Editor at the Chief Science Office (CSO)

The position

A great deal of research is conducted and knowledge is generated in Amsterdam. To address urban challenges—such as the energy transition, digital resilience, or clean streets—it is important that this knowledge be made accessible and utilized. The City of Amsterdam strives to develop policies based on research (evidence-based policymaking).

From the Chief Science Office (CSO) of the City of Amsterdam, we continuously bridge the gap between research and policy using the open research platform as our vehicle. The CSO serves as the core editorial team and manages this interdisciplinary platform, which is supported by more than 20 partners. The CSO trains researchers from these partner organizations to become “open research editors,” thereby empowering them to share knowledge for the benefit of the city. Together, we foster substantive relationships between people working on the same task or challenge in our city and region. We do this with more than 200 editors from our collaborating partners, such as the City of Amsterdam, knowledge institutions, the province, the transport region, and more. At the CSO, we are committed to ensuring these relationships are well maintained. That is why we regularly organize editorial and networking meetings.

Openresearch.amsterdam is a collaboration between the municipality, knowledge institutions, and other partners in Amsterdam, and is part of the sustainable knowledge infrastructure of the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area. Here, information about research and innovation from municipal organizations, partners, and knowledge institutions is shared so that researchers (civil servants, scientists, and others) can connect with one another and build upon research conducted by others. This includes research on social developments, sustainability, or mobility. We also publish policies related to these topics. Also popular are the handbooks on the design of public spaces, climate-adaptive construction, or the circular economy, for example.

As our new editor at openresearch.amsterdam, you will edit, initiate, and oversee the dissemination of research in, for, and with Amsterdam via the openresearch.amsterdam platform. In doing so, you will consult with researchers, other editors, information managers, and users, ensuring alignment and coordination. Together with your openresearch editorial colleagues, you will be responsible for ensuring that our digital platform meets the jointly formulated requirements regarding timeliness, scientific value, usability, and so on. You will also initiate and coordinate all necessary processes to ensure that openresearch.amsterdam functions optimally.

Here's what you do on an average day

• You will serve as a sounding board for the CSO of the City of Amsterdam and the openresearch.amsterdam editorial team. Together, you will identify new developments, new stakeholders, programs, and projects.
• You will consult with colleagues in the municipality, research institutions, and other partners on relevant research topics and translate these into high-quality publications for openresearch.amsterdam.
• You are responsible for strategically positioning the importance of knowledge sharing within the specific policy area for which you are responsible.
• You identify and coordinate meetings and contributions to openresearch.amsterdam related to key developments in the specific policy area.
• You will manage mid-level and junior editors, recruit trainees and interns, curate collections, report on meetings, engage with people in the network, and organize workshops and specialized editorial teams.
• You will consult with the Communications team regarding potential messages and monitor developments in the specific policy area.

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!

As in many other cities, the relationship between research and policy has become vital to the day-to-day management of the city in light of the many challenges cities face (climate, water, energy, polarization, growing social inequality, the disappearance of the middle class, speculation, subversion, and more). Amsterdam appointed its first Chief Science Officer (CSO) in 2017, and in 2020, openresearch.amsterdam was launched: an urban platform for interdisciplinary knowledge sharing. In numerous projects and across more than 20 workshops, researchers from various organizations collaborate on diverse urban challenges. The contours of the urban and regional research ecosystem have now become visible. Openresearch.amsterdam has been in existence for more than four years and, as of 2024, averages more than 25,000 visitors per month, a number that is steadily rising.

Openresearch operates with five editorial teams: physical environment, social environment, digitalization, city districts, and arts and culture. You will initially be responsible for the physical environment team, though this may rotate. In addition, the editorial team supports workshops and programs, and you will play a role in these as well.

What you bring

For this position as an editor at CSO, you must have:

• You feel connected to the international scientific community and are interested in working in a civil service and administrative environment.
• You have experience as an editor in digital communications and social media; you have developed programs or organized events that brought together diverse audiences.
• You have strong writing and editing skills; you can identify, organize, and clearly communicate various types of research—scientific, practice-oriented, design-based, or experiential—to a broader audience. You have an excellent command of Dutch and a good command of English.
• You have a vivid imagination, enjoy coming up with ideas, and are able to work with others to bring them to life. The role of producer is also a perfect fit for you.

You should have the following skills:

Broad interests: You have a broad range of interests in various topics within the city and beyond—both in your own area of focus and in other themes that Openresearch.Amsterdam publishes on. You are always seeking new knowledge and insights, and you are not afraid to think outside the box. You are good at distinguishing between main and secondary issues, breaking down a question into its components, and making logical connections between the various sub-aspects.

Connecting Ability: You build, maintain, and leverage personal relationships. You can draw connections between different disciplines and people from diverse backgrounds. Drawing on your ability to inspire and motivate, you influence people and situations, focusing on fostering acceptance and overcoming resistance. You communicate ideas clearly and confidently.

Collaboration: You are team-oriented and get along well with a variety of people. You identify opportunities to build and mobilize a network. You are a team player; you thrive in the dynamic environment of a small team. You support one another, leveraging your own expertise as well as that of your teammates.

An eye for quality: You maintain high standards of quality in the work you deliver; you pay attention to detail, are precise, and stay alert. Within the limited time available, you focus on
achieving the best possible results.

What we offer you

As an editor at CSO, you’ll be joining our team for 36 hours a week and can expect the following terms of employment.

• A gross monthly salary ranging from €5,008 to €6,777 (pay grade 12) 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 a contract with the City of Amsterdam or 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 with ABP, the pension fund for the public sector and education.
• 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 net per workday that you work from home.
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.

Want to know more about our employment terms and conditions? Check out theAmsterdam Municipal Personnel Regulations (PGA).

Apply for this job

If this job opening interests you, we look forward to receiving your application no later than August 14, 2024, via the Apply button.

• We would like to receive your cover letter, in which you explain, in no more than one A4 page, why your work and research experience, as well as your skills, make you a good fit for this position. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process. It is not necessary to include a detailed list of publications.
• The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of a CV/cover letter round and two interview rounds. We have assembled a selection committee of four people for each round, consisting of the Chief Science Officer, the recruitment lead, and the direct colleague(s) you will be working with.
• If your resume meets the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.
• The interviews will take place in person during the week of August 19 at Amstel 1 (or an office building near 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.

Do you have any questions about this job opening?

For questions about the position, please contact Caroline Nevejan, Chief Science Officer, at C.Nevejan@amsterdam.nl or call 06-13223500. For questions about the application process, please contact Jennifer Ong-A-Kwie, Lead Recruitment Cluster DII, at j.ongakwie@amsterdam.nl or call 06-28946535.