Mid-level Policy Advisor for Education and Compulsory Education

The position

As a mid-level policy advisor for Education and Compulsory Education, you will focus on challenges related to compulsory education policy and secondary vocational education (MBO). You have a keen eye for (national) developments in and around these topics and issues within the city. You are adept at assessing whether we, as a municipality, can or should play a role in these matters. In doing so, you maintain close contact with educational institutions in the city, implementing organizations, and other policymakers within the municipality.

One of your areas of responsibility is the policy on compulsory education. Compulsory education is an important statutory duty of the municipality; in this role, you are responsible for policy issues related to the work of the truancy officer and for coordinating with aldermen and the city council. You will work closely with the truancy officers on these matters.

Another key priority is vocational education (MBO). The municipality is investing in Amsterdam’s vocational education system and works closely with the city’s vocational schools. A key issue is the retraining and upskilling of workers, due to labor market shortages. For example, in the technical sector and/or healthcare. This requires action from both the business community and the education sector. On these issues, you will work closely with a senior policy advisor and the cluster coordinator.

Here's what you do on an average day:

• Responsible for developing and implementing policy plans, often in close collaboration with other departments within the municipality.
• Advises the alderman on your areas of responsibility, handles council questions, and prepares for council meetings.
• Proactively builds strong working relationships with colleagues and partners in the city.
• Maintains grant relationships and identifies any potential issues within them.
• You have a keen eye for risks and sensitive issues in the workplace and know when to inform your colleagues and team manager.
• Actively gathering knowledge from external sources (best practices, national trends, experiences in other cities and municipalities) and ensuring strong alignment with and integration into our own policies.

In addition, you’ll help out with various tasks and assignments within the team, working closely with different colleagues.

Here's where you get started:

We strive to be a great employer that ensures all our colleagues feel seen and valued. We embrace the differences among our colleagues; these differences lead to better results for both our organization and our city. We aim to build a workforce that reflects Amsterdam’s diverse population. So, whoever you are, you’re more than welcome here!

The ambition of the Secondary Education/Vocational Education (VO/MBO) team is to promote an optimal educational journey for all children in the city between the ages of 12 and 23. We do this, among other things, by investing in the quality of education through the Teacher Agenda, the Equal Opportunity Policy, and the Vocational Education (MBO) Agenda. In addition, the team is responsible for policy in the areas of compulsory education, vulnerable youth, school facilities, and school safety. The Secondary Education/Vocational Education team consists of approximately 25 employees and is divided into two clusters (the Secondary Education Cluster and the Vocational Education Cluster). Each cluster is led by a cluster coordinator. We are located on the Amstel, in the Stopera.

What you'll need:

For this position as a mid-level policy advisor for Education and Compulsory Education, you must have:

• At least 3 years of work experience as a policy advisor.
• At least 3 years of experience in political and administrative consulting.
• At least 2 years of experience in translating policy into concrete action.

You should have the following skills:

• Analytical skills: Able to distinguish between main and secondary issues, break down a problem into its components, and establish logical connections between the various aspects.
• Environmental Awareness: Demonstrates a solid understanding of professional, organizational, social, and political developments, as well as other environmental factors, and knows how to effectively apply this knowledge to one’s own role or organization.
• Results-oriented approach: Setting specific goals as a starting point for one’s own behavior and sticking to them until the goal is achieved.
• Persuasiveness: Uses personal authority to influence people and situations, with a focus on gaining acceptance and overcoming resistance. Communicates ideas clearly and confidently.
• Relationship Management: Establishes contacts with other departments and the professional community to increase the chances of success for the project (collaboration, support).

What we offer you

As a mid-level policy advisor for Education and Compulsory Education, you will join our team for 32–36 hours per week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary of up to €5,725 (Pay Grade 11) based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience.
• A one-year employment contract, with the possibility of a permanent contract thereafter, if you do not currently have an employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, or if you have only a temporary one.
• If you already have a permanent employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, you will retain it and be transferred.
• Opportunities for professional development and training. Our in-house training center, the Amsterdam School, offers a variety of training programs, professional development tracks, and on-the-job coaching to help you continue to challenge yourself.
• An individual flexible budget (IKB) equal to 17.05% of your salary, which you can use for things like additional pension contributions or extra days off.
• A pension plan with ABP, the pension fund for the public sector and education.
• 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 €3 net per workday that you work from home.
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.
• Hybrid work: In this role, you can work partly from home and partly in the office. We provide the necessary equipment to help you set up a safe and healthy workspace at home.
• A cell phone and a laptop.

Interested in learning more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out the Municipality of Amsterdam Personnel Regulations (PGA) on our website.

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your application by June 25, 2023, via the application form on our website.
• This job opening is being advertised internally and externally at the same time. Employees of the City of Amsterdam will be given priority in the hiring process.
• We would like to receive your cover letter, in which you explain, in no more than one A4 page, why your work experience and skills are a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
• The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of a CV/cover letter review and an interview round. We have formed a three-person selection committee consisting of the manager, a direct colleague with whom you will be working, and a colleague from the Education Department.
• If your resume meets the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.
• The interviews will take place in early July at our office located at Amstel 1 in Amsterdam.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.

We do not appreciate unsolicited solicitation from recruitment agencies, and such actions may result in exclusion from our other recruitment initiatives. We also consider the unsolicited submission of resumes by agencies to our employees to be solicitation. We will not review these resumes.