Head of the Media and Public Relations Department

• Organizational Unit: Corps Leadership Staff

What will you be doing?

As Head of the Media and Public Relations Department, you play a key role in the professional development of your department. You provide leadership to the Media and Public Relations Department and are responsible for the quality of the work. The department faces a number of interesting challenges. For example, how do you further develop the team from a spokesperson role to proactive strategic internal and external (communication) advisory services, with the associated integrated partnerships? How do you challenge colleagues to play a proactive role focused on traditional media, online media, and internal channels? And how do you engage colleagues in your vision for positioning an organization within the (online) media landscape to increase trust both internally and externally? These are just a few of the interesting challenges you and the department face.

You report to the Director of Communications and are a member of the Executive Management Team. You will develop your department’s strategy toward a (more) integrated approach to internal and external media. The focus is not only on public relations, but also on strategic advice, proactive (online) media policy, and speechwriting. Based on the force’s strategic communication agenda, you will define the priorities and decisions regarding current topics that are proactively communicated to the media and in collaboration with the Communications Department through the force’s own external and internal police channels. You will challenge your staff to take a broad view of issues and play an active role. You ensure effective, structured, and constructive collaboration between your staff and the units, the Police Services Center (PDC), and the Force Management Staff. This applies in particular to collaboration with the national Newsroom and Corporate Policy and Advice (both within the management team) and Force Media and Account & Advice (both Communications Department). You are also the point of contact for your counterpart at Justice & Security and other partners such as the Public Prosecution Service and the Judiciary.

You serve as a key link between the Communications Directorate and the communications departments in the units: for example, you chair the national consultation with the unit coordinators for Media and Publicity, and you are the first point of contact for the heads of communications regarding issues and incidents that have a national impact. It is essential to get to know the environment within the units in order to provide advice. In the absence of the Director of Communications, you will act, together with the Head of the Advice and Policy Department and the Head of the Newsroom and Digital Media, act as a substitute. You will be involved in complex and/or administrative matters in the field of communications and will play an advisory role during crises. You will develop and maintain a network at the national level with (external) partners, managers, project leaders, and other advisors.

Where will you be working?

The Corps Leadership Staff is a unique work environment! Although it is a small part of the organization, this is where we steer the course of the corps and focus on long-term developments and policy-making, day-to-day organizational tasks, and activities related to crises and current events. The Corps Leadership Staff encompasses various disciplines, including the Communications. The Media & Publicity Department—of which you will become the head—falls under this directorate.

The Communications Department is responsible for developing the corporate communications policy; we provide the police leadership and, when necessary, national portfolio holders (police chiefs in the units) with communications and media advice, and we assist them with media appearances. In addition to internal communication, we communicate externally on topics and issues that have a national impact on the organization, and we are responsible 24/7 for serving as the spokesperson on national issues. We maintain close contact with colleagues from the communications teams of police units across the country. For national issues, we work with colleagues in the units to ensure a recognizable and consistent media approach.

Helping society live together. If you stop to think about it, that’s what police work is all about. Ensuring that our freedom and safety are in balance. With approximately 65,000 colleagues, we help wherever we can. We stand up against injustice, crime, and danger. We’re looking for people who will help us be a police force of and for everyone. Will you join us in learning from each other’s differences?

Who are you?

With your vision for how to position an organization within the (online) media landscape to build trust in the organization both internally and externally, and your knowledge of impactful online and offline media strategies, you are a strong partner for the police force leadership and the police management team. You have extensive political and administrative experience, persuasive skills, and can function effectively in a complex environment. Your organizational sensitivity comes in handy here. You are analytical and able to reflect critically. You have experience managing staff and provide direction for developments that arise on an ongoing basis. Coaching colleagues is second nature to you; you have an eye for the person behind the employee. You can direct processes in a flexible and goal-oriented manner. You build connections with colleagues across the broader police organization and, at the same time, do not hesitate to take the lead at crucial moments based on your functional role. You are an expert at networking, both internally and externally. You are a team player on our executive management team.

You have an excellent understanding of political and administrative dynamics, are familiar with the media landscape, and are aware of the complex environment in which the police operate. You possess broad professional expertise and experience, preferably in the areas of reputation management, crisis communication, and/or public relations.

You should also bring the following:

• a bachelor's degree;
• At least 5 years of experience in a leadership role, preferably in a political-administrative setting;
• knowledge of the field of communication, particularly in the area of (new) media;
• extensive demonstrable experience in advising the senior leadership of a large organization;
• preferably experience in public relations.

What we offer

The position is based in The Hague. There is an opening for one full-time employee. This is a 36-hour-per-week position.

Because good people are important to the police force, we invest in your future. We offer extensive development opportunities and a temporary appointment for a one-year probationary period. If your performance is satisfactory, the appointment will be converted to a permanent position after one year.

You can also expect the following from us:

• a gross monthly salary of at least €5,285 and at most €7,436 (scale 14 Bbp) based on a 36-hour workweek;
• 8% vacation pay and 8.33% year-end bonus;
• good pension plan and paid parental leave (more information about leave, policies, and options).

The formal position within the police organizational structure isOperations Specialist F, specializing in communications.

Interested?

Please call or email Mirjam Otten, Director of Communications (06 - 51 49 83 94,mirjam.otten@politie.nl) for more information about the position.
For questions about the application process, please call Recruitment & Selection at 088 - 66 22 300.

Please apply by October 15 at the latest using theapplication button.

Another important point is

• A Security Clearance A is part of the selection process.
• The police force is committed to innovation and addressing cultural differences within teams. Diverse teams perform better. That is why we are working hard to create an open and safe culture in which diverse talent can thrive.