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Restoring public trust in the government—as a pioneer and advocate, you play an active role in this!

Facilitator and Advocate for Taxpayers and Benefit Recipients

The government is committed to restoring public trust in the government. This will only be possible if the government is trustworthy, has confidence in its citizens, and takes a human-centered approach. One of the measures intended to help restore trust and improve the relationship between citizens and the government is the establishment of accessible, independent legal assistance in tax matters.

Citizens can already turn to various organizations for legal assistance, such as social advocates, labor unions, tax advisors, and the Legal Help Desk. In addition to these initiatives and existing services, the government wants to establish an Advocate for taxpayers and benefit recipients (hereinafter: Advocate) to assist when cases have reached an impasse.

As a first step, we are now looking for a project manager to create a design for the office of the independent Advocate. Are you the project manager we’re looking for?

What will you be doing as a project manager?

As a project lead, you will be responsible for further defining the duties and responsibilities of the Advocate. In doing so, the perspectives of citizens and businesses (including self-employed individuals and small and medium-sized enterprises) will guide your work. You will hold an independent position and report (directly) to the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Finance. You will work in a project office, yet to be established, consisting of approximately 5 FTE.

You will examine what should be included in the Advocate’s scope of duties and responsibilities, and how this relates to the tasks already being performed by other parties. You will also examine where the Advocate can best be positioned: close to the primary processes of the Tax and Customs Administration and Benefits, or further removed from them? And how will citizens and social and professional service providers come into contact with the Advocate? Issues such as formal relationships with other parties and access to data also require answers.

You should use the answers to the above questions to develop a detailed proposal that can serve as the basis for a decision regarding the final design and positioning of the Advocate.

Your next assignment as a project initiator will depend on the chosen design. In any case, your responsibilities will include the following tasks:

Designing the organizational structure and integrating the Advocate.
Preparations for the (legal) establishment and organization of the Advocacy Group.
Preparing an organizational and staffing report.
Preparations for the appointment of the Advocate.
The Advocate's financial justification.
Drafting job descriptions and recruiting and selecting the necessary staff to get the Advocacy Officer program up and running.

Throughout your assignment, you will work closely with a steering committee that includes representatives from the Tax and Customs Administration, the Benefits Service, and civil society organizations. You will also keep the House of Representatives informed of the process of drafting the proposal by sending regular progress reports. The goal of your assignment is to ensure that the Advocate officially launches by the end of 2024 at the latest. This will mark the end of your role as a facilitator.

A detailed job description is available for this position. You can find it viathis link.

What skills do you bring to the table to make this project a success?

You have knowledge of and experience with organizational consulting and structural issues.
You have an affinity with the Advocate’s target audience, which consists primarily of citizens, self-employed individuals, and small and medium-sized businesses that are struggling with the complexity or overlap of regulations or are facing disruptive financial consequences related to taxes and benefits.
You have knowledge and insight into the processes and organizational structure of an implementing organization.
You are able to work independently in a complex, political environment. The interests of the public serve as your guiding principle.
You are able to act with transparency and determination, exuding confidence and demonstrating strategic insight.
You are able to achieve concrete results by collaborating with stakeholders.
You have experience managing a team.

Ministry of Finance
Working together for a financially sound Netherlands

The work of the Ministry of Finance is about more than just numbers and money. It’s about people like you and me—people with expectations, concerns, questions, dreams, and plans. For example, we all count on funding for quality healthcare and education. We count on clarity regarding tax rates and on reliable banks and insurers, both in the Netherlands and abroad. And we all count on clarity regarding export regulations and what we are and aren’t allowed to bring back from our vacation destinations.

The Ministry of Finance listens to what is happening in today’s society and pays close attention to how the Dutch people envision their future. Armed with that knowledge and those insights, we work with other ministries and within our international network to forge the right connections and move the Netherlands forward. We ensure that the Netherlands and our economy are ready for the ever-faster-changing world of tomorrow. On all fronts. That doesn’t happen on its own. And, of course, it also requires funding. Citizens and businesses raise that money through taxes, and the government allocates it to matters we as a society consider important. This requires making choices and taking action when necessary. To keep our country financially healthy, our economy must remain in balance while also having room to grow.

Together, we’re ensuring that there are opportunities for prosperity and growth for everyone in the Netherlands—today, tomorrow, and beyond. Together, we’re working toward a financially sound Netherlands.

Our core values—integrity, expertise, clarity, boldness, and collaboration—guide our behavior and provide us with a common language that allows us to openly discuss what we do and how we do it.

Learn more about the Ministry of Finance:www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/ministerie-van-financien/organisatie

Accessible Independent Tax Legal Assistance

Citizens can currently turn to various organizations for legal assistance, such as social advocates, labor unions, tax advisors, and the Legal Help Desk. However, this assistance is not sufficient or affordable for everyone. The assistance available also varies by region. In addition, the Tax and Customs Administration and the Benefits Service, for example at their service counters, also offer assistance to prevent citizens and businesses from getting stuck with their cases. Nevertheless, it can happen that someone gets stuck. For example, if something went wrong during the process, or if help is needed quickly due to a situation with major (financial) consequences.

In addition to these initiatives and existing services, an Advocate for taxpayers and benefit recipients (hereinafter: Advocate) will be established to intervene when cases have reached an impasse. As a first step, a preparatory officer will be recruited to develop a plan for the establishment of the independent Advocate. The facilitator will preferably begin work in early September. The goal is to appoint the final Advocate in 2024.

Project Office: Kwartiermaker

You will be working in a project office that is yet to be established, consisting of approximately 5 full-time equivalents. The recruitment of (some of) the project staff will take place simultaneously with the recruitment of the project coordinator. The goal is to ensure that the project team possesses the following expertise: knowledge of the target group, the interplay between various schemes, and the operations of the Tax and Customs Administration and the Benefits Service. The project office must maintain good relations with civil society organizations that provide legal assistance in the areas of taxes and benefits, the Tax and Customs Administration, the Benefits Service, and local governments.

Details

We want everyone to feel at home at the Ministry of Finance and to be able to reach their full potential. Because working together to ensure a financially healthy Netherlands is what we stand for. We do this by drawing on diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and insights, because we believe this enhances our collective thinking. Everyone is welcome, regardless of cultural background, age, ability to work, gender, or sexual orientation. With your unique contribution, we can better respond to the needs of our society.

Would you like to help ensure the Netherlands remains financially sound? We’d love to have you on board. You can apply by sending us your resume and cover letter. However, we’re also open to other formats, such as a video application (with your resume attached) or a presentation (in PowerPoint). In the latter case, please paste the link to your application into a PDF or Word file. This will allow us to process your application properly.
You can apply for this position through August 15.
The first round of job interviews is scheduled for the week of August 21, 2023.
This is a temporary position for a period of (for now) 12 months. We would love to hear from you if you are currently performing at level S16-S17 (FGR).
Depending on your qualifications and experience, this position may also be filled on a part-time basis. Secondment or temporary hiring is also an option.
Ideally, you will be available on short notice (September/October).
Do you have any questions about the job opening or the selection process? Please feel free to contact us. We’d be happy to assist you as you consider your options.

Note: The cabinet’s caretaker status may affect the assignment.

Other terms and conditions of employment

In addition to your salary, you will receive a flexible benefits package (IKB). The IKB consists of monetary benefits (16.37% of your gross annual salary) and time off. With the IKB, you can make choices that suit you and customize part of your employment benefits. For example, you can choose to have a portion of your monthly income paid out whenever you wish. You can also convert this budget into leave and vice versa, or spend it on tax-friendly purposes. The Dutch government is strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offers numerous opportunities for this. The fringe benefits include various study facilities, company fitness programs, full reimbursement of your public transportation costs for commuting, and partially paid parental leave.

More information about the job opening

For more information about this job opening, please contact Tobias Zwijnenburg, Project Manager for Accessible Independent Tax Legal Aid, at 06 5018 0246 ort.j.zwijnenburg@minfin.nl.