Dick Ernste works as an interim manager/interim director for organizations involved in international cooperation and development, as well as other social organizations, including Aidsfonds, PUM, Pax for Peace, and Doctors of the World.

He is also a member of the supervisory board of Inova/Edinova, which provides social support and education for people newly arriving in the Netherlands, and serves as chairman of the supervisory board of Bibliotheek Kennemerwaard (Kennemerwaard Library) and Artiance Centrum voor de Kunsten (Artiance Arts Center).

Previously, Dick Ernste worked as a consultant at organizations such as KPMG and De Beuk Organizational Consultancy.