Coordinating Policy Officer for Biotechnology / Secretary to the Life Sciences Executive Team

Coordinating Policy Officer for Biotechnology / Secretary to the Life Sciences Executive Team

Job Description

Will you join us in exploring concrete issues such as: “How can the Life Sciences & Health (LSH) ecosystem in the Netherlands be further strengthened? How do we strengthen the Netherlands’ position in European policy? How do we address strategic dependencies on other countries? And are you also excited about an interesting role within the dynamic Top Sectors and Industrial Policy (TOP) Directorate, at the intersection of government, the business community, and the academic world?

The Dutch LSH sector is a growing, innovative sector. As the LSH Policy Coordinator, you will serve as the point of contact for the sector within the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK), in your role as secretary, you will support and advise the members of the LSH leadership team, maintain contacts with various (strategic) companies and industry associations in the sector, and collaborate with colleagues across departments on relevant policy developments.

You closely monitor developments in companies across the broad field of biotechnology, identify trends relevant to policy, and translate these into concrete policy measures. Your work is focused on strengthening the sector’s position and making the Netherlands an attractive destination for (foreign) investors to innovate and grow (here). At the same time, you are committed to making the most of the business community’s potential to contribute to major transition challenges, for example regarding the application of new (bio)technologies.

Biotechnology is the driving force behind the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It plays an indispensable role in food security, sustainability, and healthcare. As such, it is crucial to the success of initiatives such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Green Deals, sustainability efforts, and the fight against climate change. It is equally vital to the quality of our society and the future growth potential of our economy.

Who are we looking for?

As a coordinating staff member, you and two colleagues are responsible for the content related to LSH. The three of you are part of a larger team that includes partners in the key sectors of Agri & Food, Horticulture & Propagation Materials, and the Creative Industries. The common threads within this forward-looking and dynamic team are biotechnology and innovation.

Together with the LSH team, you’ll translate the strategic direction into the concrete results expected of the team. You know how to inspire and guide people in a supportive and coaching manner.

In this role, you will collaborate extensively with colleagues both within and outside the executive board, as well as with stakeholders outside the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (the business community, academia, industry and umbrella organizations, other government departments, and the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands). You will also maintain the necessary international contacts (bilateral, EU, OECD, World Bank). As a skilled networker, you are able to bring parties together, reach substantive agreements, and, when necessary, make decisions or ensure that they are made. You have a strong and fluent writing style and are accustomed to working under time pressure.

Job Requirements

• You are results-oriented.
• You are able to collaborate effectively within your team, as well as with people outside of it. You can build and maintain a relevant network, both within and outside the government.
• You have strong analytical skills and are able to come up with creative solutions.
• You have proven leadership skills.
• You have an understanding of and experience with administrative, political, and business processes.
• You have excellent verbal and written communication skills in Dutch and English.
• Experience in interagency collaboration is a plus.

Skills:

• Board sensitivity
• Planning and organizing
• Results-oriented
• Environmental awareness
• Networking
• Managing employees
• Motivate
• Creativity
• Strong communication skills

Terms of Employment

• Pay grade: 13, step 14
• Monthly salary: Min. €4,688 – Max. €7,718 (gross)
• Employment status: Permanent employment contract
• Minimum number of hours per week: 32
• 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).

After the application deadline, the job posting and the employer’s contact information will no longer be visible online. To avoid having to request this information later, we ask that you download and save the job posting.

We do not accept unsolicited applications for our job openings.

Interested in applying?

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy / Directorate-General for Enterprise and Innovation (DGBI) invites you to apply on their website. Click the button below to leave this site and go 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.