Project Manager, Amsterdamse Bos

The position

As Project Manager for the Amsterdamse Bos, you will be responsible for overseeing the comprehensive major and replacement maintenance program in the Amsterdamse Bos. You will coordinate all implementation projects, whether they are carried out by external contractors or our own staff. This involves managing various assets, such as forest sections, bridges, and paved surfaces. Working closely with the Team Leader of Integrated Asset Management, you will ensure a safe and attractive forest environment. In doing so, you will maintain a balance between nature conservation, user experience, and the development of the area.

In this role, you will establish the necessary conditions for the efficient and timely execution of the work. This means answering questions regarding capacity, oversight, and the appropriate project managers to ensure project quality is maintained. You will also define the financial frameworks and closely manage risks, costs, and performance. You monitor ongoing projects, evaluate the results, and report on them to the team leader. In addition, you are the primary point of contact for the Traffic and Public Space department, with whom you work closely on asset management. Thanks to your results-oriented approach and proactive attitude, you’ll quickly build relevant networks. Within the Integrated Asset Management team, you can count on the support of your colleagues, with whom you’ll brainstorm, optimize, and develop solutions.

Here's what you do on an average day

• You start the day with a project meeting with the various project leaders. You go over current issues with them and review the financial progress of the various projects. You discuss successes, potential risks, and bottlenecks, and decide together what needs to be discussed with the team leader and, if necessary, the Bos Management Team.
• After this meeting, you have a conversation with a project manager who has indicated that a project won’t be completed on time. Together, you go over various possible solutions and conclude that it is indeed a bit of a concern so close to the breeding season. You agree that the project manager will discuss this with the ecologist to see if the project might need to be postponed until after the breeding season.
• After a quick chat in the hallway with colleagues who are working outside, you catch up on your email and prepare for the meeting with the Roads Project Portfolio Manager from the V&OR department. A budget overrun is on the horizon, and the question is whether this fits within the cash flow schedule or if funds are available to cover the financial overrun. You will report the results of this meeting back to the team leader and the project manager.
• The forest edge maintenance work is complete, so you hop on your bike (or get in the car if it’s raining) along with the site manager and the project manager to assess the results. It went well. The project manager will follow up with the contractor, and you’ll report back to your team leader and the green projects portfolio manager.   
• You receive a call from the Water Project Portfolio Manager asking if another 1.5 million euros’ worth of dredging work can be done this year in the Forest. This is a golden opportunity.  But the question, of course, is whether the organization can handle this and whether it fits within the rhythm of nature and the visitors in the Forest. You prepare this together with the Water Project Leader, the ecologist, and the forest ranger and develop it into a proposal. You’ll discuss this later in your one-on-one meeting with the team leader. 

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!

The Amsterdamse Bos is one of the largest urban forests in the world. The Amsterdamse Bos welcomes 7.5 million visitors annually. As part of the Dutch Nature Network, it forms the backbone of nature in the Netherlands. The Amsterdamse Bos makes a significant contribution to biodiversity and climate adaptation in the region. Driven by a deep passion for nature, all our teams work to preserve the Amsterdamse Bos. For many people, the Amsterdamse Bos is also an important place for outdoor recreation.

What you bring

For this position as Project Manager for the Amsterdamse Bos, you must have:

• At least 5 years of experience in project management.
• At least 3 years of experience in fields such as public green spaces, recreational areas, and nature reserves; please be sure to highlight this experience in your cover letter.
• At least 3 years of experience with a coaching management style (teams, programs, or projects).
• Knowledge of asset management systems, or a willingness to acquire this knowledge through training while on the job.

You should have the following skills:

• Progress monitoring: Monitoring the progress of processes, tasks, or activities carried out by employees, as well as one’s own work and responsibilities.
• Environmental Awareness: Demonstratesa solid understanding of professional, organizational, social, and political developments, as well as other environmental factors, and knows how to effectively apply this knowledge to one’s own role or organization. 
• Results-oriented approach: Setting specific goals as a starting point for one’s own behavior and sticking to them until the goal is achieved.
• Persuasiveness: Uses personal influence to shape people and situations, with a focus on gaining acceptance and overcoming resistance. Communicates ideas clearly and confidently.

What we offer you

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

• A gross monthly salary ranging from a minimum of €4,264 to a maximum of €6,072 (Pay Grade 11) 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 an employment contract with the City of Amsterdam, or if you have only a temporary contract. ·
• 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 cell phone and a laptop.
• A monthly contribution toward health insurance.

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 application byDecember 31, 2024, usingthe“Apply”button.
• We would like to receive 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, and we would like to learn more about your experience in the following areas: public green spaces, recreational areas, and nature areas. Your cover letter will be taken into consideration during the selection process.
• The selection process begins immediately after the application deadline and consists of a CV/cover letter round and an interview round. We have formed a three-person selection committee consisting of Leo Adegeest (Team Manager, Integrated Asset Management, Amsterdamse Bos), Fred Hoek (Project Manager, Strategy and Development), and Maxime Pul (HR Advisor).
• If your resume meets the job requirements, we would be happy to invite you for an interview.
• The interviews will take place in person at our office located at Nieuwe Meerlaan 3 in Amstelveen.
• This job opening is being advertised internally and externally at the same time. Employees of the City of Amsterdam will be given priority in the hiring process.
• We require a recent Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) from every colleague who joins our team.

Do you have any questions about this job opening?

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Leo Adegeest, Team Manager for Integrated Asset Management at Amsterdamse Bos, atl.adegeest@amsterdam.nlor 06-39269547.