Press Officer / Spokesperson

Press Officer / Spokesperson

Job Description

How does the Senate handle major legislative proposals, such as the pension bill? How does the election to the Senate work? What integrity rules are in place for senators to prevent conflicts of interest? These are examples of current issues that are at the top of your agenda as a press officer and spokesperson for the Senate and on which you may be approached by (parliamentary) journalists. Together with your fellow press officer, you ensure that journalists are informed in a timely and accurate manner about the Senate’s work, while also staying attuned to the broader information needs of society.

Your workdays are never predictable. That works out well, because routine isn’t your thing and you enjoy adapting quickly. You’re able to do that because you’re always well prepared: you’re well-informed about what’s happening in the Senate and well-prepared for whatever might come your way. In doing so, you leverage the power of (social) media.

What will your responsibilities entail? First, you will assist the President of the Senate in dealing with the media. Thanks to you, the President will be well-prepared for interviews. Other senators can also turn to you for advice when needed. Second, together with your fellow press officer, you will serve as the point of contact for the press regarding questions about the Senate’s policies. To this end, you will follow the plenary debates and other Senate activities that attract or may attract media attention. Third, you will work in a team of communications specialists—including a speechwriter/web editor and a social media expert—to develop a unified communications strategy for the Senate. Finally, you will contribute to further refining the Senate’s positioning. Together, you will raise awareness of the Senate’s work, promote transparency, and ensure an accurate portrayal of the Senate.

Interacting with others and networking are central to your role. You are constantly speaking with journalists, consulting with fellow press officers from the House of Representatives and other High Councils of State, and consulting with the chair and staff of the Secretariat. On meeting days, you actively follow the debate until the final bell rings. This means you are often not at your desk. When you are, you draft news releases and develop messaging strategies.

Job Requirements

• You have at least five years of relevant senior-level work experience and up-to-date knowledge of public relations, communications, corporate representation, external relations, and developments in social media.
• You can represent and advise government agencies and political organizations when dealing with the media, and you are not afraid to speak your mind. You have a proven track record of political sensitivity and knowledge of constitutional law.
• You can develop, promote, and advocate for new policies, such as media strategies.
• You are a team player: you develop, maintain, and leverage relationships with the parliamentary press and other contacts, and you work well as part of a team that includes various communications disciplines.
• You adapt easily to changing circumstances and perform exceptionally well under pressure.
• You speak and write Dutch fluently and have a good command of English.
• You have a keen understanding of the impact of the Senate’s decisions on society and, when necessary, communicate relevant developments back to the organization.

Terms of Employment

• Pay grade: 13
• Salary description: The salary listed is based on a full workweek of 36 hours.
• Monthly salary: Min. €4,688 – Max. €6,989 (gross)
• Employment status: Fixed-term employment contract with the possibility of conversion to a permanent contract
• Contract duration: 1 year
• Minimum number of hours per week: 32
• Maximum number of hours per week: 36

Other terms and conditions of employment

In addition to your salary, you will receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB). The ICB consists of money (16.37% of your gross annual salary) and time. With the ICB, you can make choices that suit you and customize part of your employment benefits. For example, you can 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 federal government is strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offers numerous opportunities for this. Secondary employment conditions include various study facilities, company fitness programs, full reimbursement of your public transportation costs for commuting, and partially paid parental leave.

Details

• We want to give you a clear and comprehensive picture of the role, your colleagues, and the context of our organization. That’s why we’re organizing two interviews in which you’ll meet with teammates, the management team, HR, and our Chairman.
• Naturally, we also hope to get as complete a picture of you as possible. As part of this process, an assessment and reference check will be included in the selection procedure.
• The role of spokesperson/press officer at the Senate is not a 9-to-5 job. Questions from the press and/or members of the Senate may come in outside of office hours, and on Tuesdays there are often debates in the evening. In this context, we count on your flexibility (within reasonable limits). Conversely, you can also expect flexibility from us when it comes to balancing your work and personal life, and we have arrangements in place for working outside of office hours.
• Due to summer vacations for both candidates and colleagues, the application process may differ from the norm in terms of both its structure and duration.
• Knowledge and experience with social media/CMS (or systems that provide information about them) is a plus.
• Do you have any questions about the position? Please contact Kim Nagtzaam, Director of Organization, at 06 28403583.
• Do you have any questions about the procedure? Please contact Roel Joosten, Senior Operations Advisor, at 06 11750372
• Interested in applying? You can apply until August 11, 2023.

Apply

Are you interested in this position? If so, we warmly invite you to apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter via our application page. 

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.