Secretary of the National Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education and Research

Secretary of the National Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion

As a secretary, would you like to make an independent and effective contribution to the national action plan for greater diversity and inclusion in higher education and research? Then come work at NWO in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science!

What will you be doing?

The national action plan for greater diversity and inclusion in higher education and research focuses on creating a diverse and safe learning and working environment where everyone can thrive, thereby enhancing the quality of education and research. Since the action plan was presented in 2020, a large number of partners, together with the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, have been working to achieve the goals set out in the plan.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has established the Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education and Research to advise stakeholders—both upon request and on its own initiative—on how best to achieve the goals of the action plan. As secretary, you are responsible, together with the chair, for the committee’s operations.

As secretary:

• organize the meetings and site visits the committee needs to formulate its recommendations.
• You will draft a significant portion of the committee’s recommendations. In doing so, you will translate the input from the committee’s experts into actionable recommendations. You are adept at incorporating feedback. You will also be responsible for ensuring that these recommendations are effectively communicated to the right people. In practice, these will primarily be board members and policy staff from organizations participating in the action plan.
• Together with the chair and the committee, you will implement the recommendations from the midterm evaluation of the action plan currently underway.
• You will organize approximately five in-person committee meetings per year. You will set the agenda in consultation with the chair. You will ensure that committee members receive the agenda and meeting materials in a timely manner. You will be responsible for taking the minutes of the meeting.
• You will help organize approximately four partner meetings per year. You will advise partners on the format of these meetings.
• On behalf of the advisory committee, you will participate in the working group in which all partners are represented.
• You work to ensure that information is provided effectively, for example through the website www.dihoo.nl.

What you bring

As secretary, you will:

• An affinity for diversity and inclusion and the ability to set the agenda: you stay up to date on developments in the field and can identify issues and challenges that need to be addressed.
• political and administrative sensitivity: you can handle the fact that, while the parties involved share common goals, they have different realities, interests, and priorities.
• Organizational skills: You are good at organizing and preparing for meetings.
• Professional expertise: You have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a relevant field.

You can:

• communicate clearly, both in writing and verbally: you are skilled at taking notes and translating verbal input into written recommendations.
• Work independently and proactively: You are able to work well on your own and take the initiative. Committee members are located throughout the country, so most communication takes place remotely. We expect a high degree of autonomy.
• Contributing creative ideas: You have good ideas on how to make the advisory committee more visible and approachable.
• Act as the central point of contact: in a sense, you are the first point of contact for partners and other parties seeking to get in touch with the advisory committee. You are also responsible for maintaining existing contacts and establishing new ones in the field.

This is where you'll be working

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) has agreed with NWO that the secretary will be employed by NWO. As the committee’s secretary, you will work very independently, either from home or at the NWO office (in The Hague or Utrecht). At NWO, you will join the Executive Board Office, a relatively small, enthusiastic, and driven team of 18 employees who work together to guide the NWO organization through the dynamics of politics and society: we support the Executive Board and other bodies in the top management structure. We thus play an important connecting role with and between external partners. In addition, we advise the board on strategic, integrated, and budgetary issues in relation to external developments in science and society. When appropriate, we invite you to share your expertise with us in NWO-wide projects such as the development and implementation of the NWO strategy or the Recognition & Appreciation initiative.

Here's what we offer you

We are offering a versatile position in a challenging and evolving field. This position is available on a 0.7 FTE basis. In the future, the position may be expanded to 0.8 FTE depending on the needs of the advisory committee. The secretary’s appointment is for three years.

The committee secretary will be appointed by NWO under a three-year employment contract. The salary depends on your knowledge and experience and ranges from €4,267 to €5,870 gross per month for full-time employment (scale 11, Collective Labor Agreement for Research Institutions). In addition, we offer you, among other things, 8% vacation pay, an end-of-year bonus of 8.33%, and a very generous leave policy. Furthermore, NWO is affiliated with the ABP for pension benefits, and we offer partially paid parental leave, a discount on supplemental health insurance, and extensive training opportunities. We operate on a hybrid model (partly in the office and partly at home), provide a work-from-home allowance, offer an NS Business Card for public transportation, and provide a laptop and mobile phone from NWO.

About the Advisory Committee, the Action Plan, and NWO

The Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education and Research (DIHOO) consists of 10 members and a chair. The current composition of the committee can be found in the institutional resolution. The committee will soon be expanded to include an additional student member. The members are individuals with relevant expertise and experience, for example in the areas of diversity and inclusion, change management, policy, public administration, or organizational psychology. They come from both within and outside higher education and the academic community. In forming the committee, consideration was given to diversity in expertise, gender, cultural, religious, and ethnic background, skills, networks, seniority, and experience. To maintain a balance between continuity and new insights, a rotation schedule is in place. The advisory committee has been appointed until October 1, 2026.

On September 1, 2020, the Minister of Education, Culture, and Science presented the National Action Plan on Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education and Research. The action plan was signed by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science (OCW), the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Universities of the Netherlands (UNL), the National Network of Female Professors (LNVH), the Diversity Expertise Center (ECHO), LanDO (National Consultation of Diversity Officers), the Dutch PhD Network (PNN), and PostdocNL. The Association of Universities of Applied Sciences joined in mid-2022.

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the leading science funder in the Netherlands and ensures quality and innovation in science. NWO invests one billion euros annually in research. Promoting scientific research and increasing scientific and societal impact—in other words, NWO’s success—depends entirely on the dedication, quality, enthusiasm, and diversity of our employees. Every day, we work to create an inclusive environment where all employees can develop their talents and feel valued and engaged. A work environment that embraces differences and where everyone can excel, feel inspired, and stay motivated.

Would you like to help build a diverse and inclusive education and research sector?

Do you see yourself in this profile and would you like to contribute to a diverse and inclusive education and research sector in the Netherlands? If so, we strongly encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter by September 12. We plan to schedule interviews during the week of September 18.

Would you like more information about the committee or the position? Please contact Coco van Beveren, secretary of the advisory committee, at c.vanbeveren@nwo.nl.

HR advisor Marianne van der Helm would be happy to tell you more about the recruitment process. You can reach her via WhatsApp (06 23 54 16 84), by phone at 070-349 42 80, or by email at m.vanderhelm@nwo.nl.

Apply

Are you interested in this position? If so, we warmly invite you to apply. Please submit your resume and cover letter via our application page. 

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.