Head of the Integrity Office

The position

Within the City of Amsterdam, the Integrity Bureau serves as the center of expertise in the field of integrity. As head of the Integrity Bureau, you will, in collaboration with the team manager of the Reporting and Investigation Unit, directly supervise 25 professionals and actively support them in all situations where this is required. You promote the integrity of the organization and its employees. You do this by (together with the employees who work for the Integrity Bureau from various areas of expertise) developing and implementing training sessions, programs, and strategies to promote integrity and prevent integrity violations. In doing so, the bureau supports the organization and its employees in dealing with ethical dilemmas and maintaining professional integrity.

In addition, you will be responsible for following up on and resolving reports of and investigations into suspected integrity violations, including both social (unwanted behavior) and business integrity issues. In doing so, you will take a fresh look at the cases handled by the Integrity Office and its working methods, while constantly identifying areas where changes are needed.

You will be responsible for ensuring that the Integrity Office actively provides information to the organization, management, and employees regarding integrity policies and the handling of specific cases.

You have a network that encompasses a range of expertise in the areas of integrity and relevant social developments.

As Head of the Integrity Office, you will support the organization in acting with integrity, developing integrity, and maintaining integrity; in doing so, you will serve as its moral compass and inspire the organization to continuously improve. You will identify existing patterns within the organization and proactively advise on how to break them.

You respond flexibly to current situations, such as providing advice on policies and processes in response to the findings of investigations into discrimination or media reports concerning the integrity of the organization and its employees. With regard to published reports (including the recent Verweij-Jonker report) on discrimination and inappropriate behavior, you make a visible contribution to the necessary cultural shift.

Here's what you do on an average day

• You will guide the agency’s team in achieving objectives and delivering results, and you will advise and report on these matters to the mayor and aldermen, the municipal secretary, the organization, and the public.
• You will help raise awareness of integrity throughout the organization by adapting and successfully implementing (preventive) policies and frameworks where necessary.
• You are up to date on current events and social trends in the field of integrity and have a clear vision of how to implement these developments within the organization.
• You assist managers with integrity dilemmas or reports from and about employees.
• You will be involved in internal and external communications regarding integrity issues.
• You will advise (senior) management on policies, structures, and plans to collectively build an organization characterized by integrity, a culture of continuous learning, and a safe and inclusive work environment.
• You will work with the relevant organizational units to improve staff care and enhance social safety.
• You will work with various stakeholders to prevent breaches of business integrity, such as fraud and other integrity violations, and advise organizational units on potential improvements to risk management.
• You are responsible for handling reports with care and conducting integrity investigations.
• You will provide support to the council clerk and/or the chair of the executive committee in cases involving integrity dilemmas faced by politicians within the City of Amsterdam.

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 working population. So, whoever you are: you’re more than welcome here!

The Integrity Office is part of the Administration and Organization (A&O) cluster and reports directly to the municipal secretary. Units within A&O are involved in advising the Municipal Executive, the Municipal Management Team (MMT), and (cluster) departments. In addition to the Integrity Office, B&O consists of the Public Order and Safety (OOV), Resources and Control (DMC), Legal Affairs (DJZ), Administrative and Management Advisory (BMA), and Inclusion and Diversity Office departments.

The Integrity Office consists of 25 staff members, including experts in internal investigations, risk analysis, screening, training and consulting, and the reporting hotline. The central confidential advisors are also part of the office.

What you bring

We are looking for an experienced professional with a solid background in integrity management and conducting and overseeing investigations. As Head of the Integrity Office, you will play a key role in promoting a culture of integrity, inclusivity, and social safety within the City of Amsterdam and in ensuring ethical conduct at all levels of the organization. For this position, it is important that you challenge the status quo, recognize discomfort, and engage in conversations about these issues. You are a self-assured, inclusive leader who understands that your own blind spots, privileges, and biases are a given. Reflecting on your own actions is essential in this regard.

As Head of the Integrity Office, you will have:

• An academic level of work and thinking.
• Knowledge of and at least 3 years of experience providing consulting services in a political/administrative setting.
• Demonstrable knowledge and at least 5 years of experience conducting research.
• At least 5 years of experience managing professionals (including supervisory roles) in a large government organization.
• Proven experience in process and program management in the field of integrity.
• Preferably, knowledge of or experience with change processes aimed at fostering an organization and culture characterized by integrity.
• Sensitivity to social trends related to inappropriate behavior.

You should have the following skills:

• Thinking and acting inclusively: As a leader in an inclusive organization, you think and act inclusively. By being culturally and religiously sensitive, you value a diverse work environment. You create a socially safe environment while caring for employees and ensuring equality in the workplace. You are open, empathetic, and approachable, firm on substance and gentle in your relationships. You are a good listener, reliable, and predictable, and you inspire trust by embracing vulnerability in yourself and others. You recognize employees’ talents and prioritize talent development.
• Providing direction: You have the ability to provide direction by setting a clear course and focusing on creating value and achieving results. You initiate and support citywide initiatives and educational activities aimed at raising awareness, preventing, and addressing unethical behavior. In doing so, you take responsibility for achieving results.
• Subject-matter expertise: You have knowledge of relevant laws and regulations, research, and recent developments regarding integrity, particularly within the public sector. The field of integrity has undergone significant development in recent years, becoming increasingly complex. Public discourse is characterized by debates about what is and is not permissible, with standards constantly shifting.
• Collaboration: Effective collaboration is essential for promoting integrity within the City of Amsterdam. You will seek to collaborate with various stakeholders, both within and outside the organization. You will do this by fostering an open culture of communication and leveraging the expertise of various team members and/or stakeholders.
• Fostering innovation: You can quickly adapt to a changing environment and evolving circumstances. You initiate, organize, and foster innovation. You are able to think outside the box and approach challenges from new perspectives.

What we offer you

• The position is classified in pay grade 15. This corresponds to a gross monthly salary of up to €8,779 based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience.
• 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 €3 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.

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

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application by December 30.
• The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and takes about 3 weeks.
• The selection process will consist of two interviews with members of the selection and advisory committee.
• The first round of talks is expected to take place in mid-November. The goal is to conclude the process in November.
• 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.
• This position is currently open to both internal and external candidates.
• The municipality follows the NVP recruitment code.
• A development assessment may be part of the hiring process.
• In addition to your resume, we would like to receive a cover letter in which you explain, in no more than one A4 page, why your knowledge, work experience, and skills are a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
• Requesting references is part of the process.
• Every new colleague who joins our team must submit a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG).

The procedure

The City of Amsterdam is being assisted in this recruitment process by the executive search firm Colourful People. For more information, please contact Henna Seedorf, Partner, at 06-24274368. You can apply by submitting your cover letter and resume by December 30 send via the application form on the Colourful People website.