in sales support, administration, or a commercial field.
- At least 3 years of work experience in a similar role.
- Excellent commandment of Dutch (C1) and a good commandment of English.
- Extensive experience with MS Office and CRM-style applications (such as Microsoft Dynamics and/or SharePoint); willingness to acquire the necessary knowledge if not already possessed.
- Affinity with or prior experience using AI (e.g., Copilot) to support your work is a strong plus; willingness to acquire the necessary knowledge if not already possessed.
Challenging and varied work with a real impact. And plenty of opportunities as, at TNO, you are in charge of shaping your career. We offer a gross monthly salary between € 3,000 and € 3,500 (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € 180). In addition, you will be given every opportunity to develop yourself.
TNO offers optional employee benefits, enabling you to tailor your benefits package to match your personal situation. You may also expect:
- An extremely professional, innovative working environment where colleagues are leading experts in their field.
- The opportunity to attend courses, workshops and conferences, and to receive training and coaching based on your needs.
- 33 days annual leave plus a flexible holiday that can be used on a cultural, religious, or otherwise important day of your choosing (on a full-time basis).
- An employer working towards a respectful, inclusive, and equitable work environment where every employee can flourish, with various initiatives such as Jong TNO, numerous expertise based guilds, Rainbow Community and Round Tables on diverse inclusion topics.
- We offer a comprehensive and flexible mobility plan that also includes full compensation for public transportation for commuting and business travel.
- Great social events with your team and other TNO colleagues. That’s how you will get to know a lot of people really quickly.
- Flexible working hours, the possibility to work parttime (32 or 36 hours) and the possibility of working from home.
- A good pension scheme.
Read more about tailoring your benefits package.
Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring and inclusive working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow.
Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results.
At TNO, we believe this is our time to help society, government and business move forward faster. Together with driven colleagues, you turn knowledge into concrete innovations or ventures that truly make a difference by combining the power of science and entrepreneurship. And in doing so, you make your mark on our time.
Please apply before the 30th of July, 2026. The selection process comprises two interview rounds. The preliminary interview takes place on the 4th of August, 2026. In a final meeting we will discuss the terms of employment and your tailored benefits package. We aim to finalize the entire process within four weeks.
The selection process may include an online assessment and a reference check.
A certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required before starting a new job at TNO.
As you will be working for clients in the domain of defence and security, a Certificate of No Objection issued by AIVD (the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service) is mandatory. This means you will have to undergo a security screening. Read more about security screening
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