IV Innovation Coordinator

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is committed to the safety of food and consumer products, animal welfare, and the environment. To continue performing these tasks effectively in the long term, we can no longer rely solely on traditional methods of oversight. That is why the NVWA is working to establish a strong information foundation, supported by a reliable information system aligned with the NVWA’s objectives, and we are constantly seeking new, innovative methods of oversight. These innovative ideas can come from anywhere within the organization and are often tested within the Innovation Lab or at the Risk Assessment and Research Department. As the Innovation Coordinator, you play a key role in advising on, selecting, and, where appropriate, implementing innovative solutions that advance our organization.

What will you be doing?

The primary goal of innovation is to deliver business value. This is why you play a key role in the innovation process: to ensure adequate business input and engagement from the very earliest stages of conducting experiments. This is a key prerequisite for ensuring that successful experiments can actually be evaluated and implemented, so that the added value can truly be realized. Since virtually all innovations have an IT component, it is important that we anticipate and contribute to this as much as possible from an IT perspective. You do this, among other things, by fulfilling the CIO’s system responsibility to design and implement the innovation process within an NVWA-wide context. In this regard, it is important that the innovation process aligns seamlessly with regular IT development. Additionally, within the Internal Organization Department (and perhaps beyond), you will act as a driving force for innovation based on your personal interest.

In this role, you will naturally work closely with the Innovation Lab, the Risk Assessment and Research Office, business stakeholders, and, of course, your immediate colleagues within the CIO Office and Information Management departments. Given your focus on innovation, you play a key role in signaling the direction for the further development of the NVWA’s IT target architecture. When necessary, you provide advice and conduct reviews of plans, project documentation, and impact analyses, applying innovative methods, approaches, insights, work processes, and products. You stay abreast of developments in the field and the broader environment and incorporate these into your recommendations.

In short, you will be involved in the entire process of innovation and renewal from both an organizational and a technical perspective. You will do this within the NVWA’s CIO office, with a high degree of autonomy and direct lines of communication to the key stakeholders in the field of IT.

Job Requirements

We would like to see the following:

• You hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related field.
  
• You have at least 5 years of experience as an IT consultant/architect, preferably in an innovative environment or department.
  
• You have proven and extensive experience with modern IT architectures, methods, and techniques
  
• You are able to make independent judgments and articulate your ideas clearly.

You work independently in an environment focused on innovation and continuous improvement. You possess excellent communication and collaboration skills and can easily navigate interactions between technical specialists and senior management. You maintain a strategic perspective while also adopting a hands-on approach. You communicate persuasively and have a keen sense of political dynamics within a complex, administrative environment. You are organizationally sensitive and aware of your surroundings. You recognize resistance within the organization and handle it in a flexible and creative manner. You have a proactive attitude, are eager to learn and curious, and enjoy continuous self-development.
The NVWA is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of society and places great importance on an inclusive hiring policy. We therefore encourage everyone to apply, regardless of cultural background, age, gender identity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

Terms of Employment

• Salary level 13
• Monthly salary: Min. €5,212 – Max. €7,747 (gross)
• Employment Status: Fixed-term employment contract with the possibility of conversion to a permanent contract
• Contract term: 1 year
• Minimum number of hours per week: 32
• Maximum number of hours per week: 36

Other terms and conditions of employment

In addition to an onboarding program tailored to your role and extensive training and/or coaching opportunities to support your professional growth, we also offer the following employee benefits:

Individual Choice Budget You receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB) equal to 16.50% of your gross annual salary. You can have your ICB paid out, for example, on a monthly or annual basis, or you can use it to purchase additional leave hours. In addition, you can use your IKB to purchase a (electric) bicycle for commuting tax-free, set up your home office,pay off your student loan with tax benefits up to a maximum of €2,000 per year,or even make your home more sustainable. To encourage this, the national government offers an employer contribution on top of the IKB.

Vacation Days If you work 36 hours per week, you are entitled to 144 vacation hours and 64 IKB leave hours per year. Do you work more or less? Then these hours are calculated proportionally. And do you need a little less vacation time? Then you can also choose to have your 64 IKB leave hours paid out or added to your IKB saved leave

Travel Allowance
You will receive a mobility card that allows you to travel by train in second class for your commute. Do you bike to work? If so, you will receive a travel allowance of €0.21 per kilometer cycled.
If you have a field-based position, you are often also eligible for an electric company car. You may also use this for personal purposes, subject toadditionaltax liabilityand a personal contribution.

Leave Policies
The government offers leave policies for various situations, such as (additional) maternity leave (up to 5 weeks with 100% pay), parental leave (up to 9 weeks at 100% pay in the first year and an additional 75% for 4 weeks), care leave, and adoption/foster care leave.

Pension The Dutch government has an attractive pension plan with ABP, the General Civil Service Pension Fund. Read more about the ABP pension plan here.

Additional allowances and reimbursements
For some positions at the NVWA, it is necessary to work outside regular office hours or to be on call. However, this is compensated by additional allowances or reimbursements. For example, we offer an on-call and standby duty allowance and an irregular shift allowance.

Details

• Applications will be considered in accordance with applicable agreements, including the Central Government Collective Labor Agreement and the NVP Application Code.
• A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) is required to work at the NVWA.
• If the position involves a fixed-term employment contract with the prospect of becoming permanent, the permanent contract is initially preceded by a one-year contract. Provided the employee proves to be suitable, the contract is generally converted into a permanent contract of indefinite duration after one year.
• Is this a job opening for a fixed-term contract with the possibility of becoming permanent, but do you already have a permanent position as a civil servant? If so, you will retain your permanent position.
• If the position is initially a fixed-term role, it will not be reopened if the role can be made permanent within the organization and the (initially) temporary position was filled by an internal employee with a permanent contract.
• Online screening—for example, through search engines or social media—can be part of the selection process.
• A competency test and/or an assessment may be part of the selection process.
• A comprehensive A or B screening by the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) may be required for certain positions at the NVWA, including those in the Intelligence and Investigation Service (IOD).
• Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening. 

More about the Senior Operations Advisor job category

The Central Government Performance Framework helps employees and managers establish performance and development goals during performance reviews and provides insight into career opportunities within the federal government.

For more information, visit the Central Government Job Classification System 

More about your future department

Within the NVWA, the CIO Office is responsible for developing the IT strategy and, based on that strategy, establishes IT frameworks and applies them to new IT initiatives and change processes. Key areas of focus include: Enterprise Architecture, Portfolio Management, Information Architecture, Data Architecture, Strategic Supplier Management, and Sourcing.

The CIO Office is also the driving force behind the further development and structuring of the NVWA’s IT organization. The CIO Office is part of the Internal Organization Directorate (DIO). The Director of DIO also serves as CIO and is a member of the Executive Board. The CIO Office currently consists of 9 internal staff members. They collaborate closely within the department, but especially with stakeholders throughout the entire IT chain.

Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)

In the Netherlands, we take it for granted that the products we use and everything we eat is safe. That animals are treated well, even if they are destined for slaughter. We want to be able to consume fruits and vegetables without a second thought, and we assume other products are “naturally” safe as well. We want to be able to walk in nature without worry and buy toys for our children without suspicion. As consumers, we simply rely on that; to us, it goes without saying.

But we sometimes forget that companies work hard every day to maintain those high standards. That it isn’t always easy for businesses to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. We also forget that the government oversees this. Safety sounds so simple, but it isn’t.

What does the NVWA do?
The employees of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) work hard every day to maintain that standard. Through dialogue with businesses in the hospitality sector, slaughterhouses, plant cultivation, and other producers, the NVWA monitors food and product safety, plant health, and the welfare of animals, nature, and the environment. All in accordance with national and international laws and regulations. We operate on a basis of trust, but we take firm action against businesses that do not take these matters seriously. In the interest of society.

We closely monitor where the greatest risks lie and where oversight is most urgently needed, so that we can inform consumers and others in a timely manner. The NVWA also plays a key role in export inspections and the import of products into Europe.

What does the NVWA stand for?
The NVWA is responsible for overseeing animal welfare, animal health, food safety, product safety, tobacco and alcohol prevention, plant health, and nature and the environment.

The Dutch government strives to be an employer where every employee, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, or disability, wants to work. Addressing societal issues in diverse teams makes us more effective and innovative. That makes the work valuable and challenging.

The NVWA is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature (LVVN) and the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport.

Interested in applying?

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) invites you to apply on their website. Clicking the button below will take you away from this site and directly to the application form. The government values a diverse and inclusive organization. Working in diverse teams makes us more effective, more innovative, and makes the work more enjoyable. Everyone is therefore invited to apply.