Department Manager, Homeless Services

The position

As Department Manager, you will lead a diverse department that reflects society. You will apply a coaching leadership style and provide strategic direction. You will serve as the direct supervisor of 6 team managers and 3 experts from the implementing organization. Furthermore, you will not only motivate and inspire your own department but, together with the directors and other department managers of Work, Participation, and Income (WPI), you will steer the organization toward achieving WPI’s results. Together, you will work on the further development of WPI’s management and the improvement of our services to the residents of Amsterdam. You are expected to tackle management-wide change initiatives at a strategic level. In doing so, you ensure substantive coordination within WPI, the social sector, and the alderman. You report to the Director of Income.

Here's what you do on an average day

• You will lead the department in adapting our services to meet the needs of Amsterdam’s changing homeless population. You will determine how resources are allocated to achieve our objectives and deliver our products and services.
• You will lead executive-level change initiatives in areas such as leadership, workplace well-being, inclusion and diversity, and supply chain management. In doing so, you will align policy with clear implementation frameworks, striking a balance between what is required by policy and what is feasible in practice.
• You will foster cohesion and integration among the various internal and external parties collaborating on the projects, and you will serve as the department’s primary point of contact. In doing so, you will be firm on the substance but flexible in your approach to relationships.
• You will develop the annual plan and budget in consultation with the other departments within the WPI management team, setting clear priorities. You will translate the organization’s policy into desired outcomes and products or services for your own department. In doing so, you will empower your team managers and give them the freedom and trust they need to do their jobs well.
• You make suggestions for improvement and focus on increasing effectiveness and efficiency in implementation. In doing so, you strike a balance between driving the necessary change and innovation while remaining mindful of the organization’s capacity to adapt.
• As a department manager, you will hold your employees accountable for their personal leadership, invest in their well-being, adaptability, and professional expertise, and facilitate the learning and development of both new and existing employees. The department operates within a complex interplay of social developments and political challenges. You will guide your employees through this constantly changing environment.

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!

The Special Target Groups Department is one of the 15 departments within the Work, Participation, and Income (WPI) directorate, each of which is led by a director. WPI improves opportunities for Amsterdammers in a vulnerable labor market position by guiding them toward employment, education, or social participation. WPI also strengthens the income security of Amsterdam residents who cannot (fully) provide for themselves. Finally, WPI alleviates the financial stress of Amsterdam residents with problematic debts by preventing, minimizing, and resolving them.

Together with its partners in the social sector, WPI aims to provide Amsterdam residents with tailored solutions that ultimately help them become self-reliant. This approach is based on the inherent strengths of Amsterdam residents. To achieve its objectives, WPI aligns itself with developments within the municipality in general and the social sector in particular.

The Special Target Groups Division is part of the Income Department, alongside the following divisions: Work and Income Enforcement, Poverty Reduction, Entrepreneur Support, Policy and Quality, and Income Support.

What you bring

For this position as Department Manager of Homeless Services, you must have:

• At least 3 years of management experience within a municipality or an organization with at least 5,000 employees, demonstrated through concrete examples of collaboration between departments, policy areas, disciplines, and network partners.
• At least 3 years of experience in strategically managing change initiatives at the intersection of policy and implementation within complex organizations.
• At least 3 years of experience as a manager with final responsibility, with a proven track record in business operations, including HR issues, change management, and financial oversight.
• An affinity for and knowledge of the field of employment and income. In addition, you have an affinity for, knowledge of, and a network in the field of homelessness. Please elaborate on this in your cover letter.

You should have the following skills:

Change Management:You are able to initiate and implement the necessary changes throughout the organization. At the strategic level, you link WPI’s objectives to the effectiveness of our efforts, focusing on the big picture to minimize complexity.

Inclusive thinking and action:You are able to create a socially safe environment where interactions are based on equality and where integrity, transparency, and clarity are central. You communicate with empathy and in a way that fosters connection.

Results-oriented:You make important decisions and mobilize employees and the network to support them, always prioritizing reliability. Your priority is addressing societal challenges, which may extend beyond the scope of your department.

Development-Oriented Approach (in Collaboration):Through your leadership and collaborative style, you build and maintain lasting relationships with employees and relevant networks.

What we offer you

As the Department Manager for Homeless Services, you will join our team for 36 hours per week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary ranging from €6,644 to €9,235 (pay 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 through ABP, the pension fund for the public sector and education. We pay 70% of your pension contribution.
• 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 €3.25 net per workday that you work from home.
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.
• Hybrid work: In this role, you can work partly from home and partly in the office. We provide the necessary equipment to help you set up a safe and healthy workspace at home.
• A cell phone and/or laptop.

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

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application byNovember 30, 2025, using the“Apply Now”button.
• We would like to receive your cover letter, in which you explain—in no more than one A4 page—why your work experience, along with your interest in and knowledge of the fields of employment, income, and homelessness, make you a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
• The selection process consists of a CV/cover letter review, an interview with a selection committee, and an interview with an advisory committee. We will also contact one or two references.
• A selection assessment may be part of the selection process.
• The interviews will take place in person at one of our office locations in Amsterdam.
• 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, candidates with a non-Western immigrant background will be given preference if they are equally qualified.
• 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.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.

We do not appreciate unsolicited solicitation from 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 review these resumes.

Do you have any questions about this job opening?

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Janny van Dok-Selie, Senior HR Advisor, at 06 18531342 and j.vandokselie@amsterdam.nl

If you have any questions about the job description, please contact Renger Visser, Director of Income, at renger.visser@amsterdam.nl or 06-18308805.