Project Manager/Secretary for the Future Vision of Crop Protection
Job Description
For the Implementation Program for the 2030 Vision for Crop Protection, we are looking for a motivated and experienced project manager who has an affinity for agriculture and horticulture and wants to make a lasting contribution to making the use of crop protection products more sustainable within the agriculture and horticulture sectors.
The Implementation Program1 (UP) is the practical implementation of the Crop Protection Vision 2030 and provides the basis for a public-private partnership that pursues three strategic goals for crop protection: resilient plant and cultivation systems; agriculture, horticulture, and nature interconnected; virtually no emissions into the environment; and virtually no residues on products.
In 2020, the UP was endorsed by 10 different interest groups, civil society organizations, and government agencies (partners). Together, they are working to make the use of crop protection products in agriculture and horticulture more sustainable by implementing specific actions. For example, by promoting the availability of organic and low-risk products, identifying regulatory barriers to the adoption of new technologies, and sharing best practices from collaborative projects and measures that improve water quality.
As project manager, you will form the UP’s administrative office together with a project support specialist and a communications expert. The administrative or program office works in collaboration with the independent chair of the steering committee and the chairs of the working groups. You will be responsible for process support, prioritization, and monitoring the progress of the various actions outlined in the UP. The project leader plays a crucial role in the effective functioning of the UP. You are the process facilitator for achieving the jointly established goals and actions: you create a schedule based on the steering committee’s agenda and oversee it, you monitor the progress of the actions, and you chair the chairs’ meeting, making you the first point of contact for the working group chairs when they encounter issues. You also support the chair and the sounding board group in their work.
As a project manager, you will ensure the process runs smoothly by focusing on efficiency and effectiveness. To achieve this, all parties and departments must remain focused on their core responsibilities. You are therefore highly results-oriented and have the ability to positively motivate others to carry out their tasks and to facilitate this process. You are also well-equipped to coordinate and manage the work within the program office.
You are the central hub that connects the various components of the UP. To this end, you possess excellent communication skills, both verbal and written. You ensure effective collaboration between the various components and stakeholders within the UP, and when necessary, you propose and implement process recommendations. You play a driving role when it comes to executing actions and delivering results. If bottlenecks arise, you identify them and ensure they are brought to the appropriate attention within the UP.
You coordinate the flow of documents between all components of the UP and ensure the consistency of documents and deliverables. You have the ability to produce clear reports, serving as the basis for transparent periodic monitoring of the progress of the actions that are part of the UP, and as the basis for external communication. In doing so, you ensure that the results achieved by the UP are effectively communicated, including to the farming community. You facilitate constructive dialogue between the various parties (even when tensions arise) and ensure calm and stability in a politically and socially dynamic environment. You have experience with complex administrative and political issues and know how to effectively engage with the various parties.
The project leadership role is estimated to require 15–20 hours per week. You will spend the remaining hours of your workweek on other tasks and projects within the crop protection team. You will be part of that team. As a senior crop protection policy officer, you will work in a collaborative team of 10 policy officers and one policy support staff member. As a team, we work on various national, European, and international aspects of crop protection.
Job Requirements
For this position, we are looking for an experienced (policy) officer with several years of work experience in a similar role.
- You are a proactive, flexible, and knowledge-driven (policy) staff member with an interest in politics and public administration.
- You are a team player with strong communication skills, and you speak and write clearly and fluently.
- You are motivated to delve into technical and substantive issues and are able to translate them quickly and clearly into policy documents.
- You proactively establish connections between "the outside and the inside" and promptly pick up on signals, which you then bring to the attention of the appropriate levels.
- When necessary, you’ll step in to handle other tasks within the crop protection team.
- Relevant work experience in the fields of agriculture and horticulture, as well as in policy-making processes, is preferred.
Skills:
- Board sensitivity
- Environmental awareness
- Results-oriented
- Collaborate
Terms of Employment
Salary level 12
Monthly salary: Min. €4,691 – Max. €6,907 (gross)
Employment: Fixed-term employment contract
Contract term: 3 years
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 (16.50% 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 choose to 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 Dutch government is strongly committed to personal growth and career development and offers numerous opportunities for this. The fringe benefits include various study facilities, company fitness programs, full reimbursement of your public transportation costs for commuting, and partially paid parental leave.
Details
- The introductory and selection process consists of at least two rounds of interviews and a final discussion regarding terms of employment.
- Checking references or conducting an assessment may be part of the selection process.
- Colleagues within the central government who are permanent employees may be seconded.
- If you do not (yet) have a permanent position as a civil servant, you will start with a temporary position with the prospect of a permanent one.
What else do we offer you:
- A pleasant work environment with excellent facilities, just a short walk from the central station.
- Plenty of opportunities to continue developing your skills and specialize.
- We believe it’s important to maintain a good work-life balance. Working hours can be arranged flexibly by mutual agreement.
- If you are hired, hybrid work is an option; you will work partly from home and partly at the office. We believe it is important to have a good home office setup. We therefore offer a subsidy for home office equipment and a work-from-home allowance in accordance with the Central Government Collective Labor Agreement (CAO Rijk).
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Interested in applying?
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature invites you to apply on their website. Clicking the button below will take you away from this site and directly to the application form. The government values a diverse and inclusive organization. Working in diverse teams makes us more effective, more innovative, and makes the work more enjoyable. Everyone is therefore invited to apply.
More information about this job opening
Susanne Sutterlin, Member of the Management Team for Crop Protection, Plant Health, and Propagating Material
Quirien Boone, Crop Protection Team Coordinator06-4606 3408
