Director of Human Resources

The city

The municipality of The Hague is a diverse city with approximately 550,000 residents representing 180 different nationalities. It is the seat of the government and parliament, and thus the administrative center of the Netherlands. But The Hague is also an international city of Peace and Justice, home to the International Court of Justice and numerous embassies. The Hague is a city with significant socioeconomic disparities and a considerable number of social challenges. A green city by the sea, featuring Loosduinen and Scheveningen. A beautiful historic city with many monuments and a rich cultural life. And a wonderful city to work in.

The organization

The civil service of the Municipality of The Hague has approximately 10,000 employees, divided among seven departments. The General Directors who oversee these departments together form the Municipal Management Team (GMT). The City Clerk, who also serves as General Director of the municipality, leads the civil service and chairs the GMT.

One of these seven departments is the Operations Department (DBV), of which the HR Management team is a part. DBV was established on April 1, 2022, and is at the starting point of further developing and improving the operational services provided to the rest of the organization. You will have the opportunity to contribute to this effort alongside your fellow directors within the Operations Department. Under the leadership of the General Director of DBV, you will form the management team together with the directors of Information and ICT, Legal Affairs, Finance and Procurement, Development and Operations, and Communication and City Branding. The management team consists of 150 FTEs.

The HR Team
Within the HR department, you will oversee the ongoing development of the HR advisory teams for the various departments, the centers of expertise (Occupational Health and Safety Center, Labor Relations, Recruitment & Mobility, Development & Implementation), and the Group Advisory Department.

The tasks

Modern Employment Practices
The City of The Hague’s strength lies in its employees. Without the colleagues who work every day with passion and energy for the city and its residents, the organization simply cannot function. A well-staffed organization is therefore crucial. In the coming years, a significant portion of The Hague’s employees will retire, presenting a considerable challenge in recruiting new colleagues. Given the tight labor market, this is an enormous challenge and requires an approach and strategy that is distinctive and uniquely Hague-like. In this context, a strong employer brand with modern employment conditions, an inclusive culture, good development and career advancement opportunities, and a focus on sustainable employability are of crucial importance. The director we are seeking is someone who can develop this cohesively and position the City of The Hague as the best employer with energy and boldness.

Services
You are ambitious and strive to provide services that put The Hague’s employees first. You ensure that everyone feels heard. In this way, you contribute to professional HR services within the Municipality of The Hague. Whether it concerns recruiting new colleagues, the professional development and growth of employees, or creating a pleasant and safe work environment, the HR department plays a crucial facilitating role in making a difference. You inspire and motivate the HR organization to achieve this. You master the interplay required to work holistically on the organization’s development. In addition, there are tasks in the areas of corporate consulting and leadership development in which the HR Director plays an essential role.

Who are we looking for?

You are a builder and a connector, and you develop strong relationships with the various departments. As a key point of contact for the municipality’s general managers and their representatives, you involve them in the development of the HR strategy, frameworks, and services to ensure they align with the organization and its employees.

You will work closely with colleagues from the Corporate Development Directorate of the Executive Service, which houses the Integrity Office, the Management Development function for senior civil servants, organizational policy, and the corporate development agenda. You are results-oriented and have perseverance. Collaboration comes naturally to you. You take the lead when necessary and delegate when possible. You inspire colleagues to achieve results together.

You will serve as the face of Human Resources and drive modern changes in HR policy and the recruitment and selection process. In addition, you serve as the HR advisor to the Municipal Executive and the City Clerk in their capacity as employers for the 10,000 employees of the City of The Hague. As the right-hand person to the HR Alderman, you provide advice on how to proceed in consultations with the labor unions and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) regarding terms of employment and legal status. You support and advise the municipal secretary in consultations with the central works council of the Municipality of The Hague and assist in following up on the agreements reached.

More specifically, you have extensive experience in HR strategy and services, with specific experience in leadership and organizational development being a plus. You also have extensive experience at the executive level in complex, political-administrative environments and are able to navigate conflicting interests and complex stakeholder management. Based on your experience, you can demonstrate that you possess successful and inspiring leadership skills in comparable roles as a managing director.

What do we offer?

You will be working in a team that is results-oriented but also values professional growth and job satisfaction. You will be appointed to a sector or portfolio for a five-year term, with the possibility of extension. We offer a salary of up to €8,758 gross per month and an Individual Choice Budget of 17.05%. The employment contract is initially for one year, with our intention to convert it into a permanent position for an indefinite term if your performance is satisfactory.

The procedure

The City of The Hague is working with the executive search firm Colourful People for recruitment and selection. Sandra Lutchman, Esq., a senior partner at Colourful People, would be happy to provide you with more information about the organization, the position, and/or the application process. You can contact her via WhatsApp at 06 407 44 074.

The application deadline and other important dates will be announced shortly. An assessment may be part of the process.

Are you interested?

In this job description, we have outlined some of the key responsibilities of this position. Instead of a cover letter, we’d like to challenge you to share your perspective on these responsibilities with us. Our question:

“We have about 10,000 employees. To manage natural attrition as effectively as possible and minimize voluntary turnover, we strive to be a modern employer, with a recruitment strategy that responds to and aligns with the labor market’s scarcity and diversity. But we also want to retain our employees…”

What is your vision for modern employment practices that can address these needs? What role does the HR Director play in this? And what could you contribute? We would like to ask you to outline your vision on this topic in no more than 1.5 A4 pages. You can upload your resume and the document (in PDF format) via the website of Colourful People.

The Hague is home to a highly diverse population, and the municipality believes it is important for that diversity to be reflected at all levels of the organization, including at the top. This ensures that the municipality speaks the city’s language, understands its needs, and provides services that meet those needs. Candidates who believe they can contribute to this effort are strongly encouraged to apply.