Executive Secretary

You'll be working on this team

You will work closely with the Executive Director of UNICEF Netherlands and be part of the Management Team. You will also serve as secretary to both the Management Team and the Supervisory Board. You will regularly liaise with colleagues from various departments, external partners, and UNICEF International in Geneva. Your role holds a unique position within the organization: you are a strategic advisor, legal coordinator, and guardian of our governance.

What you will be doing

As Executive Secretary, you will serve as the director’s right-hand person. You will ensure clear and thorough decision-making, uphold our governance standards, and provide support on strategic issues. You are a versatile thinker and doer with extensive legal knowledge, organizational acumen, and political and administrative sensitivity.

Specifically:

• You will schedule, organize, and take minutes for meetings of the Management Team, the Audit Committee, the Supervisory Board, and the Works Council/Management consultations.
• You will maintain contact with external regulators (such as CBF and Goede Doelen Nederland) as well as with the Country Relations Team at UNICEF International.
• You will coordinate the annual planning cycle and be responsible for defining strategy and reporting to stakeholders.
• You are our in-house legal counsel: the go-to person for legal questions, and you review all legal agreements with third parties. In addition, you provide advice on contracts, partnerships, and privacy laws. You are also responsible for due diligence and risk management.
• You will manage legal cases as needed in collaboration with our external legal partner.
• You will oversee articles of incorporation, bylaws, and privacy laws (Privacy Officer).
• You will provide the director with substantive support in the areas of analysis, projects, communication, and strategic advice.
• You will oversee the integrity policy and support the integrity committee.
• You will lead projects in areas such as corporate social responsibility.

Here’s what we’re asking

• At least 5 years of experience as a legal advisor and, preferably, also as a board secretary.
• A completed college or university degree in law and a broad knowledge of the field, including GDPR and privacy laws.
• Thinking on your feet, thinking critically, and communicating clearly come naturally to you.
• You navigate complex administrative environments with ease and switch seamlessly between strategy and execution.
• You are assertive, proactive, results-oriented, energetic, and principled, and you are able to maintain a clear overview.
• You write easily and enjoy doing so, and you have an excellent command of both Dutch and English, both spoken and written.
• You’ll feel right at home in an organization where teamwork matters more than status and where informal communication is the norm.
• And, of course, you’re passionate about our mission to promote children’s rights.

What we offer you

• A competitive salary ranging from €4,186 to €5,968 gross per month (based on a 38-hour workweek), depending on your knowledge and experience.
• A flexible spending account equal to 10.23% of your gross salary, which you accrue each month and can use for personal purposes such as additional paid time off.
• A training budget for your professional development.
• The option to work partly from home, with the necessary resources.
• A phone allowance of €25 net per month
• A good pension plan and travel expense reimbursement.

And also:

• Working with over a hundred colleagues toward a single goal: a better world for children.
• Diversity Leave: Swap national holidays for days that are important to you.
• Flexible working hours and a casual work environment.
• A modern office located near The Hague Central Station and next to Haagse Bos (including showers and changing rooms).
• A focus on vitality, well-being, and personal leadership.
• Two days a year of volunteer work during work hours.

Would you like to know more?

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Suzanne Laszlo by email at slaszlo@unicef.nl

Here's how to leave a comment

You can apply until February 10, 2026. Submit your cover letter and resume using the button at the bottom of our Careers page.

We expect all employees to be willing to comply with our Code of Conduct and to cooperate in obtaining a Certificate of Good Conduct.

Our society is diverse, and so is UNICEF Netherlands. We strive to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of society and the international nature of our organization.

We do not welcome unsolicited sales calls in response to this advertisement.

www.unicef.nl