Executive Secretary

About the SER

The Social and Economic Council (SER) is the primary advisory body to the government and parliament on socio-economic issues. The SER brings together business leaders, employees, and independent members. The Social and Economic Council (SER) advises the cabinet and parliament on the broad outlines of socio-economic policy. The SER also facilitates agreements and covenants and performs administrative tasks. Independent members appointed by the Crown, employers, and employees work together within the SER. The secretariat has approximately 140 full-time equivalents.

SER staff work in a particularly dynamic environment. They operate in close proximity to the political sphere, collaborating with a wide range of civil society organizations that often have divergent interests. Policy officers work in project teams to address current socioeconomic issues. The organization has an informal atmosphere and fosters frequent personal interaction. The SER offers ample opportunity for personal responsibility and autonomy in one’s work.

We believe that diversity within our organization contributes to the quality and support for our work. We strive to be an organization where everyone can be themselves and is given the opportunity to grow.

About the General Secretariat

You will be working at the General Secretariat, which is headed by the General Secretary (AS). The General Secretariat’s primary task is to provide support to the General Secretary, the SER Chair, the Policy Directorate, and the Staff Directorate. The team consists of the AS, the Director of Staff, the Director of Policy, an Executive Secretary, a Secretary to the AS, two Secretaries to the Chair, and a Policy Support Officer.

About the role

As an executive secretary, you serve as the right-hand person to the general secretary, who both oversees the secretariat and acts as secretary to the board and the executive committee. This makes your role extremely versatile; you liaise with various stakeholders and maintain a wide range of contacts, both within and outside the organization.

What will you be doing?

• You provide the executive team and the chairperson with both solicited and unsolicited advice on strategic and tactical matters.
• You will coordinate and organize administrative processes (agenda setting, decision-making) and ensure that they are carried out in a timely and coordinated manner throughout the organization.
• You identify internal and external developments that may affect the policy agenda of the council and the secretariat, and you make recommendations on how to address them.
• You are responsible for preparing the agendas for the executive committee, the meeting of the Crown Members, and the council meetings. You ensure a smooth process and monitor deadlines for the submission of documents.
• You will serve as secretary at various executive meetings and propose agenda items.
• You don't let yourself be easily swayed, and you're very good at coming up with concrete and pragmatic solutions to problems.
• You serve as a key link between the executive board, the chairperson, the program directors, and the Communications Department, and in this role, you regularly consult with them.  
• You will work closely with the secretaries and the policy support staff member, and you will regularly coordinate with them regarding support for the management team and the chairperson.

What are your skills?

• You have completed a relevant college degree.
• You have several years of relevant work experience as an executive secretary or in a similar role.
• You have a good understanding of organizational dynamics and a keen sense of political and administrative relationships.
• You are a natural networker with a relevant network. You also excel at building and maintaining relationships, both new and existing.
• You have the ability to bring together various stakeholders in a complex environment in a tactful and unifying way to arrive at a shared approach. After all, you know better than anyone how to get people moving
• You enjoy working with others and are proactive in setting priorities; you’re good at keeping track of the big picture and are focused on achieving goals.

What do we offer?

This is a position for 32–38 hours per week for one year, with the possibility of a permanent contract. Start date: as soon as possible. The salary ranges from a minimum of €4,936 to a maximum of €6,668 gross per month based on full-time employment. You can find the other terms of employment here.

Application Process

You will receive a response to your application by phone or email no later than one week after the job posting closes. The first interviews will take place during the week of January 15, 2024. A second interview will take place during the week of January 22, 2024. We aim to complete the application process by the end of January.

Objective recruitment and selection

To ensure that all candidates are evaluated consistently, we use scoring forms. We use these to assess job-specific criteria during the application process and job-specific competencies during the interview stage. During the selection process, we ask all candidates the same questions so that we can determine the extent to which you meet the job requirements.

Job Application Form

Please note! We do not require a resume or cover letter. We ask that you describe your motivation, knowledge, and experience by answering three questions in the application form:

• Describe your recent work experience in a similar role. In your answer, please explain the context in which you worked and what your responsibilities were that are relevant to this position (maximum 200 words)
• What skills and experience do you bring to the table to make the role of executive secretary a success? (Maximum 200 words)
• Please describe why you would like to work in this position at the SER. (Maximum 200 words)

Questions?

Do you have any questions about the position or the application process? Please contact Farah Chtari, Human Resources Advisor, at 06 – 45502309.

Will you be our new colleague? If so, please apply by January 7, 2024, via our website, https://www.ser.nl/nl/ser/werken-bij-SER/vacatures/directiesecretaris.