Operations Manager

The VRZ stands out due to its geographic spread and the unique combination of waterways, industry, nuclear facilities, and cross-border challenges with Belgium, complemented by a thriving, high-volume tourism sector. The VRZ is an organization that not only stands ready to provide assistance during incidents and crises but also functions as a “normal” business. Its unique location as a delta region presents specific challenges in the areas of water safety and disaster response, requiring close collaboration with local governments and emergency services. “Strong together for a safe Zeeland”—that is the VRZ’s powerful mission.

We are looking for a new operations manager

For the dynamic world of the VRZ, we are seeking an Operations Manager who will use their passion and expertise to further develop our internal organization. This role requires a unique combination of leadership, strategic insight, and the ability to drive change. As Operations Manager, you will be the driving force behind the optimization of our business processes, maintaining a healthy balance between various roles. We value your ability to form your own opinions and to communicate them forcefully, while keeping the common goal in mind. We expect you to adopt a collaborative yet professional attitude both within the management team and in your interactions with team leaders, always prioritizing the organization’s interests.

In this role, you are not only a strategic advisor but also an inspiring leader who shapes the organizational culture and structure. Your role involves advising management—and, indirectly, the board—on complex organizational issues, while demonstrating sensitivity to the diverse interests within and outside the organization. As a natural connector, you ensure the seamless integration of business operations with core processes, while fostering collaboration between different departments. Your leadership is focused on building support and promoting a transparent, ethical work environment.

As Operations Manager, you play a crucial role in guiding change processes within the organization. Experience in leading change management initiatives is essential. You are responsible for strengthening collaboration, both within the organization and with external partners, and contribute to the transformation into an agile, learning organization. Your approach is focused on achieving long-term goals, with an emphasis on computerization and digitization. In this role, you are an essential link in the further professionalization of VRZ, striking a balance between innovation, efficiency, and the human touch.

In this role, you will contribute to the management team, which consists of the VRZ Director, the Fire Service Manager, the Risk and Crisis Management Manager, and the Operations Manager. The Operations department comprises four teams: I&A, Facilities, Finance, and HRM. The Operations teams have a total staff of approximately 40 people.

Profile

We are looking for someone with exceptional organizational insight and collaboration skills. This role requires someone who not only understands current business operations but also proactively anticipates future challenges. You are administratively astute and a reliable sparring partner for management, with a strong focus on forging effective internal partnerships. Your ability to recognize developments and respond to them, while building support for organizational development, is essential. You are skilled at handling resistance and can effectively steer change processes. Your results-oriented approach enables you to translate our organization’s strategic vision into concrete objectives and achieve them, while steering the organization and its environment in the right direction.

Empathy is a core quality for this role. Your ability to put yourself in others’ shoes—with a special focus on our 230 employees and 1,150 volunteers—contributes to a positive and productive work environment. Integrity is central to your actions; you are meticulous and steadfast, always reflecting on your core responsibilities and acting in line with our organization’s core values. You also possess excellent communication skills; you are able to convey ideas and information clearly, both verbally and in writing, and adapt your communication style to the situation. You are the central figure in steering and shaping our operations, taking them to the next level.

In short, we are looking for an operations manager who can take our operations to the next level in an inspiring way.

Terms of Employment

Depending on your education and experience, VRZ offers a gross monthly salary of up to €7,774 based on a 36-hour workweek (job grade 14, effective January 2, 2023). In addition, you will receive a flexible spending account (18.63% of your salary). Other terms and conditions are available upon request.

Contact and Information Procedure

The VRZ is being assisted in this process by the executive search firm Colourful People. Interested? Please respond by contacting René F. Burgler, Esq., senior partner at Colourful People, via r.burgler@colourfulpeople.nl or at 06 28 57 54 36, or by uploading your resume (in PDF format) via www.colourfulpeople.nl, and we will contact you.

The VRZ strives to reflect society and believes in the power of diversity. We are therefore curious to learn more about who you are and what drives you. You can find more information about the organization at:www.veiligheidsregiozeeland.nl,Long-Term Policy Plan 2022–2025,Regional Crisis Plan 2022–2025, andAbout the Organization