Group Manager

City of Emmen

The work of the Municipality of Emmen has an impact on society. The Municipality of Emmen operates in a vibrant region with beautiful nature, charming villages, and a bustling city center. A place where activity goes hand in hand with tranquility, open spaces, and nature. The Municipality of Emmen’s vision is to create a safe, healthy, and sustainable living environment where people feel at home and enjoy living. The organization stands for decisiveness, continuous development, and flexibility. The Municipality of Emmen is a large organization with short lines of communication and a culture of trust, where everyone is given the opportunity to fully develop their potential. With over 1,100 dedicated and loyal employees, the Municipality of Emmen is ready to serve its more than 109,000 residents.

Because the environment is constantly changing and the challenges facing the municipality of Emmen are becoming more complex and moving at an ever-faster pace, the municipality aims to evolve into an agile and flexible organization. This transformation is already underway and must be continuously supported and, at times, accelerated—and we are working hard to achieve this. The municipality envisions an organization with professional staff who are aware of the social developments facing the municipality of Emmen and who actively respond to them.

The Municipality of Emmen is a single organization dedicated to serving the Emmen community. It operates on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, pools resources, and collaborates, working toward greater integration in partnership with the administration, residents, businesses, partners, and other local governments. Together, they tackle challenges that require a new way of looking at organizational structures and how employees and society deal with new developments. The Municipality of Emmen believes that innovations and technological developments can help it achieve this. It also believes it is important to critically examine processes and rules. Making a difference together, for residents and businesses. Now and in the future!

Labor shortages and technological advancements mean that municipalities must transform their operations to maintain the quality of their services.

The Municipality of Emmen aims to increasingly operate through self-managing teams, with team leaders who bear overall responsibility and focus on employee development, all in the interest of service delivery. As a result of this task-oriented approach, work in temporary teams will increase.

The CMT

The Group Management Team (GMT), which consists of the municipal secretary/managing director and group managers, is responsible for the overall management of the organization. The group managers maintain direct contact with the team leaders within their respective groups. The group managers serve as strategic advisors to the board and act as a link to individual board members.

The CMT operates as a team. The allocation of the CMT’s portfolios is dynamic, and portfolios are distributed in such a way that the CMT can provide comprehensive leadership across the organization. Within the team, comprehensive leadership, the integration of policy themes, and mutual support are key priorities.

In addition, group managers are responsible for a specific portfolio and oversee several team leaders and/or program managers.

Here's what you'll be doing

We currently have a vacancy for a Group Manager. In principle, Group Managers can be assigned to any portfolio. For this position, the focus is currently on the Social Domain. The Municipality of Emmen seeks to strike a balance between being a generalist, leveraging talent and ambition, and having an affinity for this policy area. Essential to this role is a full commitment to the development of the people within the organization.

For these positions, the municipality of Emmen is seeking candidates who have:

• a perspective on the evolving role of government and its implications for the organization’s capacity to learn, including leaders, teams, and employees;
  
• the ability to identify complex strategic issues and translate them into concrete actions;
  
• the ability to promote cohesion and connection based on an organizational vision, with a focus on inclusion and diversity;
  
• the ability to collaborate, inspire, and coach, and to lead by example;
  
• experience in addressing social challenges and achieving results-oriented goals;
  
• consulting skills to support executives, with a keen understanding of political, administrative, and social issues;
  
• the courage to act as a strong sparring partner for the board, CMT, and others;
  
• self-awareness and insight into one’s own strengths and areas for growth, thereby strengthening a complementary team within the CMT;
  
• the ability to build and maintain networks and to serve as a representative of the organization at the local, regional, and national levels;
  
• experience in change management and fostering innovation within the organization;
  
• the ability to promote data-driven work and translate social trends into opportunities.
  

The Social Sector is entering the next phase of its transformation. Guided by the policy plan “Belonging and Participating in Emmen,” the municipality of Emmen is working with partners and residents to take the next step. As a group manager, you will actively drive this initiative forward, with a focus on concrete results and sustainable impact.

Within the organization, you will ensure the alignment of policy, implementation, and objectives, both within the Social Domain and across domains. Your role is crucial in fostering cohesion and collaboration among and with various teams, disciplines, partners, and residents.

The Social Services Department within the municipality of Emmen comprises six teams and a program manager who report directly to you. In addition, based on your expertise and the division of labor within the CMT, there is an opportunity to take on responsibility for several group-wide teams. This allows you to make the most of your talents and interests and contribute to organization-wide goals.

What do we offer you?

If you come to work for the municipality of Emmen, you’ll be given the opportunity to achieve your goals and further your professional development. Our employees are our greatest asset, which is why the organization does everything it can to keep them motivated and energized.

The terms of employment are, of course, well-defined. This includes, among other things:

• working in the largest municipality in Drenthe;
  
• Salary between €6,395.00 and €8,889.00 gross per month, pay scale 15, in accordance with the Municipal Collective Bargaining Agreement;
  
• 17.05% Individual Choice Budget (ICB) in addition to your gross salary;
  
• a good pension plan with ABP;
  
• various leave policies;
  
• group health insurance plans;
  
• the freedom to carry out your work as you see fit;
  
• laptop and phone on loan;
  
• hybrid work with a work-from-home allowance;
  
• a good work-life balance;
  
• an attractive place to live and work.
  

What do you bring to the table?

• academic level of work and thinking;
  
• experience with change management and experience as a cross-functional manager in leading a complex organization;
  
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to tell stories to build support among various stakeholders.
  
• experience advising directors.
  

Personal characteristics

Connecting, results-oriented, approachable, reflective, eager to learn, humorous, tenacious, and a team player.

Response and procedure

Roelof van den Berg of the consulting firm roel&jasper is overseeing the project. For further information, please contact him at 0592-205088.

Roelof van den Berg will conduct interviews with candidates who are potentially suitable for the position. The résumés of suitable candidates will then be submitted to the municipality of Emmen. Based on this, the candidates who qualify for a final interview will be selected.

Based on these profiles, do you believe you are a suitable candidate for the position of Group Manager at the Municipality of Emmen? If so, we invite you to send your cover letter and resume in PDF format by Sunday, March 30, 2025, to roel&jasper at werven@roeljasper.nl.

The initial interviews are scheduled for April 3, 2025. The final interviews are scheduled for April 7 and April 10, 2025.

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