Sustainability Advisor

In this role, you will be responsible for

In this role, you will use your creativity and expertise to inspire colleagues to view their work from a sustainability perspective and to engage them in this change. As part of the Sustainability Program Team, you will focus on colleagues in educational support roles who work in administrative departments and in staff positions within the academic divisions. More specifically, as a Sustainability Advisor, you will be responsible for:

• Promoting knowledge development and sharing knowledge about sustainable development with colleagues in educational support roles.
• Facilitating change sessions to help colleagues make their work more sustainable.
• Providing guidance to colleagues and offering substantive advice on setting forward-looking goals and plans aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
• Provide guidance and substantive advice on the priorities to be set in order to achieve the goals in a synergistic manner.
• Serving as an ambassador for sustainable development both within and outside the college.

Welcome to Windesheim

A university of applied sciences where everyone can feel valued and at home. Equal opportunity is central to our mission, and our strength lies in collaboration. We contribute to relevant research aimed at an inclusive and sustainable society. And we help new professionals get started in their careers. We do this by developing personalized learning paths for students and by continually tailoring our educational programs to meet current needs. Together, we are building the future.

At our campus in Zwolle, there’s more to do than just work. It’s a vibrant community, full of people, activities, and a wide range of amenities. There’s a well-stocked campus store, restaurants, and cafés, and if you want to work out, you can do so at our gym or the swimming pool. The campus is located just outside the bustling center of Zwolle, in a rural area along the IJssel River, bordering a 20-hectare forest.

Windesheim has incorporated sustainability into its strategic direction. Initial steps have been taken by various colleagues in different areas of the university. To take further steps and integrate sustainable development more structurally and systematically into education, research, and operations, the Sustainability Program has been launched. The program is focused on three pillars:

1. Making educational curricula, research, and operations more sustainable: Educating, training, and supporting staff (faculty, researchers, administrative staff) to integrate sustainability into their work
2. Working Together for the Future: Collaborating with students, faculty, researchers, professionals, citizens, and other relevant stakeholders—all from different disciplines—to address complex issues, for example, in living labs.
3. Connect and inspire: Walk the talk. Engage employees and students in the process of making the organization, its programs, and its research more sustainable. Additionally, build connections with networks and partners in the region, as well as nationally and internationally.

You will be joining a new team that is currently being established and will grow to 3 full-time equivalents. In this role, you will collaborate with the Sustainable Education Advisor, the Activation Project Leader, and the Program Manager. The Sustainability Program plays a central role across the entire university. Functionally, the program team is part of the Operations Department. The program has a duration of 3 years, with the expectation that the work will continue thereafter in its current or modified form and team structure.

“The program’s core pillars are in place; as a team, we’ll be working out the details. There’s plenty of room for creativity and innovation! Let’s come up with impactful ways to get this important movement off the ground—are you in?” - Maaike Andringa, Sustainability Program Manager

Your contribution

Every person has their own unique background. And we believe that when differences come together, great results can flourish. So, it goes without saying that you thrive on effective collaboration. For the Sustainability Advisor position, we’d also like to see that you bring a unifying spirit and the ability to drive change. In addition, you have/are:

• A completed bachelor's degree from a university of applied sciences.
• Extensive knowledge of sustainability.
• An active network in the field of sustainability that you can contribute to in order to make our college more sustainable, and through which you can easily apply current developments to the organization.
• Extensive experience in making organizations more sustainable and in engaging and guiding colleagues (and groups of colleagues) through the change process.
• You are sensitive to organizational dynamics and have a keen eye for the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong communication and networking skills.

Your outlook

Work in a stimulating environment where we encourage you to seize opportunities—and where you can be yourself. As a Sustainability Advisor, you can start as soon as possible and work 32 hours a week to make an impact on people, the professional field, society, and, ultimately, the future. In addition, you can expect the following (based on a 40-hour workweek):

• A gross monthly salary between €3,018 and €4,569 (scale 10 of the higher professional education collective bargaining agreement).
• A 12-month employment contract, with the possibility of renewal.
• 53 vacation days per year.
• 8% vacation pay.
• 8.3% year-end bonus.
• A flexible travel expense policy, tailored entirely to your mode of transportation.
• Plenty of opportunities for professional development through our in-house training institute and GoodHabitz.
• Fresh fruit at your workplace and in the fitness facilities.
• An annual allowance for professional literature and a free museum pass.
• Work-from-home equipment, such as a laptop, that enables hybrid work.

Visit www.werkenbijwindesheim.nl/over-ons/arbeidsvoorwaarden to learn more about Windesheim as an employer and our employment terms and conditions.

Apply and join us

Are you committed to making Windesheim a truly sustainable university of applied sciences? If so, please apply by March 26 at the latest using the application form on our website for the position of Sustainability Advisor, including a cover letter and your resume. In your cover letter, please be sure to answer the questions below. This will help us recruit and select candidates as objectively as possible:

1. What makes you a good fit for the position of Sustainability Advisor?
2. What is your connection to sustainability?
3. In what ways do you get people on board with a change?
4. How will your work as a Sustainability Advisor help make our university more sustainable?

What to Expect

Have you filled out and submitted the application form? After an initial screening, we’ll let you know if we’d like to invite you for an introductory interview. If we’re both enthusiastic after this interview, we’ll schedule a second interview. If both you and we are interested in working together after this second interview, we’ll extend a contract offer to you.

• You will receive a response no later than 5 business days after March 26.
• The first interviews will take place on Monday, April 3, in the afternoon in Zwolle or Almere.
• The second round of interviews will take place on Tuesday, April 11, in the afternoon in Zwolle.
• A background check and/or reference check may be part of the selection process.

This job opening is being advertised both internally and externally. Qualified internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates.

Contact

Do you have any questions about the job?

Please contact Maaike Andringa
Sustainability Program Manager
06-21856538 | m.andringa@windesheim.nl

Do you have any questions about the application process?

Please contact Daphne Douwes
Recruiter
088-4696430 | ds.douwes@windesheim.nl

Sales calls are not appreciated.