Manager

As manager of the Animal Intervention Bureau (IBD) team, you will be working within the Trade Inspection Directorate, in the Supervision Development & Innovation (T&I) department. The team consists of about twenty colleagues divided into three clusters (Red Meat, Poultry, and Live Animals). Together with your team, you will ensure that the process surrounding reports of findings, prepared by inspectors or supervising veterinarians in the operational departments, runs efficiently and is continuously improved, so that the imposition of fines by the Legal Affairs Department can be carried out effectively. The coordinating role regarding the implementation of the intervention policy is also assigned here. As a result, the Animal Intervention Office team plays a central role within the Trade Inspection and Slaughter Inspection Directorates in the area of legal matters. 

What will you be doing?

As manager of the Animal Intervention Bureau team, you possess a legal compass and the vision to implement innovations and engage team members and others in the process. The objectives for the legal process surrounding the reports of findings within the two departments are to improve quality, shorten turnaround times, and promote “first time right.” You encourage your team to further develop and implement ideas that have been initiated. In doing so, you seek to connect with relevant departments (the operational departments, the legal department, and other teams within the Supervision Development and Innovation departments). You bring parties together and are a driving force behind collaborative initiatives. 

You will also foster the development of knowledge and expertise within your team. You will be responsible for the HR management of approximately 20 employees. In doing so, you will pay close attention to each individual employee and encourage them to develop their skills.

Finally, as a member of the T&I Department Management Team, you will share responsibility for developing the department in line with the management’s change mandate. This initiative focuses on further professionalization, with an emphasis on prioritizing strategic objectives (both substantive and organizational), greater uniformity in working methods, and the timeliness and quality of various outputs, such as reports, policy recommendations, and project results. In this role, you will act in various capacities as a client, project leader, project supervisor, and coach. In your work, you will embody the core values of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority: transparent, reliable, independent, and professional.

Has reading this job posting made you so enthusiastic that you’d like to apply? We’d love to receive your resume and cover letter, and we ask that you also answer the following questions in your cover letter: 

1. What appeals to you about this management position?

2. Describe a recent success in which you were able to bring about change as part of a group.

3. Describe a situation in which you actively used your network to achieve your goal. 

4. Describe a recent example in which you used stakeholder management. 

Here's what you get

• scale 12
• €4,691 - €6,907 (gross)
• Fixed-term employment contract with the possibility of conversion to a permanent contract
• 1 year
• 32–36 hours

Here's what else we offer

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 will receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB) equal to 16.50% of your gross annual salary. You can choose to 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 a week, you are entitled to 144 vacation hours and 64 IKB leave hours per year. Do you work more or fewer hours? In that case, these hours are calculated proportionally. And if you don’t need as much vacation time? Then you can also choose to have your 64 IKB leave hours paid out or added to your IKB saved leave.

Travel Expense Reimbursement

You will receive a commuter pass 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 hold a field-based position, you are often eligible for an electric company car. You may also use this vehicle for personal purposes, subject to the additional tax liabilityand a personal contribution.

Leave Policies

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

Pension

The Dutch government offers an attractive pension plan through 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, these requirements are offset by additional allowances or compensation. For example, we offer an on-call and standby duty allowance and an irregular shift allowance.

Here is what we are asking for

What are we asking for?

You are energetic and innovative, and you contribute to an effective, results-oriented work culture. You identify opportunities and risks for your team and the organization and respond to them. You lead according to the NVWA principles: providing direction, maintaining calm, and paying attention. You work proactively and take responsibility for making decisions and implementing improvements. In doing so, you involve others and focus on collaboration. You are a team leader who stands up for the team; you are a good listener and easily grasp processes. An open culture and a positive atmosphere are important to you, and you actively promote them. 

Job Requirements:

• Academic level of work and thinking (university level); this is demonstrated, for example, by a completed degree program or assessment. 
• Proven leadership experience in coaching professionals.
• Knowledge and experience in oversight and enforcement processes.
• Legal experience is not required, but it is a plus.
• An understanding of the political and social dynamics surrounding veterinary oversight and animal welfare.

Skills:

1. Organizational sensitivity

2. Networking skills

3. Employee Development

4. Decisive and able to handle stress

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.

This is where you'll be working

More about Trade Supervision

The Supervision, Development, and Innovation Division consists of four teams: the Livestock Team, the Import Team, the Export Team, and the Animal Invention Bureau Team. In addition, the division has an innovation cluster. 

Within the T&I department, three teams are responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating oversight and its development for various target groups. They work on a project basis in accordance with the enforcement management cycle (plan-do-check-act). The Animal Intervention Bureau team also has its own supervision tasks and plays an active role in the process surrounding reports of findings. In this way, the department ensures innovative and modern supervision and provides information products that offer insight into the compliance of businesses under our supervision.

This requires employees who are committed to continuous professional development, possess analytical and reflective skills, and can be deployed flexibly wherever their expertise is needed. In this way, the department ensures the quality and consistency of oversight and contributes to knowledge management and advisory services both within and outside the NVWA.

The team at the Animal Intervention Bureau consists of a diverse group of people who support, challenge, and complement one another. As a team leader, your challenge is to use your knowledge, experience, and dedication to bring out the best in your colleagues.

About the 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 are safe. We expect animals to be treated well, even if they are destined for slaughter. We want to be able to consume fruits and vegetables without a second thought, and other products are “naturally” fine too. 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; for 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 business owners 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 staff 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. We do so 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 adhere strictly to the rules. 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 in 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 that every employee—regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, or disability—wants to work for. Addressing social issues in diverse teams makes us more effective and innovative. That makes the work meaningful 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.

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.
• We will review your application and respond no later than 10 business daysafter the application deadline.
• Are you applying for this position as a priority candidate through VWNW or due to a disability? (Priority Candidate) In that case, in addition to your resume and cover letter, you will also need a referral letter and a nomination letter. The nomination letter is prepared by the VWNW manager. You can add the additional documents, such as the designation letter and nomination letter, by first submitting your application (without the designation letter and nomination letter), and then clicking on the link in the confirmation email. After logging in, you can then add the designation letter and the nomination letter under “Additional documents.”

About the Manager 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