Program Manager for Neighborhood and Organizational Development

THE IMPACT OF OUR WORK

We believe that people themselves know best what their neighborhood, district, or village needs. Whether it’s community gardens, energy procurement, combating loneliness, or looking out for one another: when residents organize together, they can achieve a great deal. We are proud of all those residents who join forces and throw their weight behind inspiring initiatives.

For nearly 40 years, the LSA has been helping resident collectives grow. We provide the support and serve as an accessible gateway to knowledge for all resident groups looking for help in bringing their ideas to life.

WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING?

LSA always helps resident groups gain a stronger foothold in their neighborhoods. Through WijkWijzer, the platform for livable and safe neighborhoods, we do this by supporting residents through a neighborhood-focused approach. Through “Ondernemen met je Buurt” (Entrepreneurship in Your Neighborhood), we support collectives in strengthening their neighborhoods through entrepreneurial initiatives. In addition, we are constantly working to develop the organization in close collaboration with our community.

Your impact is:

Program Director for Wijkwijzer and Entrepreneurship in Your Neighborhood:

• You are the program manager for Wijkwijzer and Ondernemen met je Buurt. This means that, together with your team, you are responsible for the program’s substantive goals and outcomes. You focus on the program’s effectiveness and impact, and monitor its progress and direction. You bring together the knowledge needed to advance the program and keep an eye out for opportunities to expand it.
• The program’s annual planning, budget, reports, and accountability are in good hands with you.
• At the same time, you make adjustments as needed. You ensure that the program responds to feedback from the field.
• You will primarily be in contact with partner organizations in Wijkwijzer (a collaboration among six organizations) and Ondernemen met je Buurt (Social Enterprise)
• The teams for both programs consist of 3 and 2 people. You keep the teams together, assign roles and tasks, set goals, and ensure that everyone is kept informed of progress. Thanks to you, the team runs smoothly!
• In some of our projects and programs, you’ll be the “right-hand person.” This means, for example, that you’ll help organize meetings or contribute to articles for the website.

All of our programs offer plenty of flexibility to join resident collectives across the country!

Program Manager, Organization:

• LSA can continue to grow thanks to you. You’ll help make strategic decisions, develop policies, and ensure consistency. You’ll pay attention to the needs of LSA’s members, respond to trends, and stay informed about what’s happening in the field. You’ll grow into the role of a key advisor to the director.
• Within the field of organizational development, you will be involved in project development. In this role, you will ensure that LSA’s project portfolio remains well-stocked. You will draft project proposals and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including government agencies, partners, and funding organizations.
• You will coach your fellow program and project managers in their professional development. You know how to positively influence group dynamics within LSA.
• You understand what LSA stands for in a broad sense and can represent LSA in various settings. For example, if you’re asked to contribute your insights as part of an expert panel.

WHAT ARE YOU BRINGING WITH YOU?

Your affinity for resident collectives, fostering entrepreneurial initiatives in the neighborhood, and advancing an organization like LSA are, of course, top priorities.

What kind of experience do you have?

• You have at least 7 years of work experience
• You have experience leading programs or (large) projects. Setting goals, monitoring progress, and creating realistic schedules and budgets come naturally to you.
• You have experience working in a (complex) coalition or partnership involving multiple parties and diverse interests.
• You have experience managing a team.
• You have experience in project development.
• You have experience guiding your colleagues' professional development and know how to approach this in a coaching manner.

What are your strengths?

• You have a certain ability to persuade others and aren’t afraid to speak up. You enjoy sharing LSA’s message and promoting its importance.
• You are able to effectively bridge the gap between policymakers and active residents.
• You get along easily with different people and don't tend to feel uncomfortable in certain situations.
• You’re great at building relationships. You’re quick to build a network and easily spot opportunities to connect people and initiatives.
• You know better than anyone how to make sure everyone feels valued. You know how to encourage and motivate others and help them grow—from new hires to senior colleagues.
• You’re not afraid to approach potential donors.
• You have a strong grasp of the strategic decisions and choices LSA makes to continue growing, and you enjoy serving as a sounding board for the director.
• It makes perfect sense to you—and it’s fun—to be in a strategic meeting with partners one day and then, the next day, to set up the chairs and pour coffee for a meeting with residents.

What kind of talent would be a great addition to our team?

It would be helpful if you can easily adapt and think in line with our values. You should be able to take the lead and provide reassurance. With these skills, you can also serve as the public face of LSA and step in for the director when necessary.

OUR WORK ENVIRONMENT

There are a few things about our work that we’d like to share with you:

• We are a working community where we do as much as possible together. Depending on your strengths, everyone is assigned a role within the organization. That includes you!
• There are few set routines or protocols. Sometimes we have to change course on the fly because a project requires it at that moment. It helps if you’re self-reliant, know how to get things done, and aren’t afraid of a little chaos now and then.
• Another unique aspect is that we are an association. You feel comfortable dealing with the board, interacting with our members, and participating in traditions such as the General Meeting.

WORKING AT LSA

At the LSA, you’ll be surrounded by people who truly believe in what they do. The best part of our work is that you get to experience the Netherlands in a whole new way. You’ll meet people from all walks of life in all sorts of unique, off-the-beaten-path places you might not otherwise visit. In our small team, you have a lot of freedom and autonomy to not only enrich yourself but also the programs you work on. And during our group lunches, you’ll enjoy some light-hearted humor and a glimpse into the lives your colleagues lead outside of LSA.

WHAT DO WE OFFER YOU?

• A contract for 32–36 hours per week
• A one-year contract, convertible to a permanent position upon satisfactory performance.
• Salary under the Social Work Collective Bargaining Agreement, Scale 10 (depending on experience)
• Development Budget and IKB
• Plenty of room to grow – we look at who you are, what you can do, and what you want
• We assume that you will mainly be working in the office. However, you will have the flexibility to organize your work as you see fit, and you will be provided with your own laptop so you can work from home.
• You will occasionally work in the evenings or on Saturdays
• An office in downtown Utrecht, next to the train station
• Adequate travel and telecommuting allowances and leave policies

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH US?

Don’t quite have the right experience yet, but does this role really get your heart racing? Then please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’re interested in meeting people with different backgrounds than our current team.

Be sure to check out our other job opening as well.

Please send your application by Thursday, January 23, to info@lsabewoners.nl. We’d like to receive your resume and a cover letter explaining why you’re interested in this position and why it’s a good fit for you. Feel free to choose whatever format works best for you to express your motivation—a letter, a video, or any other format is fine.

The first round of interviews will take place on Wednesday, January 29; please try to keep that in mind when planning your schedule.

Questions? Please contact Kristel Jeuring (0618634275) or Thijs van Mierlo (0623104371) starting January 6.