Communications Advisor at SIA

In practice, this means that you:

• You will be part of a team of 4 communications advisors and 2 communications officers with whom you will regularly consult and collaborate. The team is responsible for the quality of Regieorgaan SIA’s internal and external communications, and you will play your part and take on your responsibilities in this regard;
• are involved in our programs, projects, and themes:
• Together with the program managers, you’ll set communication goals and choose the best way to achieve them. You’ll handle this yourself, sometimes with the help of external vendors, whom you’ll then oversee;
• you are able to place these communication objectives in a broader context and link them to, for example, national research and innovation policy and the relevant stakeholders;
• You provide broad (strategic) communication advice and participate in meetings, including those with external partners;
• You will contribute to the development of our grants, particularly by representing the perspective of the target audience. You will be able to translate complex (legal) texts into an understandable and readable final product for use on our website and other platforms.
• works proactively with colleagues to build and maintain a network of researchers and other advocates of practice-oriented research in order to provide them with a platform at the right time;
• You are skilled at using a variety of communication tools to reach different audiences. This includes meetings, online and print publications, websites, social media, and formal documents. You write, organize, and use all available resources to contribute to inclusive and digitally accessible communication.

What you bring

• You get a boost of energy from coming up with and creating eye-catching communication materials.
• You enjoy networking and invest time in building and maintaining valuable relationships with stakeholders and contacts.
• You know how to translate strategy into concrete goals and can organize, prioritize, execute, and coordinate your own work—and sometimes that of others—in line with these goals.
• You can adapt quickly and step in when urgent situations arise.
• You understand the dynamics of a quasi-governmental organization such as the SIA/NWO Coordination Body and are able to fit in seamlessly within it.
• You have an interest in science, applied research, and innovation.

We believe that a diverse organization is better equipped to fulfill our mission and face the future. We therefore consider it an asset if you bring skills, experiences, and perspectives that we don’t yet have within the organization.

This is where you'll be working

The SIA Governing Body is part of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and is funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science. We promote the quality and impact of practice-oriented research at universities of applied sciences.

We do this by funding research and fostering collaboration between universities of applied sciences, the business community, and public institutions. Part of our mission is also to raise awareness of this research within the research and innovation community as well as among the general public.

We are a network organization that collaborates with, among others, the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences, business organizations, research organizations, and government agencies. Our policies and programs align with the National Science Agenda and the Mission-Driven Knowledge and Innovation Policy.

The team

The SIA Coordination Body employs approximately 60 colleagues who are dedicated to promoting more and better practice-oriented research at universities of applied sciences, each drawing on their own expertise. SIA Coordination Body staff are driven by a commitment to quality, seek out opportunities for collaboration, and are deeply engaged with one another and the professional field.

The organization consists of an executive board, program managers, program staff, program assistants, consultants, and an administrative office.

We operate primarily on a project basis. Colleagues from different disciplines collaborate on a wide range of projects. The project team defines the objectives and develops a plan to achieve them. In this way, the team takes responsibility for delivering a successful outcome that aligns with the organization’s goals, timeline, and budget.

Hybrid work

At Regieorgaan SIA, we work in a hybrid model: partly in the office and partly from home. The general expectation is that you’ll spend 40 to 60% of your working hours in the office. We’ll provide you with the equipment you need to set up an ergonomic home office.

Here's what we offer you

As a communications advisor at the SIA Coordination Body, you will be employed by NWO. We offer you various training opportunities and excellent primary and secondary employment benefits. These include a work laptop and phone, an NS Business Card for commuting, a budget for setting up a home office, the flexibility to buy or sell vacation days, and a bicycle. We carefully assess your situation and tailor our approach to help shape your career and the corresponding employment conditions.

Initially, you will be offered a one-year contract, with the prospect of a permanent position if your performance is satisfactory. You will work 32–40 hours per week. The salary depends on your experience and ranges from €2,846 to a maximum of €4,514 gross per month (scale 10 of Appendix 1 to the Collective Labor Agreement for Research Institutions) for a 38-hour workweek. In addition, you will receive an 8% vacation allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.

About NWO

Shall we get to know each other?

Are you interested? If so, please send us your resume and a cover letter by Sunday, September 4. You can do this via the NWO website. It’s important that you explain in your letter what you expect us to offer you—and vice versa.

2 rounds of interviews

The application process consists of two rounds. During the first round, we’ll get to know each other and see if there’s a good fit for both of us. If so, we’ll invite you for a second, more in-depth interview.

The first round of interviews is scheduled for week 37, on Tuesday, September 13, at the latest. The second round of interviews will take place on September 22.

More information

For more information about the job description, please contact Alex Verkade, Head of External Relations, atalex.verkade@regieorgaan-sia.nl. For questions about the application process, employment conditions, and other matters (except during vacation periods), please contact Nicole Verhoeven, HR Advisor, atn.verhoeven@nwo.nl or at 070-3494989.