Policy Advisor for Vocational Education

As a Policy Advisor for Vocational Education, you feel at home in the professional and political landscape of education. It comes naturally to you to advocate for the interests of vocational education from a broad perspective. Navigating the complex landscape of practical education, you know how to forge connections, chart the right course, and make a difference for the 177 practical education schools that work every day to provide the best education for approximately 30,000 students. 

What will you be doing?

In this role, you will work for the Sector Council for Vocational Education. The Sector Council for Vocational Education is an association that represents the interests of vocational students and vocational schools in dealings with political bodies, administrative organizations, educational developers, and labor organizations, among others. The schools are divided into 18 regions, each with a regional coordinator. The regional coordinators, in turn, consult with one another and with the board of the Sector Council. As a policy advisor, you will play a pivotal role for board members and regional coordinators. Substantive guidance is provided by the board of the Sector Council for Practical Education.

You will be employed by the VO-raad. At the VO-raad, you will work in specialized teams with colleagues who address a wide range of academic and social issues relevant to schools: from social safety to curriculum, testing, and examinations.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• You will represent the Pro Sector Council at various policy forums (ministries, regulatory agencies, labor unions, the business community, etc.). 
• You identify new developments and challenges, and develop your proposals, recommendations, and policy documents—in the form of letters, annual plans, or position papers. 
• You will process and analyze data on vocational education—in collaboration with the Knowledge Center—and present it in an accessible manner. 
• You will support the board and the 18 regional coordinators in their work.
• You will share the perspective and interests of vocational education with your colleagues at the VO-raad. 
• Together with your colleagues, you will ensure that knowledge and information are shared within both associations. 
• You are available to serve as a project manager for multidisciplinary projects. 

Who are you? 

• We are looking for a motivated colleague with political and administrative acumen and strong advisory skills. You are flexible and able to work both independently and as part of a team. 
• In addition, you should have the following:
• You have at least five years of relevant work experience in a policy or education role. 
• You have experience with or a demonstrable affinity for vocational education.
• You have an understanding of the role of a sector or industry association.
• You have excellent communication skills—both written and verbal.
• You have strong analytical skills, are curious, and enjoy working toward solutions in a goal-oriented manner.

Are you unsure whether you meet all the job requirements, but does the position appeal to you? Don’t hesitate to apply! We believe that talent develops in many different ways and are open to candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

What do we offer?

We offer you a challenging position in which you will have the opportunity to further raise the profile of vocational education. You will initially be offered a one-year temporary contract for 0.6 FTE, with the possibility of extending to 0.8 FTE. You will earn a gross monthly salary between €3,497 and €6,992 (depending on experience and on a full-time basis), based on scale 12 of the Collective Labor Agreement for Secondary Education. The VO-raad has a 40-hour workweek.

We also offer excellent benefits, such as:

• a generous leave policy of 426 hours, including public holidays (on a full-time basis), of which you may exchange 2 national holidays for cultural holidays;
• an NS Business Card if you live more than 5 km from the office;
• an end-of-year bonus of 8.33%;
• an excellent pension plan with the ABP;
• the option to work remotely;
• an annual professional development budget of €1,500 and the opportunity to receive coaching to help you grow and develop. 

Where will you be working?

The VO-raad office (located right next to the Utrecht Overvecht train station) will be your permanent base of operations. The VO-raad is the national association for secondary schools, with a mission to promote quality education in which students can fully develop their talents and prepare for their role in society. We believe that high-quality education is an indispensable social good, and therefore work every day to strengthen this sector.

With nearly 120 dedicated professionals, we advocate for the interests of secondary education with government agencies, politicians, the business community, and civil society organizations. We support schools and school boards with expertise, advice, and collaboration to ensure the quality and advancement of education. In addition, we engage in dialogue with employee organizations regarding terms of employment, thereby championing the interests of the more than 120,000 employees in the sector.

Our core values—passionate, collaborative, growth-oriented, and approachable—are at the heart of everything we do. We are also committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Want to learn more and apply?

If this job opening aligns with your career goals and you’d like to take on this challenge with us, we warmly invite you to send a cover letter and resume tovacature@vo-raad.nl. We would like to receive these by July 9, 2025, at the latest. Do you have any questions? Nicole Teeuwen, chair of the Pro Sector Council, will be happy to answer them. You can reach her at 06-55 22 22 42 or via email atn.teeuwen@praktijkonderwijs.nl. 

We prefer to recruit our own candidates. Recruitment or staffing agencies need not respond to this job posting.