Senior Public Affairs Advisor

What you will be doing

The Government Team, UNICEF’s public affairs team, is responsible for advocacy at the political and administrative levels. We focus on current issues such as the online environment, youth care, asylum reception, mental well-being, and climate. Our strength lies in working based on research and data, knowledge from the international organization, and insights from our Child-Friendly Cities Initiative. We always take the voices of children and young people seriously in our analyses and proposed solutions.

As a Senior Public Affairs Advisor, you will use your expertise and network to influence policy in the best interests of children in the Netherlands. You will proactively take the initiative in developing and implementing lobbying strategies, identify opportunities, and act on them quickly. With a strong strategic network spanning government ministries, parliament, implementing organizations, and civil society, you will play a key role in shaping a shared agenda for positive change.

Your Mission

• Establishing and maintaining a strong strategic network with government ministries, parliament, implementing agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Bringing together key stakeholders to collaborate on sustainable solutions based on a shared agenda.
• Analyzing social and political developments and translating them into a strategic public affairs agenda.
• Developing target-group-specific policy recommendations and potential solutions.
• Involve young people and other stakeholders in the development of policy recommendations and potential solutions.
• Work as part of a team to develop and implement lobbying strategies and activities at the national level with the goal of influencing policy and decision-making.
• Work with colleagues to further develop our shared agenda for positive change.
• Work with spokespersons and communications strategists to raise public awareness and build support for identified issues and proposed solutions.

Here’s what we’re asking

• Academic-level work and thinking skills, with at least five years of experience in the field of public affairs.
• Extensive experience in developing lobbying strategies and proven knowledge of how external communications can be used in this context
• Proven expertise in managing and maintaining external relationships with stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge of political and administrative decision-making processes.
• A passion for children’s rights; broad knowledge of the youth sector in the Netherlands is a plus.
• Quick to recognize and anticipate interpersonal and political sensitivities.
• Working as part of a team and communicating in a way that brings people together comes naturally to you.
• Fluency in Dutch, and preferably English, both written and spoken.

Here's what we offer

• A competitive salary ranging from €4,186 to €5,968 gross per month (based on a 38-hour workweek), depending on your knowledge and experience.
• A flexible spending account equal to 10.23% of your gross salary, which you accrue each month and can use for personal purposes such as additional paid time off.
• A training budget that you can use for personal development.
• The option to work partly from home, with the necessary resources.
• A monthly phone allowance of €25 net to help you maintain your professional relationships.
• A good pension plan and a bicycle purchase plan.
• Of course, your travel expenses will be reimbursed.

Want to know more?

For more information, please contact Esther Polhuijs at epolhuijs@unicef.nl or 0643161777.

Comment

Applications will be accepted until July 7, 2026.

The application process consists of two rounds of interviews, followed by a discussion of the terms of employment. The first round of interviews will take place during the week of July 13 through 17.

We expect all employees to be willing to comply with our Code of Conduct and to cooperate in obtaining a Certificate of Good Conduct.

Our society is diverse, and so is UNICEF Netherlands. We strive to ensure that our staff reflects the diversity of society and the international nature of our organization.

We do not welcome unsolicited sales calls in response to this advertisement.

www.unicef.nl