Policy Officer, Crop Protection

Policy Officer, Crop Protection

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature

Job Description

Do you enjoy tackling significant social challenges? Are you eager to actively contribute to making agriculture more sustainable? Are you interested in a topic that is currently a focus of social and political attention? If so, we’re looking for you.

Crop protection faces a number of major challenges, such as reducing dependence on synthetic chemical pesticides and cutting back on their use. We want to promote a shift toward lower-risk alternatives. After all, crop protection will always be necessary to ensure that plant cultivation remains possible. Protecting human health, animals, and the environment, as well as reducing emissions of crop protection products into water, soil, and air, are all part of these challenges. We are working on this.

What do you do?

As a crop protection policy officer, you will work in a collaborative team of 10 policy officers. As a team, we address various national, European, and international aspects of crop protection. You translate societal issues surrounding crop protection into concrete policy recommendations for government officials. You work on a politically and administratively sensitive dossier, involving numerous parliamentary debates and questions that often require urgent attention and preparation by you and the team. In addition, there are regular tasks, such as drafting policy proposals—for example, regarding “green” pesticides or improving water quality—managing implementing organizations, designing and overseeing research projects, developing subsidy schemes, and contributing to changes in laws and regulations. You maintain contact with colleagues, including those from other departments, sector stakeholders, NGOs, and water boards. You frequently collaborate with experts from implementing organizations; a shared interest in the substantive aspects of our joint field of work unites you.

If current political events require it, flexibility in your job responsibilities will be necessary. You can also expect to handle Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and respond to inquiries from the press and the public.

This is a dynamic department where there’s always a lot going on, and you’ll be working as part of a team with a pleasant, informal atmosphere. In consultation with your management team member, you may also be assigned to other projects within the team or the department, taking your own preferences and capabilities into account, of course. Are you looking to advance your career? The ministry offers plenty of training opportunities and room for growth.

Job Requirements

Do you enjoy tackling significant social challenges? Are you eager to actively contribute to making agriculture more sustainable? Are you interested in a topic that is currently a focus of social and political attention? If so, we’re looking for you.

Crop protection faces a number of major challenges, such as reducing dependence on synthetic chemical pesticides and cutting back on their use. We want to promote a shift toward lower-risk alternatives. After all, crop protection will always be necessary to ensure that plant cultivation remains possible. Protecting human health, animals, and the environment, as well as reducing emissions of crop protection products into water, soil, and air, are all part of these challenges. We are working on this.

Skills: 

• Environmentally conscious
• Planning and organizing
• Collaborate
• Proactive
• Political and administrative sensitivity

Terms of Employment

Salary level: Grade 11

Monthly salary: Min. €4,024 – Max. €6,110 (gross)

Employment status: Permanent employment contract

Minimum number of hours per week: 32

Maximum number of hours per week: 36

Other terms and conditions of employment

In addition to your salary, you will receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB). The ICB consists of money (16.50% of your gross annual salary) and time. With the ICB, you can make choices that suit you and customize part of your employment benefits. For example, you can choose to have a portion of your monthly income paid out whenever you wish. You can also convert this budget into leave and vice versa, or spend it on tax-friendly purposes. The Dutch government is strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offers numerous opportunities for this. The fringe benefits include various study facilities, company fitness programs, full reimbursement of your public transportation costs for commuting, and partially paid parental leave.

Details

• The introductory and selection process consists of at least two rounds of interviews and a final discussion regarding terms of employment.
• Checking references or conducting an assessment may be part of the selection process.
• Colleagues within the central government who are permanent employees may be seconded.
• If you do not (yet) have a permanent position as a civil servant, you will start with a temporary position with the prospect of a permanent one.

What else do we offer you:

• A pleasant work environment with excellent facilities, just a short walk from the central station.
• Plenty of opportunities to continue developing your skills and specialize.
• We believe it’s important to maintain a good work-life balance. Working hours can be arranged flexibly by mutual agreement.
• If you are hired, hybrid work is an option; you will work partly from home and partly at the office. We believe it is important to have a good home office setup. We therefore offer a subsidy for home office equipment and a work-from-home allowance in accordance with the Central Government Collective Labor Agreement (CAO Rijk).

After the application deadline, the job posting and the employer’s contact information will no longer be visible online. To avoid having to request this information later, we ask that you download and save the job posting.

We do not accept unsolicited applications for our job openings.

Interested in applying?

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature invites you to apply on their website. Clicking the button below will take you away from this site and directly to the application form. The government values a diverse and inclusive organization. Working in diverse teams makes us more effective, more innovative, and makes the work more enjoyable. Everyone is therefore invited to apply.