Senior Advisor to the Internal Organization Executive Board

What will you be doing?

As a senior advisor, you will serve as a strategic partner to the executive board and the manager of the Internal Organization executive staff. You will also act as the connecting link within Internal Organization. You switch effortlessly between different issues, from strategic to operational, and from annual planning to service delivery. You will have every opportunity to apply your expertise and plenty of chances to further develop your skills.

You will work within the Internal Organization Executive Staff, alongside the Executive Staff Manager, a fellow advisor, and the management support team. Together, we ensure that the Internal Organization Executive Staff receives optimal support across the board.

Your responsibilities:

• Supporting and advising the (deputy) director regarding his responsibilities and duties, such as the NVWA’s data strategy, information management, integrated service delivery, and his meetings both within and outside the NVWA. 
• Advising the Deputy Director, Director, and Management Team on strategic issues and governance matters.
• Acting as the manager of the executive staff in his or her absence.
• Monitoring the quality and progress of decision-making within the executive board.
• Supporting the planning and control cycle within the executive board, in collaboration with the control and human resources functions.
• Ensure that the deputy director, director, and management team are kept informed.
• Collaborate with the departments of the Internal Organization on management-wide issues and work with other management teams on NVWA-wide topics. To this end, you will build and maintain a network within the NVWA.
• Coordinating the flow of information within and outside the management team.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the services provided by the Internal Organization.
  

 Job Requirements

• An academic level of work and thinking, for example in public administration, business administration, or organizational studies.
• Experience in consulting.
• The ability to present complex issues clearly.
• Creativity, analytical skills, and the ability to switch between multiple topics.
• Administrative and political sensitivity.
• A proactive attitude, organizational awareness, and persuasiveness.
• A passion for continuous improvement and innovation.
• Experience with or an affinity for information-driven and data-driven work is a plus.
• Do you have experience working at the NVWA or with a government inspection agency? That’s a definite plus!

Do you have little or no experience as a government advisor, but are you eager to grow in this role? If so, you can start as an advisor (Grade 11), with the opportunity to advance to senior advisor (Grade 12).

Skills:

• Persuasiveness
• Organizational sensitivity
• Environmental awareness
• Networking
• Creativity
• Analytical 

The NVWA is committed to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of society and places great importance on an inclusive hiring policy. We therefore encourage everyone to apply, regardless of cultural background, age, gender identity, religion, disability, or sexual orientation.

 Terms of Employment

• Salary level: Grade 12
• Monthly salary: Min. €4,691 – Max. €6,907 (gross)
• Employment status: Fixed-term employment contract with the possibility of conversion to a permanent contract
• Contract duration: 1 year
• Minimum number of hours per week: 32
• Maximum number of hours per week: 36

Other terms and conditions of employment

In addition to an onboarding program tailored to your role and extensive training and/or coaching opportunities to support your professional growth, we also offer the following employee benefits:

Individual Choice Budget
You will receive an Individual Choice Budget (ICB) equal to 16.50% of your gross annual salary. You can choose to have your ICB paid out, for example, monthly or annually, or you can use it to purchase additional leave hours. In addition, you can use your IKB to purchase a (electric) bicycle for commuting tax-free, set up your home office, or even make your home more sustainable. To encourage this, the federal government also offers an employer contribution on top of the IKB.

Vacation Days If you work 36 hours per week, you are entitled to 144 vacation hours and 64 IKB leave hours per year. Do you work more or less? Then these hours are calculated proportionally. And do you need a little less vacation time? Then you can also choose to have your 64 IKB leave hours paid out or added to your IKB saved leave

Travel Allowance
You will receive a mobility card that allows you to travel by train in second class for your commute. Do you bike to work? If so, you will receive a travel allowance of €0.21 per kilometer cycled.
If you hold a field-based position, you are often also eligible for an electric company car. You may also use this vehicle for personal purposes, subject to the applicable tax implications.

Leave Policies The government offers leave policies for various situations, such as (supplementary) maternity leave (up to 5 weeks with 100% pay), parental leave (up to 9 weeks at 100% pay in the first year and an additional 75% for 4 weeks), care leave, and adoption/foster care leave.

Pension The Dutch government has an attractive pension plan with ABP, the General Civil Service Pension Fund. Read more about the ABP pension plan here.

Allowances and Reimbursements For some positions at the NVWA, it is necessary to work outside regular office hours or to be on call. However, these requirements are offset by additional allowances or reimbursements. For example, we offer an on-call and standby duty allowance and an irregular shift allowance.

Details

• Applications will be considered in accordance with applicable agreements, including the Central Government Collective Labor Agreement and the NVP Application Code.
• A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) is required to work at the NVWA.
• If the position involves a fixed-term employment contract with the prospect of becoming permanent, the permanent contract is initially preceded by a one-year contract. Provided the employee proves to be suitable, the contract is generally converted into a permanent contract of indefinite duration after one year.
• Is this a job opening for a fixed-term contract with the possibility of becoming permanent, but do you already have a permanent position as a civil servant? If so, you will retain your permanent position.
• If the position is initially a fixed-term role, it will not be reopened if the role can be made permanent within the organization and the (initially) temporary position was filled by an internal employee with a permanent contract.
• Online screening—for example, through search engines or social media—can be part of the selection process.
• A competency test and/or an assessment may be part of the selection process.
• A comprehensive A or B screening by the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) may be required for certain positions at the NVWA, including those in the Intelligence and Investigation Service (IOD).
• Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.

More about the (Senior) Advisor job category

The Central Government Performance Framework helps employees and managers establish performance and development goals during performance reviews and provides insight into career opportunities within the federal government.

For more information, visit the Central Government Job Classification System 

More about your future department

The Internal Organization Division supports the NVWA’s core operations by providing high-quality services. Approximately 470 colleagues work here:

• Reliable IT and ICT
• Financial processes and controls
• Facilities such as housing and devices
• Management, Control, and Organizational Development
• A safe and inspiring work environment, including professional development for employees

We believe in collaboration, professionalism, commitment, and integrity. With us, you’ll have every opportunity to develop your talents, and you’ll work closely with others toward shared goals.

Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA)

In the Netherlands, we take it for granted that the products we use and everything we eat is safe. That animals are treated well, even if they are destined for slaughter. We want to be able to consume fruits and vegetables without a second thought, and we assume other products are “naturally” safe as well. We want to be able to walk in nature without worry and buy toys for our children without suspicion. As consumers, we simply rely on that; to us, it goes without saying.

But we sometimes forget that companies work hard every day to maintain those high standards. That it isn’t always easy for businesses to comply with all applicable laws and regulations. We also forget that the government oversees this. Safety sounds so simple, but it isn’t.

What does the NVWA do?
The employees of the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) work hard every day to maintain that standard. Through dialogue with businesses in the hospitality sector, slaughterhouses, plant cultivation, and other producers, the NVWA monitors food and product safety, plant health, and the welfare of animals, nature, and the environment. We do so in accordance with national and international laws and regulations. We operate on a basis of trust, but we take firm action against businesses that do not take these matters seriously. In the interest of society.

We closely monitor where the greatest risks lie and where oversight is most urgently needed, so that we can inform consumers and others in a timely manner. The NVWA also plays a key role in export inspections and the import of products into Europe.

What does the NVWA stand for?
The NVWA is responsible for overseeing animal welfare, animal health, food safety, product safety, tobacco and alcohol prevention, plant health, and nature and the environment.

The Dutch government strives to be an employer where every employee, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, or disability, wants to work. Addressing social issues in diverse teams makes us more effective and innovative. That makes the work valuable and challenging.

The NVWA is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature (LVVN) and the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport.

Interested in applying?

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) 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.