Department Manager: Youth Employment & Training

The position

As the Department Manager for Youth Employment and Training, you will provide inspiring and motivating leadership to the team managers at Jongerenpunt Noord, Jongerenpunt Zuid en West, Jongerenpunt Nieuw-West, Jongerenpunt Zuidoost, Jongerenpunt Centrum/Oost/Weesp, Jongerenpunt for Homeless Youth, the Education Support Team, and the KOTA Team (support for young people affected by the Benefits Scandal).

The challenges in the social sector are significant. Within the Work, Participation, and Income (WPI) Department, we are continuing to develop our approach, particularly in the areas of digitization, system renewal, and task-oriented work in neighborhoods close to Amsterdam residents. You will lead department-wide change initiatives at the strategic level, including in the areas of innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the review of legislative and policy changes. In doing so, you will ensure strategic, integrated, and substantive coordination within the WPI department.

The department faces a number of specific challenges. First, the department’s substantive development requires attention. A mission/vision process has been initiated, and the next step is to translate this into strategic decisions regarding matters such as the scope of prevention and outreach work, caseload standards, and the quality of service delivery. Second, WOJ operates in networks with both other WPI departments and external partners outside WPI. These network collaborations can be strengthened by taking a close look at the role of the youth advisors and their contribution to regular WPI processes. Both tasks require a focused approach to WOJ’s work, including in the relationship between the task-oriented and area-oriented approaches. This also applies in relation to available structural as well as incidental resources.

At the administrative level, there is a strong focus on ensuring the livelihood security of Amsterdam residents. In particular, extra attention is being paid to livelihood security in the Nieuw-West, Zuidoost, and Noord districts. In addition, the Youth Employment & Training Department helps implement the comprehensive approach in collaboration with the Education Department, the Compulsory Education Unit, and educational institutions, as well as the strategic MBO agenda, with the department focusing on the transition from education to work. Finally, WPI is tasked with creating a more inclusive work culture; WOJ also has work to do in this area. Together with your MT colleagues, your team managers, and strategic policy advisors, you will help shape and define these tasks.

Here's what you do on an average workday

• You will lead the department and determine how resources are allocated to achieve the objectives and deliver products and services.
• You will lead (organization-wide) change initiatives in areas such as multidisciplinary work and the implementation and revision of (new) legislation, and you will serve as the primary point of contact for progress on your process(es).
• You will ensure coordination and integration among the various internal and external parties working together on the projects, and you will serve as the department’s primary point of contact.
• You will prepare the annual plan and the budget.
• You translate the organization's policies into the desired outputs and products or services for your department.
• You make suggestions for improvement and focus on increasing effectiveness and efficiency in implementation.

As a department manager, you hold your employees accountable for their personal leadership, invest in their well-being, adaptability, and professional skills, and support the learning and development of both new and existing employees.

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 Work & Participation Department supports people who are unable to find work or transition off benefits on their own. The goal is to provide Amsterdam residents with financial security and help them transition to regular employment as quickly as possible. The Work & Participation Department consists of the following divisions: W&P, Employer Service Point, AmsterdamWerkt!, Social Work, Training & Support, Integration & Language, Social Work Umbrella, Regional Job Center, and Youth Work & Training.

The department

The Youth Employment & Education Department helps young people in Amsterdam find work and pursue education by implementing RMC regulations and the Participation Act. The department has a total of 175 employees.

WOJ is here for all young people in Amsterdam who need help or support in any area of life. The target group is therefore broad and consists of diverse groups of young people. To ensure a comprehensive approach and to identify and stay in touch with these young people, we work closely with various internal and external partners. The youth centers are multidisciplinary teams comprising professionals from both internal and external organizations (including debt counselors, VIA coaches from perMens, income consultants, job hunters, and job coaches), who work together to provide young people with support and guidance in response to their requests for help, while tailoring their assistance to the specific needs of each young person.

By adopting a task-oriented, area-focused, and outreach-based approach, we take a preventive stance and remain accessible and close to young people. Youth advisors and behavioral experts work from within the city districts, taking a multidisciplinary and area-focused approach to address local challenges or city-wide issues. Agility is essential to ensure that the needs of Amsterdam residents remain our top priority, both now and in the future. The department therefore places great emphasis on the quality and consistency of our work, including through joint weekly and daily kick-off meetings, which are also multidisciplinary.

What you bring

For this position as Department Manager for Youth Employment and Training, you must have:

• At least 3 years of management experience at a municipality or organization with at least 5,000 employees, during which you have gained experience coordinating between different departments, policy areas, disciplines, and network partners;
• At least 3 years of experience in strategic management at the intersection of policy and implementation, and experience in managing complex projects or programs;
• At least 3 years of experience as a manager with overall responsibility and a strategic perspective on all aspects of business operations, particularly HR issues, change management, and finance; please elaborate on this in your cover letter;
• An affinity for and commitment to young people; please explain this in your cover letter.

You should have the following skills:

• Vision: You have a clear perspective on the current situation and the future of the field, discipline, or organization. At a strategic level, you link WPI’s objectives to the effectiveness of our efforts, focusing on the big picture to reduce complexity. You analyze societal developments and, based on this, are able to adapt to different levels and navigate various interests. In this way, you contribute to the broader development of WPI and the social sector.
• Inclusive thinking and action: You are able to create a socially safe environment where everyone is treated as equals 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 integrity. 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 Youth Employment & Training Department Manager, you will join our team for 36 hours a week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary ranging from €6,316 to €8,779 (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 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.
• 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 loaner cell phone and/or laptop.

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

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions about the job description, please contact Daniël Waagmeester, Director of Work and Participation, at d.waagmeester@amsterdam.nl or 06-4121 3250.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Carola Koster, Senior HR Advisor, at c.koster-burg@amsterdam.nl or06-20541409 by September 10. Starting September 11, please contact Nora Zian, Senior HR Advisor, at n.zian@amsterdam.nl / 06 5147 4461.

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application by October 8, 2024, 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 and skills are a good fit for this position and why you have an affinity with the target audience. 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. A selection assessment is also part of the process. The assessment consists of a personality questionnaire, an interview, and a role-play exercise. We will also contact one or two references.
• If your resume meets the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.
• This position is open to internal applicants only. Internal job openings are open to municipal employees and temporary staff who have worked for the City of Amsterdam for at least 6 consecutive months.
• 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.
• The interviews will take place in person at one of our office locations in Amsterdam.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.