Communications Strategist for Digitalization, Innovation, and Information

The position

In the role of Communications Strategist for Digitalization, Innovation, and Information, you will serve as a strategic partner to executive leadership, the Chief Information Officer (CIO), program managers, and communications advisors. You will act as a bridge between the various teams and between the front lines and management. You will work closely with the team manager, communications professionals, the content coordinator, and specialists from the Communications Department.

You oversee how various communication initiatives are received by different target audiences. You provide guidance and advice, including at the executive level. In addition, you can translate strategy into concrete actions and resources.

Here's what you do on an average day:

• Are you developing a comprehensive external and internal communication strategy that is clear, accessible, and reliable for both the long and short term;
• You work with change management experts to help employees navigate the change process. You write change stories and organize interactive sessions;
• Do you provide strategic advice to the cluster's management?
• You will oversee various communication activities and utilize the existing frameworks and methodologies of the Communications Department;
• You will coordinate the overall coherence and provide functional (rather than hierarchical) guidance to the internal communications professional within the team, and you will collaborate with the cluster strategist for external communications and senior executives within the management teams;
• You know how to bridge the gap between the internal and external worlds, and you provide advice and take action accordingly.

Here's where you get started:

We strive to be a great employer that ensures all our colleagues feel seen and valued. We embrace the differences among our colleagues; these differences lead to better results for both our organization and our city. We aim to build a workforce that reflects Amsterdam’s diverse population. So, whoever you are, you’re more than welcome here!

The DII cluster has been in existence since July 1, 2022. Ten former departments have been partially split up and merged into five new departments. The reorganization enables better collaboration. The ambition is to fully transition over the next 10 years to task-oriented and agile collaboration with various departments within the City of Amsterdam. This involves the introduction of new technology, strengthening the data function, and developing employee competencies. A change in which accurate and timely communication is essential. The cluster consists of 5 departments: Digitalization and Innovation, Digital Strategy and Information, Data, Digital Services, and City Archives.

The Communications Department is a full-service organizational unit. Virtually all facets of communication are covered: communications advisors, web editors, social media experts, public relations, events, campaign advisors, and copywriters. These are just a few of the areas of expertise represented within the Communications Department. All these professionals work closely together to develop the right communication approach. Each council term, the priorities and themes are established, and annually, in consultation with clients in the city, the required communication capacity is determined. Based on this, the Communications Department can second communication professionals to the various organizational units. In this case, the first long-term assignment is for the Digitalization, Innovation, and Information cluster.

What you'll need:

For this position as Communications Strategist for Digitalization, Innovation, and Information, you must have:

• A college or university level of education and extensive experience working within a government agency or other large organization;
• Experience or an interest in IT, information systems, or digitization and change processes;
• Extensive experience as a management consultant;
• You can navigate between different interests and various stakeholders, and you have a strong grasp of your field. Communication strategies, stakeholder analyses, key messages, online communication, issue management, and positioning are areas of expertise that you have mastered.

You should have the following skills:

• Vision: Has the ability to view matters in a broader context; is capable of conceptual and strategic thinking with a long-term perspective;
• Persuasiveness: Uses personal influence to shape people and situations, with a focus on gaining acceptance and overcoming resistance. Communicates ideas clearly and confidently;
• Relationship Management: Builds, maintains, and leverages personal relationships with customers and other contacts;
• Environmental Awareness: Demonstrates a solid understanding of professional, organizational, social, and political developments, as well as other environmental factors, and knows how to effectively apply this knowledge to one’s own role or organization.

Here’s what we offer you:
As a Communications Strategist for Digitalization, Innovation, and Information, you’ll join our team for 36 hours a week and can count on the following employment terms.

• A gross monthly salary of up to €6,103 (pay grade 12) based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience.
• A fixed-term employment contract for a period of 12 months, if you do not currently have an employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, or if you have only a temporary contract.
• If you already have a permanent employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, you will retain it and be assigned to another organization under a temporary assignment agreement.
• Opportunities for professional development and training. Our in-house training center, the Amsterdam School, offers a variety of training programs, professional development tracks, and on-the-job coaching to help you continue to challenge yourself.
• An individual flexible budget (IKB) equal to 17.05% of your salary, which you can use for things like additional pension contributions or extra days off.
• A pension plan with ABP, the pension fund for the public sector and education.
• A travel allowance of €0.10 per kilometer, up to a 45-kilometer one-way commute, for the number of days you work in the office, and/or a work-from-home allowance of €2 net per workday that you work from home.
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.
• Hybrid work: In this role, you can work partly from home and partly in the office. We provide the necessary equipment to help you set up a safe and healthy workspace at home.
• A cell phone and/or laptop.
• An office space in downtown Amsterdam, overlooking the canals.
• An (electric) rental bike that lets you travel between work locations in a sustainable and healthy way.

Want to know more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out theCity of Amsterdam Personnel Regulations (PGA).

Apply for this job:
If this job opening interests you, please submit your application by October 4, 2022, at the latest, using the “Apply Now” button on.

We would like to receive your cover letter, in which you explain, in no more than one A4 page, why your work experience and skills are a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.

The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of two rounds.

If your resume meets the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.

The meetings will take place in person or online via MS Teams, as agreed.

We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.

We do not appreciate unsolicited solicitation from recruitment agencies, and such actions may result in exclusion from our other recruitment initiatives. We also consider the unsolicited submission of resumes by agencies to our employees to be solicitation. We will not review these resumes.