Administrative Law and Housing and Urban Development Lawyer

As a Legal Counsel specializing in Administrative Law and the Woo, you will play a key role in providing legal support to the organization. You will contribute to the development and review of grant programs, policy documents, and internal procedures, ensuring that the Stimuleringsfonds can operate in a transparent, efficient, and legally sound manner. In addition, you will handle Woo requests, advise on administrative law issues, and oversee objection and appeal procedures. You will work under the supervision of the Head of Operations and support the Director and colleagues with legal issues related to the implementation of our schemes and activities. Where necessary, you will collaborate with external attorneys.

The team currently consists of about 25 colleagues. This is a new position within our organization, in which you will directly contribute to the further professionalization of our legal processes and to clear and transparent decision-making.

We arecurrentlylooking for a new team member. The start date is negotiable.

Job Description

In this role, you will be responsible for the entire legal process surrounding administrative and subsidy law issues and Woo requests. You will play a central role in streamlining legal processes and enhancing the transparency of the Stimuleringsfonds. You will have a direct influence on how decisions are made and how the Stimuleringsfonds is accountable to the journalism sector and the general public.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Drafting and updating grant programs, procedures, and policies;
• Handling objection and appeal procedures;
• Providing legal advice to the Director, the Head of Operations, and colleagues;
• Identifying relevant developments in laws and regulations and applying them within the organization;
• Processing Woo requests, including drafting decisions;
• Collaborating with outside attorneys in legal proceedings.

Profile

For this position, we are looking for an analytical and meticulous lawyer with a good understanding of the administrative context in which the Stimuleringsfonds operates. You work independently, communicate clearly, and are able to explain complex legal issues in a way that is accessible to colleagues.

In addition, the job requirements are:

• A college or university level of work and thinking, with a relevant completed legal degree. A master’s degree in administrative law is preferred but not required;
• At least three years of relevant work experience, preferably in a public or semi-public sector;
• Experience with the Open Government Act (Woo) is a plus;
• Knowledge of or experience with subsidy law or state aid law is a plus;
• Strong analytical skills and a meticulous approach;
• Political and administrative sensitivity and a keen sense of how to balance competing interests;
• Excellent written and communication skills;
• Solution-oriented, independent, and meticulous.

We offer

The position of Administrative Law and Housing Law Attorney is for 28–32 hours per week on a one-year contract, with a one-month probationary period. The contract may be extended based on satisfactory performance.

Salary and employment conditions are in accordance with the CAO RIJK. The position is classified in pay scale 11. Depending on your education and experience, the salary ranges from a minimum of €4,024.11 to a maximum of €6,110.94 gross per month for full-time employment (36 hours). In addition to your salary, you will receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB). The ICB consists of money and time, allowing you to customize part of your employment conditions yourself.

We offer you a varied role with plenty of room for you to take the initiative. You’ll be working as part of a young and enthusiastic team. You’ll be based at our office in The Hague, but a hybrid work arrangement is also possible.

Apply

Does this profile sound like you? If so, please email your cover letter (in any format you choose) and resume to vacature@svdj.nl with the subject line “Legal Counsel Position.” We will keep this position open for up to 60 days, but may close it sooner once we’ve found the right candidate.

Do you have any questions about the position? Please contact Eva Landers (Head of Operations) at vacature@svdj.nl or 070-3617111.

About SVDJ

As the Journalism Stimulus Fund, we help strengthen the journalistic infrastructure in the Netherlands. We focus on organizational development, innovation, and deepening the capabilities of organizations. In addition, we are constantly seeking new areas in which to strengthen the journalistic infrastructure in a meaningful way. Our activities involve a combination of knowledge sharing, guidance, and grants.

This includes organizing knowledge-sharing events, establishing grant programs to support the development of investigative journalism or innovation, and conducting research or commissioning it. In addition, we share news about developments in the journalism sector via our website, svdj.nl.

In recent years, our organization has evolved from a more traditional grant provider into a strategic partner and a hub for knowledge sharing and innovation. As an independent administrative body (ZBO), the Stimuleringsfonds receives an annual contribution from the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, which funds all of its activities in accordance with the Media Act.