Public Affairs Manager

About the City of Amsterdam
Amsterdam is undergoing rapid development. There is still much to be done in the coming years. They could really use your ideas and expertise. The City of Amsterdam is a flexible employer that works for the city and its residents, businesses, and visitors—with pride, but above all with a warm heart.

The Public Affairs Manager Position As Public Affairs Manager for the City of Amsterdam, you will serve as the public face of the Public Affairs department and proactively build relationships with key stakeholders and networks, both within and outside the organization. Public Affairs represents the interests of the City of Amsterdam to ensure that policy initiatives at the regional, national, and international levels contribute to addressing major challenges facing Amsterdam, such as the energy transition, equal opportunity, and combating criminal subversion. In the role of Public Affairs Manager, you are responsible for the quality of strategic and administrative advice and serve as the primary point of contact on behalf of the Public Affairs department for the College of Mayors and Aldermen, the Municipal Management Team (GMT), and Directors.

You are actively involved in direct policy advocacy, represent the views of the City of Amsterdam, and work to secure EU grants. Your team does this in collaboration with the relevant departments within the city government and partners such as the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, the municipalities of Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague, and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities. You will travel abroad a few times a year, including to Brussels, but most of the international work is carried out by your team members.

As Public Affairs Manager, you will be responsible for leading and further developing the Public Affairs department. In this role, you will inspire, motivate, and coach your team. This toolkit will help you achieve organizational results while developing your talents and competencies. As a manager, you will be personally and professionally invested in every colleague on your team and will participate in various weekly team meetings.

The Public Affairs Department is currently in the process of reassessing its own working methods and collaboration with municipal departments. The goal of this reassessment is to achieve greater impact at the regional, national, and international levels. Effective collaboration with these departments is essential to this effort.

Your Public Affairs Team The Public Affairs department consists of two teams with a total of 18 independent professionals. The National/Regional Team focuses on regional and national political advocacy. The EU/International Team focuses on advocacy with the EU, international relations with other cities and networks, and securing EU grants for Amsterdam’s plans.
Both teams have their own focus and separate portfolios, in addition to working together and sharing knowledge. For example, both teams meet in person at City Hall every Monday to brainstorm and exchange experiences. As the manager in charge, you’ll naturally be part of this.

The Public Affairs Manager is part of the management team of the BMA Directorate. You will be one of six management team members, comprising Executive Advisory Services, GMT Staff/City Clerk, the Mayor’s Office, and Urban Strategy (approx. 138 FTE). The BMA Directorate supports the decision-making of the Mayor and Aldermen, the GMT, and city districts through administrative and strategic advice. Within the BMA Directorate, collaboration between the various departments is being further improved: work and advice are becoming more integrated and focused on the city’s challenges.

Your Strength
Here’s the experience you bring to the table:

• A completed university degree;
• At least 5 years of experience as a cross-functional manager and member of the management team;
• At least 5 years of experience in a leadership role in political advocacy;
• At least 5 years of managerial experience in a growing organization;
• A currently active network of policymakers and top-level decision-makers in The Hague;

You should have the following skills:

• Persuasiveness: You are a passionate manager who naturally inspires people and can drive change. You also have the authority—thanks in part to your experience in public affairs and your network in “political circles in The Hague”—to effectively advise policymakers and senior civil servants on advocating for Amsterdam’s interests;
• People-oriented: You are a facilitative leader who knows how to lead independent, highly educated professionals based on trust. As a manager, you stand by your team, even in difficult times or when facing challenging issues;
• Awareness of the environment: You are a good listener and navigate with ease in a dynamic, political-administrative environment where conflicting interests are common, and you are able to make successful interventions in such situations;
• Vision: You have a clear long-term vision. You can set priorities, define the department’s strategic direction, and implement changes.

The Offer

• A gross monthly salary between €6,073 and €8,758 (pay grade 16) for a 36-hour workweek, depending on education, knowledge, and experience;
• A one-year employment contract with the possibility of a permanent position;
• The municipality offers a variety of training programs, professional development tracks, and on-the-job coaching, allowing you to continue challenging yourself;
• An individual flexible budget of 17.05% for, for example, additional pension contributions or extra days off;
• An excellent pension plan with ABP;
• A travel allowance of €0.10 per kilometer, up to a 45-kilometer one-way commute, for the number of days you work in the office, and/or a work-from-home allowance of €2 net per workday that you work from home;
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance;
• Hybrid work: alternating between the City Hall in downtown Amsterdam and working from home.

Process The City of Amsterdam is being assisted by the executive search firm Colourful People in its search for a Public Affairs Manager. For more information, please contact Henna Seedorf, Partner at Colourful People, at 06-24274368 or H.Seedorf@Colourfulpeople.nl. Apply by uploading your cover letter and resume no later than January 2, 2023. The first interviews will take place during the week of January 16–20, 2023, and the second interviews during the week of January 23–27, 2023.