Department Manager, Sports and Recreation

The position

As the Sports and Recreation Department Manager, you will be part of the Sports and Forestry Division and will contribute to the overall management of the division. You will influence all departments within Sports and Forestry at the strategic level and serve as a sounding board for both the director and the alderman, with a focus on the political agenda during the coalition’s final year.

In your role as department manager, you will work alongside two team managers to lead a team of approximately 60 colleagues dedicated to promoting sports and physical activity for all Amsterdammers, with a particular focus on those who need it most. The challenges include (for example) reaching target groups such as children and young people in vulnerable economic situations, lonely seniors, people with disabilities, and vulnerable young women; carrying out projects related to the construction and replacement of sports facilities; and making optimal use of and ensuring the future-proof operation of the 600 hectares of sports and exercise facilities in a city that is becoming increasingly densely populated.

You will oversee the department’s strategic direction and ensure that policy objectives are translated into daily practice, which will have an impact on the entire organization. By continuously learning from implementation and improving processes, you will foster innovation and strengthen the department’s professionalism. In doing so, you will contribute, together with the staff, to achieving a number of social goals such as participation, health, well-being, and safety. You will proactively seek collaboration and connection with other organizational units within the City of Amsterdam.

You are committed to the success and development of your employees. You create the right conditions for their growth and foster a culture of inclusion, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the department.

Here's what you do on an average day

• As a member of the management team at the Sports and Forestry Department, you will help shape the department’s strategic direction and advise the municipal council and municipal teams to ensure that decision-making aligns with current developments.
• You will serve as the point of contact for the Alderman for Sports and Physical Activity, working with your department to translate administrative objectives and societal trends into policies or initiatives that enable partners throughout the city—as well as colleagues in the executive departments of the administration (including swimming pools and sports facilities & parks)—to excel within established quality standards and financial frameworks.
• You will initiate improvement projects, such as shifting the focus from sports to physical activity and managing the operation of our sports facilities in a more policy-driven manner. You will develop new work processes and optimize existing ones. By encouraging employees to come up with ideas that help strengthen our mission, you will foster innovation and collaboration.
• You encourage open communication within your teams through team meetings and one-on-one conversations. This helps employees feel heard and enables them to actively contribute to policy development and improvement for Amsterdam residents in vulnerable situations.

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 Sports and Amsterdamse Bos Department. The department consists of the following divisions: Sports and Physical Activity, Sports Halls and Parks, Sportpunt, Swimming Pools, and Amsterdamse Bos. The department is part of the Social Cluster within the municipality, which also includes the departments of Work, Participation, and Income; Municipal Health Service (GGD); Social Services; Education; Youth; Care and Diversity; and the Social Grants and Procurement Office. 

The Sports and Physical Activity Department was created through a very recent merger (reorganization) of the Sports Policy and Development Department (20 employees) and the Sports Promotion Department (40 employees). The implementation of the reorganization still needs to be further developed, and you will play a key role in this process. The department has both a physical and a social mission, with a focus on both developing policy and implementing it (or having it implemented).

What you bring

For this position as Sports and Fitness Department Manager, you must have:

• At least an associate's degree.
• At least 5 years of experience leading a team of professionals in a political and administrative context (e.g., municipal government, federal government, organizations with multiple stakeholders).
• Proven experience in drafting and providing advice on administrative documents.
• A vision for sports and physical activity in relation to other social challenges within the social domain (such as poverty, loneliness, and health) through (community) networks in the city, and the ability to translate this into concrete steps. Please explain this in your cover letter.
• Experience in using data to drive decision-making—for example, through management reports—and the ability to make adjustments based on these reports to ensure continuous service improvement and financial control. Please elaborate on this in your cover letter.

You should have the following skills:

• Inclusive thinking and action: You have an appreciative and coaching leadership style. You are committed to a 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.
• 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 in the city, the region, and at the national level. You have a good understanding of bureaucratic and administrative relationships and processes. With a good balance between internal and external focus, you can effectively position the department within the field. You have a broad and relevant network within the fields relevant to sports and physical activity, or you are able to quickly build and utilize such a network to improve services with and for Amsterdammers.
• Fostering innovation: You respond flexibly to a changing environment and adapt to new circumstances. You prioritize, organize, and encourage 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 of the Breakthroughs department, which addresses bottlenecks and bureaucracy that stand in the way of supporting Amsterdammers who need us most.

What we offer you

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

• A gross monthly salary between €6,395 and €8,889 (pay scale 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.
• A cell phone and a laptop.

Curious about all our employment terms and conditions? View the Amsterdam Municipal Personnel Regulations (PGA) at www.amsterdam.nl/pga.

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your applicationby February 9, 2025, usingthe application formon our website.
• 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 an interview round. We have formed a selection committee of three people.
• If your resume meets the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.
• The interviews will take place at our office 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, candidates with a non-Western immigrant background will be given preference if they are equally qualified.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.

Do you have any questions about this job opening?

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Laura van Walsem, Director of Sports & Forestry, at l.van.walsem@amsterdam.nl or call 06-22789670.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Maxime Pul, HR Advisor, at m.pul@amsterdam.nl or call 06-38597658.