Area Manager for the Southeast

As an area manager, you will be responsible for one of the vibrant neighborhoods in Amsterdam Zuidoost: Bijlmer Centrum, Bijlmer Oost, Bijlmer West, Amstel3/Arenapoort, or Gaasperdam. You’ll be right in the heart of a district where over 90,000 people from diverse cultural backgrounds live together. You won’t just be doing this from behind a desk; you’ll literally be out in the city, among residents, visitors, and business owners. You’ll see, hear, and talk to them about what’s going on in the area.

In doing so, you will work on specific “initiatives.” For example, a current initiative for Zuidoost is to improve street safety. As you work on these initiatives, you will form the necessary coalitions both within and outside the municipal organization. You will connect your team, local businesses, and professional partners in the area with residents and the area’s initiatives. You will help create a pleasant, safe, and clean living environment.

In this role, you will be a member of the management team (MT) of the district organization and an advisor to the district administrator(s). Together with the other MT members, you will be responsible for the organizational development of the Zuidoost district. You will provide direct supervision to two area teams, each consisting of an area coordinator, four area liaisons, and an area support staff member. You will also provide functional guidance to employees from other organizational units when it comes to area-specific tasks. In this way, you ensure that area-focused work runs as smoothly as possible.

You foster a work environment characterized by openness, where all employees feel comfortable and safe.

Here's what you do on an average day

• You contribute to the effective functioning of your regional team by recognizing employees’ strengths and talents—both individually and as a team—and by empowering them to excel. You create the conditions necessary for them to achieve results.
• You are responsible for professionalizing the team and ensuring adherence to the common approach for both area-based work within your own district and at the citywide level.
• You will oversee the development of the area and ensure that it is incorporated into the municipality’s policy and planning and control cycle.
• You will ensure that the regional agenda is addressed decisively by bringing opportunities and challenges to the attention of senior officials and administrative leaders.
• You will develop, maintain, and strengthen relevant networks in your area and increase participation by organizing events in your area.

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!
We strive for inclusive leadership and a management team that leads by example and fosters a safe, ethical, and inclusive work culture.

Southeast District

Residents of Zuidoost are proud to live here, and life here is often much more pleasant now than it was twenty years ago. The district’s green character has been enhanced. Many schools have been renovated, and there are plenty of pleasant places to spend time in Zuidoost. At the same time, the district has retained the social cohesion that is so characteristic of Zuidoost.

The district is set to grow rapidly in the coming years. It will gain 100,000 new residents, and approximately 40,000 new homes will be built by 2040. In addition, new amenities such as schools, shops, restaurants, sports fields, and parks will be added. Although much has already improved in Zuidoost, a number of issues remain unresolved. These issues stem from social or economic factors. As a result, there are still people in Zuidoost who face disadvantages. In some neighborhoods, there are insufficient opportunities for young people, and safety is a concern.

An alliance comprising the municipality, housing authorities, schools, the police, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the national government, and other partners—but above all young people, residents, and business owners in Zuidoost—is working together to address these issues. They are doing so in accordance with the “Zuidoost Master Plan.” Because real change takes time, this plan is designed to span 20 years. We are working toward a safe, dynamic, diverse, strong, and self-assured Zuidoost where it is pleasant to live and work. We are doing this based on the following priorities: facilitating and supporting community ownership, community-based work, co-creation, and interdisciplinary implementation.

By 2040, we aim to work together to bring opportunities for young people, quality of life, and safety up to at least the Amsterdam average. In addition to its executive role, the district organization plays a coordinating role alongside the Master Plan’s program office.

What you bring

We strive for inclusive leadership and a management team that leads by example and fosters a safe, ethical, and inclusive work culture.

For the position of Area Manager, you must have:

• experience in a senior leadership or program management role involving a similar set of challenges: where you act strategically with and among various stakeholders;
• knowledge and experience in collaborating within network structures, network communication, and working in a political and administrative context;
• demonstrable experience with integrated, area-based approaches, preferably in neighborhoods and communities characterized by significant ethnic diversity and major physical and social challenges and opportunities;
• Experience with change initiatives in which you, as a line manager, have successfully implemented innovations.

You should have the following skills:

• Inclusive Thinking and Action: As a manager in an inclusive organization, you think and act inclusively. You value a work environment that includes people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds. You create a socially safe environment while caring for employees and ensuring equality in the workplace. You are approachable, reliable, and predictable; you inspire trust and encourage personal responsibility. You recognize employees’ talents, know how to tap into them, and put them to use.
• Providing direction: You have strong analytical skills and are adept at problem-solving. You are dedicated to the task at hand, decisive, and able to take decisive action. You have a keen focus on achieving administrative goals and are committed to taking concrete steps toward that end.
• Collaboration: You are collaboration-oriented, focusing on shared interests, common ground, and cohesion as you work on challenges and look beyond boundaries. You do this by coordinating with your fellow Executive Management Team members, area managers, and partners. You build networks within and outside the organization and encourage others to do the same. You are proactive and a trustworthy discussion partner for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Fostering innovation: You can quickly adapt to a changing environment and evolving circumstances. You initiate, organize, and foster innovation. You can think outside the box, approach challenges from new perspectives, and venture off the beaten path.

What we offer you

As an Area Manager, you will join our team for 36 hours a week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary between €5,671 and €7,977 (pay grade 15) based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience.
• A temporary position for a period of 1 year, with the possibility of a 1-year extension.
• 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.
• Work in a diverse and dynamic city with a great workplace at our Anton de Komplein location.
• In this role, you can work partly from home and partly in the office. We provide the necessary equipment to help you set up a safe and healthy workspace at home.

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

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application by December 12, 2022, using the “Apply Now” button.
• We would like to receive your cover letter, in which you explain, in no more than one A4 page, why your experience and skills are a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
• 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, where candidates are equally qualified, preference is given to candidates with a non-Western immigrant background.
• If your resume meets the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview. The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of a review of applications and two interviews (with the selection committee on December 19 or 20 and with the advisory committee on December 22).
• A development assessment may be part of the process.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.

We do not appreciate unsolicited solicitation from recruitment agencies, and such actions may result in exclusion from our other recruitment initiatives. We also consider the unsolicited submission of resumes by agencies to our employees to be solicitation. We will not review these resumes.

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