Director of the Project Office

Following a period of preparation led by an interim director, who kickstarted the expansion of the Project Office’s scope of work and its further development, we are now seeking a permanent candidate. The challenges of the position, as described below, have been addressed and are now ready for the permanent director to take on. The ideal candidate is well-versed in the world of project and program management, is energetic, skilled at translating vision into practical action on the ground, and is an experienced leader who is ready to tackle the following challenges.

Challenges of the role:

• Strengthening Internal and External Collaboration: Further strengthening the connection between the Project Office and other municipal departments, as well as with external stakeholders, with a focus on (more)area-based workingas a development direction. The goal is to promote sustainable collaboration and synergy.
• Innovation and Knowledge Development: Continuing to develop the Urban Engineering Department as a knowledge hub, which is essential for leveraging technology as a solid foundation for urban development.
• Expanding Expertise into New Areas: Exploring opportunities to apply the Project Office’s expertise to areas beyond the physical domain. In this way, as a municipality, we can achieve greater integration, consistency, and collaboration in our project-based approach to work. However, this expansion will need to occur gradually to ensure that the Project Office can handle the new assignments in terms of staffing, working methods, and management.
• Implementation of New Developments and Policy Frameworks: Effectively incorporating new policy frameworks and developments into projects and programs. Frameworks such as the guide to participation and new developments such as network congestion.

What are your responsibilities as director?

• You are ultimately responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of the cluster.
• Together with the department managers, you will oversee the staffing of projects and programs at a strategic level, ensuring a healthy balance between day-to-day operations and strategic workforce planning. Talent management plays a crucial role in this: you foster a culture of continuous learning, development, and professional growth, and you ensure a balanced mix of permanent and temporary staff to guarantee both flexibility and stability within the organization.
• From the Project Office’s vantage point, you will work strategically with government clients, fellow directors, and administrators to set priorities and ensure coherence.
• As a member of the municipality’s executive team, you will contribute to collective decision-making and the municipality’s strategic direction.

What do you have to offer?

Change Leadership: Extensive experience in leading change processes within complex organizations. Skilled at driving change and systematically implementing innovations, from concept to results. Strong at engaging teams in these changes, thereby creating an inclusive and dynamic work environment.

Strategic and Innovative Thinking: Ability to think and act strategically in both the short and long term. Skilled at anticipating and responding to new developments, policy frameworks, and working methods, such as grid congestion, the Environment Act, and digitization. Creative in finding new solutions and fostering innovation within the cluster.

Inclusive Leadership: Experience leading a diverse team and promoting equality and respect within the organization. Inspires and motivates employees to develop themselves and contribute to shared goals. A passion for creating an inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued.

Collaboration and Networking: Skilled at building effective relationships, both within and outside the municipality. Proficient at collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders—from residents and business owners to other government agencies—to achieve shared project goals.

Adaptability: Well-attuned to political and organizational dynamics, with the flexibility to adapt to change and proactively find solutions to challenges. Able to be both service-oriented and constructively critical within the municipal context.

Skills:

• Connecting: Able to build and maintain effective relationships within and outside the congregation. And to encourage others to collaborate.
• Politically sensitive: Understanding of and experience with the dynamics of local and regional politics.
• Strategic: Focused on promoting a future-proof and sustainable urban environment.
• Creative and Innovative: Able to find out-of-the-box solutions to complex challenges.

Motivations:

• Passion for Urban and Social Development: Passion for urban development: intrinsically motivated to contribute to the physical, social, and economic development of the city of Leiden.
• Working Based on Values: A strong commitment to equality, integrity, and sustainability in all aspects of policy and project implementation.

Culture:

• Warm and Informal: The Project Office is characterized by an open and collegial work environment, where collaboration and personal development are central.

• Passion and Professionalism: A dedicated team committed to serving the municipality and its residents, motivated by what defines working for the Leiden Project Office: short lines of communication, impactful projects, direct influence on decision-making, direct collaboration with clients, and the satisfaction of seeing tangible results in your work.

Leiden and the Project Office

Leiden, the City of Knowledge and Culture, combines history with future developments through initiatives such as the modern parking garage beneath Molen de Valk and the contiguous Singelpark surrounding the historic canals. The Project Office, one of the municipality’s six clusters, consists of 170 dedicated professionals, divided among the City Engineers Department, the Project, Process, and Program Management Department (with two managers), and the Operations Team. Together, we strive to make Leiden even more beautiful, with our managers collaborating with various clients to ensure an integrated and participatory approach to projects from start to finish. In Leiden, a vibrant and densely populated city, participation is a core value, and we work closely with residents, business owners, and other urban partners.

What we offer:

• A full-time (36-hour) position in pay grade 15 (up to €8,779)
• A one-year contract with the intention of leading to permanent employment.
• A casual atmosphere where we work with dedication and enthusiasm to achieve the best possible results for our residents
• An organization that places a strong emphasis on well-being and sustainability.
• A professional work environment where we focus on your personal development
• You can receive a travel allowance or use an NS Business Card.
• Partially paid parental leave, in addition to the statutory 70% scheme.
• Enrollment in the ABP pension fund and an annual health insurance allowance.
• Excellent benefits, which you can choose yourself through an Individual Choice Budget. This 17.05% Individual Choice Budget is paid in addition to your salary.
• A major factor affecting your work hours: working from home part-time is the norm.
• You will be provided with a cell phone and a laptop.
• Leiden is a diverse city with a wide variety of residents and visitors from all kinds of backgrounds, cultures, and lifestyles. It is this diversity that makes our city a pleasant place to live and work, and an attractive destination to visit. To preserve and support this, diversity and inclusion are high on our agenda!

Interested?

The City of Leiden has engaged the executive search firm Colourful People to assist with the recruitment and selection of the new director of the Project Office. For more information about the position and the application process, please contact Hatice Türkmen (06-46081232).

If you're interested, please apply by January 24 by submitting your resume and cover letter via the "Apply" button.

The preliminary interviews will take place (online) on January 29 and 30, 2025.

The interviews in Leiden will take place on the 14th and 19th February