Head of Communications & Public Affairs

What will you be doing?

You will translate the VO-raad’s strategic principles and organizational objectives into a communication and lobbying strategy and oversee its implementation. In doing so, you will effectively link communication about policy and projects.

You closely monitor political and social developments in policy areas relevant to the VO-raad, identify opportunities and threats to the organization’s reputation in a timely manner, and tailor the media and lobbying strategy accordingly.

You will serve as the association’s spokesperson. You will do so in close coordination with a fellow spokesperson and the chair of the VO Council.

You will advise the Executive Committee and the Management Team, both upon request and on your own initiative, on the positioning and branding of the VO-raad within the secondary education sector, the government, the political arena, and society at large.

Together with your colleagues, you will work on developing and strengthening the association.

You will lead the Communications Department, which consists of 10 to 15 communications professionals, depending on the team’s composition. As a general manager, you will foster collaboration both within and outside your team and be responsible for the department’s personnel, organizational, financial, and communications processes.

You are a member of the VO-raad Management Team, and in this role you contribute to the overall functioning of the VO-raad.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a driven, proactive, and innovative communications professional who can keep a cool head and maintain a clear overview in complex situations.

You have knowledge of and insight into administrative, social, and political dynamics within the education sector and are able to think “from the outside in.”

You are skilled at maintaining contacts with the media and know how to effectively promote the VO-raad’s message, both reactively and proactively.

You closely follow developments in the field of communication and enjoy trying out and applying new communication techniques.

You know how to inspire school leaders and administrators—the VO-raad’s constituency—to participate in the association’s activities in a substantive and creative way.

You have extensive experience leading a team of professionals; you work with them based on trust and know how to take the communications team to the next level; you provide guidance and support for employee development in an inspiring way.

What do we offer?

We offer you a challenging, socially relevant position at the heart of the dynamic education sector. You will hold a leadership role in which you will be in constant contact within the organization with the executive board, the management team, and policy and program staff, and outside the organization with school leaders and administrators, journalists, and representatives of civil society organizations.

We are offering a full-time position (a 4-day workweek is negotiable). This is initially a one-year temporary appointment, with the possibility of a permanent contract. The salary is up to €7,936 gross per month based on a 40-hour workweek (maximum scale 14 of the Collective Labor Agreement for Secondary Education). Your starting salary will depend on your education, knowledge, and experience.

We offer excellent benefits, including a generous leave policy and an end-of-year bonus of 8.33%.

In addition, we offer:

• The freedom to grow and develop. You’ll have a lot of autonomy in shaping your role. Plus, you’ll learn from one another in an environment filled with passionate and knowledgeable colleagues, where the motto is #dare to ask, #dare to do, #dare to share.
• An annual training budget that you can use in consultation with your manager.
• For personal or professional development, we offer coaching at the expense of the VO-raad.
• Because we embrace diversity and variety within the industry and within our own organization, we offer a partially flexible holiday schedule.
• The benefits of hybrid work. We ask that you be in the office for at least half of your workweek.
• The opportunity to build a large external network through frequent contact with stakeholders in the sector, as well as with schools and their staff.
• A position in a dynamic sector. Almost everyone has an opinion about education, and it is also a top priority in The Hague.

This is us

The VO-raad is an association of secondary schools. With 98% of school boards as members, we are a key player in the sector. With approximately 100 employees, we represent the interests of secondary education in dealings with the government, politicians, the business community, and civil society organizations. In addition, the VO-raad promotes the quality of education by supporting school boards and school leaders in fulfilling their responsibilities.

Learn more and apply

If you are interested in this position, please email your cover letter and resume to vacature@vo-raad.nl by September 25 at the latest.

For more information about the position, please email or call: Ingrid Brummelman, Director of the VO-raad, email: ingridbrummelman@vo-raad.nl, phone: 06-52367468.

The first round of interviews will take place on October 1 and 3. The second round of interviews will take place on October 16 and 17. An introductory meeting with the executive board will take place on October 22.

We are looking to hire someone to start on January 1, 2025.

An assessment may be part of the process.