Policy Officer for Security and Digitalization

Policy Officer for Security and Digitalization

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy / Directorate-General for Economy and Digitalization (DGED)

Job Description

Making calls, sending texts and emails, paying a bill, and turning on the washing machine or the boiler on the way home. Digitalization has become an integral part of our daily lives. Masses of data flow through our communication networks. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy ensures the reliability of those networks. As a Policy Officer for Security and Digitalization, you play a key role in this.

Contributing to the reliability of our communication networks and services: that is your core business. It is vital to our modern economy and society that these communication networks and services operate smoothly and securely. The stakes are high. Cyberattacks, damage caused by excavation, and flooding can compromise this reliability. For example, state actors are increasingly exploiting digital vulnerabilities for espionage and sabotage, which can jeopardize the functioning of our society and even national security.

You will therefore be dealing with important and sensitive matters, working closely with other departments, security agencies, and market players. The landscape is constantly evolving: developments in both the market and technology are moving quickly, so we must regularly assess which communication networks and services—and their providers—are critical to our society. And there is also a dynamic in terms of threats: what risks could compromise reliability? Based on these analyses, you determine which measures are necessary to ensure that the reliability of our communication networks and services is safeguarded as much as possible, both now and in the future.

Whatever the task, you will work with your colleagues in the Economic Security & Continuity cluster to develop the policies needed to ensure a robust and reliable communications infrastructure in the Netherlands that is resilient to various threats. This can range from drafting legislation and regulations, conducting research to inform policy, answering parliamentary questions, to contributing to (interdepartmental) strategy development.

Your work helps prevent network and service outages and ensures that services are restored quickly in the event of an outage. Key aspects of this role include conducting market research to determine which communication networks and service providers play a critical role in the Netherlands, serving as the point of contact for these providers, and helping to shape policy regarding critical providers. Participating in the cluster’s crisis management organization is also part of this role. Last but not least, you will be responsible for the expected revision of the Act on Information Exchange for Above-ground and Underground Networks (WIBON https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/bodem-en-ondergrond/graafschade. This is a significant task, given that excavation damage remains at high levels: https://www.agentschaptelecom.nl/actueel/nieuws/2021/05/31/graafschades-2020-onverminderd-hoog).

Are you helping to build a Netherlands that can rely on reliable and secure communication networks and services?

Job Requirements

• You have a degree at the bachelor’s or associate’s level.
• You have experience with or an interest in policy processes.
• You have knowledge of—or are interested in learning more about—security issues related to telecommunications, digitalization, cybersecurity, and crisis management.
• You are politically and socially aware.

The pay grade will be determined based on knowledge and experience.

Skills:

• Stress-resistant, environmentally conscious, and team-oriented
• Results-oriented, analytical, and organized
• A networker with strong communication skills and a way with words
• Flexible and a team player
• Planning and organizing

Terms of Employment

• Salary level: Grade 11, Grade 12
• Monthly salary: Min. €3,608 – Max. €6,227 (gross)
• Employment status: Permanent employment contract
• Minimum number of hours per week: 36
• 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 (16.37% 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. Secondary employment conditions 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 or transferred while retaining their current employment status.
• 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).

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We do not accept unsolicited applications for our job openings.

Interested in applying?

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy / Directorate-General for Economy and Digitalization (DGED) 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.