Sustainability Coordinator

Who are you?

You are an enthusiastic and passionate professional with expertise in sustainability. You understand how important it is to get others on board with your vision and are able to facilitate change in a diverse and dynamic environment. With your experience in project management and sustainability, you know how to translate strategic goals into actionable steps. You are someone who enjoys collaborating on a regenerative, sustainable, and socially just future with high-quality, safe, and healthy buildings. Whether it involves developing policy, leading (technical) projects, or raising awareness: you ensure that sustainability doesn’t remain just an ambition, but becomes an integral part of our daily practice. You know exactly when to be flexible and when to stand firm, both with internal and external stakeholders.

What will you be doing?

Your key tasks and responsibilities include:

• Sustainability Strategy:Develop and implement a sustainability strategy in line with the university’s strategic plan.
• Coordination:Coordinate and actively participate in projects related to sustainable construction and renovation, energy conservation, waste reduction, circular processes, sustainable procurement, and mobility. Also ensure compliance with laws and regulations, handle certifications, and provide support for tenders and grant applications.
• Monitoring and reporting:Monitoring the progress of sustainability initiatives and providing regular reports to management and stakeholders, including the annual Energy Management System Audit. Contributing to the university’s sustainability report, which outlines the organization’s performance and impact.
• Awareness and behavioral change:Promoting the sustainability vision, ensuring consistency across projects, chairing the Sustainability Platform, and serving as a knowledge hub.
• External collaboration:Building and maintaining relationships with suppliers, government agencies, environmental organizations, and other universities of applied sciences to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and resources.
• Education and Research:Encouraging faculty and researchers to integrate sustainability into education and research, and inspiring students and providing them with opportunities to develop their skills in this area.

What do you bring to the table?

Skills and competencies:

• You have an analytical and solution-oriented mindset and are able to get to the bottom of complex (technical) issues.
• You have technical insight and an understanding of building-related technical aspects.
• You have experience with structured technical projects using standard project management methodologies, as well as with project management.
• You have experience with administrative processes, are skilled at analyzing information, and can translate that information into reports.
• You can collaborate effectively with various stakeholders and facilitate change.
• You have excellent communication and presentation skills and know how to build support.
• You have a good command of both Dutch and English, both in writing and speaking.

Education and Experience:

• A relevant degree at the associate’s degree level or higher (e.g., Environmental Science, Sustainability, Social Geography, Facility Management, or a related field).
• At least 3 years of experience in a relevant coordinating or project management role, preferably in sustainability or a related field such as facilities management.
• Experience working within a medium-sized organization with multiple stakeholders. An interest in education and/or the arts is a plus.

Who are we?

The Amsterdam University of the Arts (AHK) consists of six academies: the Breitner Academy, the Academy of Architecture, the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, the Netherlands Film Academy, the Reinwardt Academy, and the Academy of Theatre and Dance. Together, we offer a wide range of programs in the fields of art, culture, and heritage. The AHK is located in the heart of Amsterdam, with campuses in and around the bustling city center. We are a dynamic educational institution, characterized by creativity, passion, and craftsmanship. Our students and staff are encouraged to explore boundaries, experiment, and fully develop their talents.

Our team

Since the biggest sustainability challenges lie in the area of buildings and facilities, you will be working as part of the Housing and Facilities Management department. This is a small, dedicated team of five people that manages the university’s real estate, structural and technical maintenance, and facility contracts (such as energy and waste).

Sustainability Challenge

The AHK recognizes the urgency of addressing the climate crisis. We aim to minimize the waste of natural resources and pollution of the planet and contribute to its recovery. Our goal is to be a university with a minimal ecological footprint that actively works toward nature and climate restoration.

The AHK aims to be climate-neutral by 2035. A large part of this sustainability effort is achieved through technical operations, such as major maintenance and day-to-day management, in which recommendations from the Royal Haskoning study are translated into concrete proposals. In addition, sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in education, where sustainable production and behavior must become the norm. Research groups are collaborating on the theme ofregeneration & climate.

We are aware that the international nature of research and (art) education can have a negative impact on the environment. We therefore explicitly link sustainability to internationalization. And to make sustainable choices, we also want to leverage the opportunities offered by digitalization, for example by holding some auditions online. On the other hand, digital technology also has a significant environmental footprint, partly due to the storage of data in large data centers.  This paradox calls for constant deliberation and conscious choices.

To achieve these goals, we are seeking a Sustainability Coordinator who will focus exclusively on this area. This is a new position within the university that involves a significant amount of pioneering work. You will play a central role in developing and monitoring policies, coordinating initiatives, and reducing the AHK’s carbon footprint. You will ensure accurate data recording and the annual updating of dashboards. In addition, you will involve the Communications department in sharing results achieved to raise awareness of sustainable behavior.

What do we offer?

As a Sustainability Coordinator, you’ll work in an environment where your ideas and initiatives truly make a difference. We offer a varied role within a dedicated and creative organization. You’ll have a great deal of freedom and responsibility, and you’ll work alongside motivated colleagues in an inspiring environment.

This is a permanent position with a workload of 0.8–1 FTE (32–40 hours). The gross monthly salary ranges from €4,500 to €6,359.47(depending on experience) based on a 40-hour workweek (job title: Staff Advisor - C (scale 11)). The AHK offers attractive terms of employment in accordance with the CAO-HBO, such as an 8% vacation allowance, an 8.3% year-end bonus, a generous vacation policy, and excellent study and development opportunities.
If you become our colleague, we will request a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) upon your start date.

The position is based in Amsterdam, and we prefer that you live in that area. The AHK operates on a hybrid work model, so you can work from home part of the time, with the flexibility required for this role. 

Do you have the enthusiasm, vision, and experience to take sustainability at the AHK to the next level? If so, we look forward to receiving your application!

Information and Applications

Want to know more? You can contact Selwyn Nijman (Head of Housing and Management) by email: selwyn.nijman@ahk.nl (Please indicate “Sustainability Coordinator job opening”).

Interested? Please send your resume and cover letter by April 28, 2025, tovacature-sb@ahk.nl, addressed to Selwyn Nijman, with the subject line “Application for Sustainability Coordinator.”

We prefer to assemble our own team; we do not engage in recruitment.