Director of Grants, Procurement, and the Social Affairs Legal Office

The Position

As Director of Subsidies, Procurement, and the Social Legal Office (hereinafter SIS), you will provide overall leadership to more than 200 employees. Together with the management team (MT), you will be responsible for achieving the department’s goals and overseeing its day-to-day operations. You will partner with the other departments in the Social Domain, the Legal Affairs Department, the Legal Office, and the Finance and Procurement Department. Together, you will ensure comprehensive service delivery, guaranteeing legality and quality while prioritizing the well-being of Amsterdam residents.

Your goals for the coming years are:

• Enhancing the professionalism, agility, and vitality of the advisory role and the partnership with other departments;
• preventing disputes and resolving them as informally, promptly, and effectively as possible;
• promoting and achieving greater alignment between policy and implementation within SIS and in our relationships with grant and procurement partners;
• simplifying the subsidy system and regulations and making them easier to understand;
• strengthening goal-oriented management through contracting and renewal.

Here's what you do on an average workday

• Coaching the management team and staying connected to the front lines, so you stay informed and ensure that everyone feels supported in their personal growth and can be themselves.
• Work with other departments to develop and implement strategies aimed at simplifying the subsidy system, achieving the associated cost-saving targets, and realizing the municipality’s overarching goal of implementing “procurement with impact” (social return).
• Consult with industry partners on developing professional expertise, retaining and attracting professionals, and fostering mutual cooperation.
• In consultation with the Ombudsman and partners in the chain, implement improvements in the handling of complaints, objections, and appeals.
• Consult with colleagues in the cluster regarding improvements to contract management.
• Keep the responsible alderman informed and consult with him or her.

This is 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 SIS Management Board supports Amsterdam residents in managing their finances by handling procurement and contract management for services such as debt counseling, (youth) care, and social inclusion programs. The Management Board consists of the following teams: Internal Control Advisory, Complaints, Objections, and Appeals; Legal Services and Advisory; Procurement and Contract Management; Social Return; and the Grants Office.

In addition to managing the municipal grant-awarding process and providing municipality-wide guidance on social return, as well as incorporating social conditions, requirements, and preferences into procurement and bidding processes, SIS is responsible for procurement, internal controls, legal advice, and the handling of complaints and objections for the Social Cluster.

SIS contributes to a municipality-wide legal reform initiative aimed at restoring trust between the municipality and its residents. The focus is on high-quality (informal) dispute resolution, the quality and speed of complaint handling, and the prevention of complaints.

SIS is part of the Social Services cluster. Together with the departments of Employment, Participation & Income; Sports & Parks; Education; Youth; Health & Diversity; and the Municipal Health Service (GGD), the cluster is committed to helping Amsterdammers reach their full potential and supporting those in need.

Would you like to learn more about working for the City of Amsterdam? We’d love to hear from our employees:stories from our employees.

What you bring

A position as director at the City of Amsterdam requires versatility within the organization. We strive for inclusive leadership and a management team that sets a good example and fosters a safe, ethical, and inclusive work culture. As SIS Director, you will have:

• University-level work and thinking skills.
• At least 2 years of hierarchical or functional management experience in an implementing organization and in a political/administrative context.
• Experience in management consulting.
• Experience in leading change management processes that prioritize a customer-centric approach.
• Experience with grants/procurement, dispute resolution, and/or legal matters, and the use of data and technology in these areas.
• An interest in the social sector.

The skills you’ll bring to the table:

• Thinking and acting inclusively:As a leader in an inclusive organization, you think and act inclusively. You are mindful of a work environment with people from different cultures and religions. You create a socially safe environment while caring for employees and ensuring equality in the workplace. You are approachable, reliable, predictable, and inspire trust. You recognize employees’ talents and prioritize talent development.
• Providing direction: You are able to develop a vision, guide an organization, and achieve results in a political/administrative environment, working in collaboration with partners both within and outside the organization. You engage employees in change initiatives and maintain communication, even in the face of resistance.
• Collaboration:You are a unifying figure who fosters collaboration. You have an excellent understanding of government and administrative relationships and processes.
• Fostering innovation: You can quickly adapt to a changing environment and evolving circumstances, and go with the flow. You set the agenda, organize, and foster innovation. You can think outside the box and approach challenges from new perspectives.

Here's what we offer you.

As the SIS Director, you will join our team for 36 hours per week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary of up to €8,758 (pay grade 16) based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience.
• A permanent employment contract with a five-year term.
• 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.
• Flexibility when it comes to your work hours and location. With the Amsterdam Digital Workplace, you can log in wherever and whenever you want.
• A laptop and a cell phone.
• Hybrid work: The City of Amsterdam has adopted a hybrid work model. For you, this means that, if you wish, you can work partly from home and partly at the office, depending on your job responsibilities. You may request remote work equipment to set up a home office that complies with health and safety standards.

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

Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions about the position and/or the application process, please contact Famke Schiff (Management Development Consultant) by phone at 06-83627553, or by email at f.schiff@amsterdam.nl

Apply for this job

• This position was previously open only to internal candidates within the City of Amsterdam. It is now open to both internal and external candidates. This recruitment process is being managed by PublicSpirit, an executive search firm.
• For questions regarding the position, please contact Leen Kap, senior consultant at PublicSpirit. He can be reached at 06 – 42 59 06 66. If you have questions about the application process, please contact project assistant Sandy van Soest. She can be reached at PublicSpirit’s main number: 033 - 445 90 50 or viainfo@publicspirit.nl.
• Please submit your application by March 26, 2023. You can apply via the PublicSpirit website, which can be accessed via this link:https://www.publicspirit.nl/2023/03/directeur-subsidies-inkoop-en-juridisch-bureau-sociaal-sis-3256/
• From the job posting on the PublicSpirit website, you can submit a cover letter and resume by clicking “Apply Now.” Once PublicSpirit has received your application, you will receive an automatically generated confirmation of receipt. You can also email your application to info@publicspirit.nl, quoting reference number 7984.
• The municipality has a preference policy for positions at pay grade 15 and above. This means that, for all positions at pay grade 15 and above, candidates with a non-Western immigrant background will be given preference if they are equally qualified.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.