Policy Advisor for Public Libraries and Arts and Culture

The City of Amsterdam is looking for a

Policy Advisor for Public Libraries and Arts and Culture

• Working as a public library project manager.
• Account manager for cultural institutions in the Amsterdam Basic Infrastructure of the Arts Plan.
• Contribute to the preparation of administrative decisions by aldermen, the municipal executive, and the city council. Handle letters, motions, and council questions; and prepare meetings, working visits, and speeches for the alderman(s).

The position

As a Policy Advisor for Arts, Culture, and Libraries, you will work as part of a great team of dedicated policy advisors in the Arts and Culture Department. The team focuses on areas such as local and national/international cultural policy, libraries, new cultural facilities and cultural real estate, diversity and inclusion, museums and visual arts, and art in public spaces.

In the role of Public Library Project Manager, you will be responsible for working with colleagues from the social sector, the spatial planning sector, and the city districts to ensure that the municipality’s public library policy aligns with today’s city and is prepared for the future. In this role, you will also work closely with the Amsterdam Public Library (OBA). As a Policy Advisor for Arts and Culture, you will contribute to the implementation of municipal policy and serve as an account manager for institutions within the Amsterdam Basic Infrastructure. In this role, you will interact with the Amsterdam arts and culture sector, the Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, the Amsterdam Arts Council, and the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, among others.

Here's what you do on an average day

This position involves a variety of activities:

• You start your morning with colleagues from the Education Department to finalize the agenda for an administrative meeting between the alderman and the director of the OBA.
• You will then continue working on the new library policy document, based on input from various departments and divisions within the municipality.
• Colleagues from Community Services will then present the latest updates on the construction of a new OBA branch in IJburg.

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 work for the Arts and Culture Department, within the Economic Affairs and Culture Division. The Economic Affairs and Culture Division promotes a sustainable and innovative region that offers culture, employment, and a future for everyone. The Arts and Culture Department oversees municipal arts and culture policy in Amsterdam, as well as policy regarding local media and libraries (in collaboration with the Education Department); is responsible for policy development; and implements the priorities of the city administration. This includes developing strategic policy and managing and coordinating policy processes and projects.

What you bring

For this position as Policy Advisor for Public Libraries, Arts, and Culture, you must have:

• At least five years of relevant work experience as a consultant in the field of public library services and arts and culture
• Experience in developing policies that involve multiple sectors (social, economic, and/or spatial).
• Demonstrable work experience with political, administrative, civil service, and social relationships and processes.
• An interest in art and culture. Whether personal and/or professional, please briefly explain this in your cover letter.

You should have the following skills:

• Analytical skills: Able to distinguish between main and secondary issues, break down a problem into its components, and establish logical connections between the various aspects.
• Creativity: Generates diverse, sometimes original ideas and solutions.
• Environmental Awareness: Demonstrates a solid understanding of professional, organizational, social, and political developments, as well as other environmental factors, and knows how to effectively apply this knowledge to one’s own role or organization.
• Collaboration: Makes a constructive contribution to a shared outcome, particularly to the atmosphere and relationships within the group or team.
• Results-oriented approach: Setting specific goals as a starting point for one’s own behavior and sticking to them until the goal is achieved.
• Persuasiveness: Uses personal authority to influence people and situations, with a focus on gaining acceptance and overcoming resistance. Communicates ideas clearly and confidently.

What we offer you

As a policy advisor for public libraries and arts and culture, you will join our team for 32–36 hours per week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary ranging from a minimum of €4,781 to a maximum of €6,470 (pay scale 12) 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, up to a 45-kilometer one-way commute, for the number of days you work in the office, and/or 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 cell phone and/or laptop.
• An office space in downtown Amsterdam, overlooking the canals.
• Want to know more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out the Amsterdam Municipal Personnel Regulations (PGA).

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application by August 27, 2023, via 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. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
• The selection process consists of a CV/cover letter review and an interview. We have formed a selection committee of three people, consisting of the manager, an HR advisor, and a direct colleague with whom you will be working.
• If your resume meets the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.
• The interviews will take place in person at our office located at Amstel 1 in Amsterdam.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.