Project Manager for Drug Enforcement in the North Sea Canal Area

The position

As a project manager for drug enforcement, you are the driving force behind successful operational cooperation in the North Sea Canal Area (NZKG). You will focus specifically on supporting and facilitating (semi-)public partners—such as Customs, the Police, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, the FIOD, municipalities, and the Port of Amsterdam—in their joint efforts regarding surveillance, control, investigation, and enforcement (TCOH). Within the Sterk NZKG program, you will work at the tactical and operational levels to advance the TCOH pillar with and among all these partners. You are the facilitator who ensures that the conditions for joint efforts are optimal. You translate the partners’ operational needs into concrete projects and streamlined work processes. With your ability to bring people together, you help the partners collaborate more effectively and efficiently in daily practice, enabling them to take stronger action against drug-related crime in the port area.

Here's what you do on an average day

• You will lead working groups and oversee projects aimed at resolving bottlenecks and improving collaboration.
• You will consult with operational managers from the various partners to identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement in their collaboration.
• You will develop protocols and tools that promote and facilitate cooperation among the various regulatory agencies and investigative agencies involved in the operation.
• You will serve as the primary point of contact for government agencies to keep them on board with joint projects and ensure a high level of engagement with new operational initiatives.
• You will monitor the progress of joint TCOH projects and manage the associated project budget to fund the necessary operational support.
• You will advise the program team on tactical opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of the enforcement chain within the NZKG through improved process design.
• You keep your network informed about new trends in drug smuggling that have a direct impact on how inspections and surveillance should be organized.

This is 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!

North Sea Canal Area Project

The North Sea Canal Area (NZKG) is an international hub for trade, logistics, and manufacturing. It is strategically located on the North Sea, connected to the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal, and close to major European markets and manufacturing centers. The NZKG consists of the ports of Amsterdam, Beverwijk, Zaanstad, and Velsen/IJmuiden. The same qualities that make the NZKG attractive for legal activities are exploited for illegal (drug) trafficking: its geographic location, economic efficiency, and excellent infrastructure are making the port region increasingly popular among criminal organizations.

Since 2022, the Ministry of Justice and Security has been providing ongoing funding to combat international drug trafficking at the five largest logistics hubs in the Netherlands, including the NZKG. Using these funds, the government partners (municipalities, Customs, police, Public Prosecution Service, FIOD/Tax and Customs Administration, Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, RIECs, Port of Amsterdam) have established a joint program called “Strong North Sea Canal Area.” The program consists of four components: Information Overview, Barriers, Resilience, and TCOH (Surveillance, Control, Investigation, and Enforcement). Administratively, this program falls under the jurisdiction of the City of Amsterdam. The City of Amsterdam therefore acts as the employer. 

What you bring

For this position as Project Manager for Drug Enforcement in the North Sea Canal Area, you must have:

• At least a bachelor's or master's degree.
• Knowledge of the security sector: You have insight into security dynamics within both the public and private sectors and understand the importance of collaboration between these sectors.Please explain this in your cover letter.
• Communication skills: You are able to interact effectively with stakeholders at both the operational and executive levels and communicate clearly and persuasively, both in writing and verbally.
• Collaboration: You are able to navigate effectively between the diverse interests of various parties, such as the police, Customs, and the Port Authority.In your cover letter, describe a time when collaboration between multiple organizations or stakeholders did not go smoothly. What did you do to improve this process, and what were the results?
• Strong organizational skills: You can keep track of multiple projects and tasks and plan efficiently, ensuring that all actions align with the program strategy.
• Collaboration: You’ll work in a small team and actively contribute by communicating openly, asking for help when needed, and keeping others informed of developments.
• Independence: You take the initiative and are able to set up and successfully complete projects on your own without direct supervision.In your cover letter, provide an example of a complex issue you tackled on your own. How did you go about it, and what was the result?
• Solution-oriented: You can effectively handle unexpected problems and quickly come up with practical solutions for new situations in a complex work environment.

What we offer you

As a Project Manager, you will join our team for a minimum of 32 and a maximum of 36 hours per week, and you can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary ranging from €5,303 to €7,163 (pay grade 12) based on a 36-hour workweek. The exact salary will be determined based on your education, knowledge, and experience. 
• A 12-month 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 contract.
• 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 through ABP, the pension fund for the public sector and education. We pay 70% of your pension contribution.
• A travel allowance of €0.10 per kilometer for travel by car, €0.15 per kilometer for travel by bicycle, and €0.21 per kilometer for travel by public transportation. This applies to a one-way commute of up to 45 kilometers and for the number of days you work in the office. 
• For days you work from home, you will receive a work-from-home allowance of €3.25 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. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, we (preferably) work in the office. Our office is located in the Customs and Tax Administration building near Sloterdijk in Amsterdam. On the other days, you can work hybrid. We provide (home) office equipment to help you set up a safe and healthy workspace.
• A cell phone and a work laptop.

Want to know more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out theCity of Amsterdam Personnel Regulations(PGA).

Apply for this job

• If this job opening interests you, please submit your applicationby May 8 at the latestvia the application form on the website.
• We look forward to receiving 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.We have prepared application questions for the skills“Knowledge of the security sector,”“Connecting,” and “Collaborating” (under “What do you bring to the table?”). You can address these questions in your cover letter.Please note:Your cover letter will be taken into account during the selection process and is therefore an important part of your application.
• The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of two rounds of interviews.
• If your resume and cover letter meet the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.
• We will review CVs and cover letters during the week of May 11. The first interviews will be held in person during the week of May 18 at our office in Sloterdijk, Amsterdam. The second interviews will take place during the week of May 25.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG-P) from every colleague who joins our team.

Do you have any questions about this job opening?

For more information, please contact Program Manager Sjoerd Verhagen (06 1862 1281) or project manager Marloes de Heij (06 4206 3009).

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.