Contract Management Department Manager

The position

As the Contract Management Department Manager, you will lead two dedicated and knowledgeable teams responsible for managing and optimizing agreements with healthcare providers. These contracts cover essential services such as youth care, Wmo services (Social Support Act), and student transportation. The department consists of approximately 40 full-time equivalents (FTEs), divided into two teams: the Specialist Assistance Team and the Access and Neighborhood Teams. As both a manager and a connector, you actively foster collaboration between your team managers, subject matter experts such as financial advisors and policy officers, and other departments to achieve shared goals. As the Contract Management Department Manager, you are part of the Youth, Care, and Diversity Directorate and contribute to the integrated management of the directorate as a whole. You contribute to the further development of the social domain, with a strong focus on implementation and on learning and improving based on this.

An important aspect of your role is enhancing the organization’s capacity for learning. You use insights gained from day-to-day operations—such as feedback and lessons learned from complaints—to implement continuous improvements. In doing so, you draw on the practical expertise and diversity within the operational team and incorporate the experiences of Amsterdam residents. You translate these insights into agreements with service providers, ensuring that the quality of care is strengthened and remains aligned with the needs of Amsterdam residents and families who require assistance or support. You actively work to position your department within the social sector. The team not only functions well internally but is also recognized as a reliable and professional partner for other departments, care providers, and municipal partners. Through your focus on collaboration and innovation, you contribute to the further professionalization of contract management within the municipality.

 Finally, you create a safe and inclusive work environment where employees feel heard, valued, and encouraged. You support them not only in their daily work but also in their personal and professional development. By creating space for feedback and innovation, you’ll build a forward-thinking department that’s prepared for tomorrow’s challenges. This allows the teams to proactively address social issues in Amsterdam, such as the growing demand for care and the challenge of keeping that care high-quality, affordable, and efficient. You do all of this with an eye toward the social impact of the work, always prioritizing the well-being of Amsterdam’s residents.

Here's what you do on an average day

• You will provide daily leadership to the team managers and staff of the Contract Management department and foster a safe, inclusive, and open communication culture within the team by conducting regular one-on-one meetings and team meetings, with opportunities for feedback, ideas, and growth.
• As a member of the Youth, Care, and Diversity Executive Board, you will translate policy decisions into practical contractual agreements that meet the needs of Amsterdam’s residents.
• You will prepare reports for the board and the organization that provide insight into the quality and effectiveness of operations, efficiency, and cost control. Based on these reports, you will make adjustments to continuously improve services and ensure they remain financially manageable.
• You will monitor agreements with healthcare providers, conduct periodic evaluations, and make adjustments as needed to ensure that Amsterdam residents receive the necessary care and support.
• You will initiate and oversee improvement projects aimed at optimizing work processes and professionalizing our services. In doing so, you will use practical insights and feedback to ensure that our care offerings remain up-to-date and of high quality.
• As part of the Youth, Care, and Diversity (JZD) Department, you will be responsible for setting the strategic direction and advising the City Council, district councils, and the municipal management team to ensure that decision-making aligns with current care needs and developments in the social sector.

This is where you get started

We strive to be a great employer that ensures all our colleagues feel seen and valued. We embrace the differences among our colleagues; these differences lead to better results for both our organization and our city. We aim to build a workforce that reflects Amsterdam’s diverse population. So, whoever you are, you’re more than welcome here!

You will be working within the Youth, Care, and Diversity (JZD) Department. The department consists of the Youth, Care, Contract Management, Diversity, Services & Data, and Customized Solutions and Breakthroughs divisions. The JZD Department is part of the Social Cluster within the municipality, which includes the Departments of Work, Participation, and Income; the Municipal Health Service (GGD); Social Services; Education; and the Social Procurement and Subsidies Office.

Social Challenges Facing the Youth, Care, and Diversity Division

In 2015, the City of Amsterdam was assigned new responsibilities by the national government under the Youth Act and the Social Support Act (Wmo). These include youth care and support for residents in vulnerable situations. The long-term vision for these tasks is clear, and there is broad support for it across the city. The focus is now on effectively implementing this vision and further developing its execution. This is being done not only within the department, but specifically in collaboration with residents, partners in the city, and the city districts. Improving the execution of these tasks is a key priority in this effort.

Inequality and inequality of opportunity in the city are significant, and Amsterdam has chosen to target its investments to address these disparities. The challenges in social services are also complex, and Amsterdam is taking responsibility by devoting extra attention to supporting vulnerable groups. In addition, Amsterdam has launched an extensive program in recent years to combat discrimination, promote emancipation, and strengthen social cohesion. Through these efforts, the city is working toward an inclusive society that fully embraces the diversity that characterizes Amsterdam.

What you bring

For this position as Contract Management Department Manager, you must have:

• At least 5 years of experience leading team managers and staff within a complex organization—such as a large corporation or a municipal setting—where a culture of open communication, inclusivity, and collaboration is fostered.

Please explain the following experience requirements in your cover letter:

• Demonstrable experience in improving policies, healthcare services, and work processes based on experiences and lessons learned from implementation and practice.
• Experience collaborating with policy staff, financial advisors, and other experts to clearly translate policy decisions into contractual agreements. Skilled at engaging partners and stakeholders to develop comprehensive solutions.
• Proven experience in preparing management reports that provide insight into the quality of execution, efficiency, and cost control. Ability to use these reports to make adjustments aimed at continuously improving service delivery and financial manageability.
• Proven experience in initiating and overseeing improvement projects aimed at optimizing work processes and translating practical insights into policy and strategy. Skilled at implementing improvements based on feedback, with a focus on the ongoing development of the social sector and strengthening implementation.

You should have the following skills:

• Inclusive thinking and action: You have an appreciative and coaching leadership style. You are committed to creating a safe, diverse, and inclusive organization that reflects Amsterdam and contributes to a socially safe work environment. You recognize employees’ talents and support their development.
• Providing direction: You develop a clear vision and provide guidance on strategic issues related to the city, the social sector, and the administration. You draw on relevant practical experience to develop policy-driven contract management. You are also able to act as a client and set priorities effectively.
• Fostering Innovation: You respond flexibly to a changing environment and adapt to new circumstances. You prioritize, organize, and foster innovation, approaching challenges from creative angles and with a fresh perspective. And you encourage employees to come up with innovative ideas.  You leverage the knowledge and expertise gained from implementation and contribute to policy development that aligns with the organization’s objectives and those of Amsterdam residents.
• Collaboration: You are a unifying figure who actively fosters collaboration, both internally within the municipality and your own department—across various programs and city districts—as well as with partners throughout the city. You have an excellent understanding of bureaucratic and administrative relationships and processes.
• Persuasiveness: Able to switch between substance and process, able to identify underlying interests and adapt the "
  " accordingly.

What we offer you

As a Contract Management Department Manager, you will join our team for a minimum of 32 and a maximum of 36 hours per week, and you can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary ranging from €6,395 to €8,889

  (Grade 15) based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience.  

• A one-year employment contract, with the possibility of a permanent contract thereafter, if you do not currently have an employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, or if you have only a temporary one. 
• If you already have a permanent employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, you will retain it and be transferred. 
• Opportunities for professional development and training. Our in-house training center, the Amsterdam School, offers a variety of training programs, professional development tracks, and on-the-job coaching to help you continue to challenge yourself.
• An individual flexible budget (IKB) equal to 17.05% of your salary, which you can use for things like additional pension contributions or extra days off.
• A pension plan with ABP, the pension fund for the public sector and education.
• A travel allowance of €0.10 per kilometer for travel by car, €0.15 per kilometer for travel by bicycle, and €0.21 per kilometer for travel by public transportation. This applies to a one-way commute of up to 45 kilometers and for the number of days you work in the office.
• For days you work from home, you will receive a work-from-home allowance of €3 net per workday that you work from home.
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.

Want to know more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out the City of Amsterdam Personnel Regulations (PGA).

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application byNovember 28at the latest using the“Apply”button.
• We would like to receive your cover letter, in which you explain, in no more than one A4 page, why your work experience and skills are a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
• The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of a CV/cover letter review and two rounds of interviews. We have formed a selection committee of three people. If your CV meets the job requirements, we will be happy to invite you for an interview. An assessment is part of the process.
• The interviews will take place in person at our office located at Amstel 1 in Amsterdam.
• This job opening is being advertised internally and externally at the same time. Employees of the City of Amsterdam will be given priority in the hiring process.
• The municipality has a preference policy for positions at pay grade 15 and above. This means that, for all positions at pay grade 15 and above, where candidates are equally qualified, preference is given to candidates with a non-European immigrant background.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.
• We do not appreciate unsolicited solicitation by recruitment agencies, and such actions may result in exclusion from our other recruitment initiatives. We also consider the unsolicited submission of resumes by agencies to our employees to be solicitation. We will not consider these resumes.

Do you have any questions about this job opening?

For questions about the position, please contact Karima Arichi at k.arichi@amsterdam.nl. For questions about the application process, please contact Ismahan Massäabi at i.massaabi@amsterdam.nl.