Executive Secretary

Job Description

Do the words “independence,” “overview,” and “structure” get you excited? Then this job is perfect for you! The Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP) in The Hague is looking for an executive secretary to provide substantive and procedural support to the executive board, ensuring that decision-making processes and information flows run smoothly. This role is also still partly under development, giving you the opportunity to make your mark. 

As an executive secretary at the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), you will oversee both internal and external administrative processes and prepare minutes for various meetings. 

Internally, you support the executive board and the management team (MT) in the management cycle. In consultation with the Executive Board, you prepare the agenda and materials for Executive Board and MT meetings and ensure that minutes are taken. You manage the agenda and action items for the MT meetings, Executive Board meetings, and Works Council meetings, and coordinate the development of the SCP’s annual work program. You will prepare decision-making processes within the SCP in a well-structured and procedural manner and ensure an adequate system for monitoring and evaluating decisions made. You will play a key coordinating role in processes such as the accreditation review, the development of multi-year plans, and the mid-term review. You will also ensure transparent communication of decisions to the rest of the organization and oversee the archiving of decisions and (policy) documents. Finally, you will support program leaders and department heads in approval procedures (e.g., with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport) and the drafting of contracts, and, where necessary, propose improvements to the decision-making processes. 

With regard to external administrative processes, you will be responsible for preparing the substantive content for various management meetings, including the DG meetings, meetings with the SCP’s Advisory Committee, meetings of the directors of the Planning Bureau, and meetings with the national knowledge institutions. You will also play a key role in the periodic consultation cycle with stakeholders, handling substantive preparations for the Executive Board and occasionally representing the SCP yourself. Finally, you will coordinate the preparation of the SCP’s input for the sub-committees and their preparatory meetings. 

As the coordinator of the Executive Support and Secretariat cluster (4 employees), you will provide functional leadership to the staff and ensure that the cluster’s tasks are carried out effectively. 

Job Requirements

We are looking for a proactive and reliable colleague who excels at planning and organizing (including monitoring progress) and is therefore able to meet deadlines. You work with precision and are skilled at collaborating and networking. You are results-oriented, flexible, and have strong communication skills.

In addition, you have: 

• A completed associate's degree or equivalent work experience
• At least 3–5 years of relevant work experience, e.g., in roles such as executive secretary, project secretary, or project manager 

And do you possess the following skills: organizational sensitivity, situational awareness, persuasiveness, analytical skills, and creativity? 

Terms of Employment

Salary level: Grade 12

Monthly salary: Min. €4,278 – Max. €6,320 (gross)

Employment status: Fixed-term employment contract

Contract duration: 1 year, with the option to extend

Maximum number of hours per week: 28 

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

• Would you like to learn more about the position, the challenges, and our team? Feel free to call Delinah Halvorson, Head of Operations, Human Resources, and Organization, at 06-21348917 or email her at d.halvorson@scp.nl;
• Does this job opening sound interesting, but are you unsure if you’re the right fit? Even so, we encourage you to contact Delinah Halvorson. She’d be happy to help you get a better idea of who we’re looking for and whether this role is a good fit for you;
• Because this position involves working with confidential information, we may ask for references during the application process, and you will need a Certificate of Good Conduct to be hired;
• To gain an even better (or more comprehensive) understanding of your experience, knowledge, and skills, we may review your public profile on LinkedIn;
• This is a new position. Eight months after you start, we will evaluate whether and how the position will be permanently integrated into the organization. At that time, we will also determine whether you are eligible for a contract extension or a permanent position based on that evaluation and your performance.
• At the SCP, we work in a hybrid model. This means we work partly in the office and partly from home or elsewhere. Depending on the nature of the work and the level of interaction required with colleagues, we choose the workspace that best suits our needs, with the agreement that we spend at least 50% of our working hours in the office. Please discuss specific arrangements regarding your workspace, availability, and accessibility with your colleagues and your manager.
• Please address your application to Delinah Halvorson, Head of Operations, Human Resources, and Organization.
• Are you a mandatory VWNW candidate? If so, please include a copy of this designation letter with your application. 

Interested in applying?

The Netherlands Institute for Social Research invites you to apply on their website. Clicking the button below will take you away from this site and 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.