Senior Advisor on the Police Data Act (Wpg)

Within the NVWA, approximately 400 special investigating officers (BOAs) work to safeguard the public interests in the areas of Animal Welfare, Animal Health, Nature and the Environment, Plant Health, Product Safety, Food Safety, and Tobacco and Alcohol Prevention. The NVWA’s Criminal Coordination Center (SCC) team is the specialized center for criminal law advice—both in terms of legal substance and policy—regarding investigations conducted by the NVWA’s BOAs. As a Senior Advisor on the Police Data Act within the SCC, you will contribute to promoting awareness of and compliance with the Police Data Act and to strengthening special investigating officers’ investigative work. And thereby to the transparency and integrity of the processing of police data.

The NVWA needs your expertise to ensure compliance with the legal framework of the Police Data Act. You will ensure that our organization carries out its enforcement duties within the criminal justice process in a transparent and accountable manner. In your role, you will raise awareness among your colleagues involved in the criminal justice system (including special investigating officers, management, and team leaders in the Inspection Division) regarding Wpg and privacy issues. You will advise the Enforcement Directorate on matters related to the Wpg and related criminal law topics, such as advising a special investigating officer in a specific case. You will contribute to the continuous improvement of processes and working methods, such as drafting work instructions, giving presentations on the Wpg, and helping to implement effective privacy policies and ensure compliance with the law (Wpg principles, authorizations, retention periods, data disclosures, etc.).

Your work is essential to the NVWA because it helps us carry out our enforcement duties effectively, while respecting the privacy and rights of both citizens and businesses.

What makes this position appealing?

This position offers you the opportunity to apply your legal expertise in a socially relevant and dynamic context. As a Senior Advisor on Police Data Law, you will work on complex issues that directly contribute to the public interest. This includes decisions regarding criminal law or administrative law and the implications such choices have for the entire investigation, including the privacy aspects of the collaboration between oversight and investigation. In general, you will help the NVWA further develop as an independent, reliable, and transparent organization.

You will be part of a diverse team of dedicated professionals and will collaborate with colleagues throughout the criminal justice system, including those in the Forensic Services Department, the Legal Affairs Department, and the Security Office (SO). This creates a dynamic work environment that offers ample opportunity to make a social impact and pursue personal development.

Here's what else we offer

In addition to an onboarding program tailored to your role and extensive training and/or coaching opportunities for your continued professional development, 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 have your IKB paid out, for example, monthly or annually, but you can also 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, pay off your student debt with tax benefits up to a maximum of €2,000 per year, or even make your home more sustainable. To encourage this, the Dutch government offers an employer contribution on top of the IKB.

Vacation Days
Each year, you are entitled to 144 vacation hours and 64 IKB leave hours if you work 36 hours per week. Do you work more or fewer hours? Then these hours are calculated proportionally. And do you need fewer vacation days? 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. You can also use this card for business travel if you need to visit other locations for work. Do you cycle to work? Then you will receive a travel allowance for each kilometer cycled.
If it is necessary for your work, you may be eligible for an electric company car under certain conditions, as outlined in the NVWA’s company car policy. This is not a personal employment condition, but a company car is made available based on the NVWA’s company car policy. You may also use this company car for personal purposes based on the additional tax liability plus a personal contribution.

Leave Policies
The government has leave policies for various situations, such as (additional) 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 Pension Fund. Read more about the pension plan at ABP here.

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

Here is what we are asking for

We are looking for a subject matter expert in the field of the Wpg and privacy regulations with a demonstrable affinity for criminal law. You are a team player who collaborates effectively across departmental and team boundaries. You also know how to implement your recommendations and improvements, taking concrete steps to do so. You have strong communication skills: you listen well, ask probing questions, and can clearly identify the “why” behind a situation. In addition, you are curious about the “what” and actively contribute ideas on the “how.”

In addition, we ask the following:

• A bachelor’s degree in a legal field;
• Demonstrable work experience with and/or a thorough knowledge of the Wpg and privacy regulations;
• Knowledge of criminal procedure;
• Knowledge of how a criminal investigation proceeds and what that entails for a special investigating officer is a plus;
• Proven experience in improving systems, processes, and procedures.

Skills:

• Analyze
• Forming an opinion
• Persuasiveness
• Steadfastness
• Environmental awareness

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.

This is where you'll be working

More about Leadership and Expertise

Some 4,000 dedicated professionals at the NVWA are committed to ensuring the safety of food and consumer products, animal welfare, and the natural environment in the Netherlands. Our scope is broad—ranging from inspecting shipping containers to overseeing livestock collection centers and cold storage and freezer facilities, and from laboratory testing of genetic material to litigating in court. You will be working in the Expertise Department, the substantive knowledge hub for the NVWA’s eight public domains. The department also serves as the connecting link to external stakeholders, such as ministries, inspection services, and industry and sector organizations.

The SCC consists of legal professionals specializing in criminal enforcement and an Aggression and Violence liaison. Colleagues in the SCC’s Criminal Law cluster make a significant contribution to effective enforcement. They do this by guiding special investigating officers (BOAs) and team leaders in choosing between administrative law and/or criminal law, by advising on criminal law matters, and by establishing connections between the various organizational units involved in BOA investigations.

About the 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. All 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 societal issues in diverse teams makes us more effective and innovative. That makes the work valuable and challenging.

We work on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN). They establish the policies and regulations that companies must follow.

As a regulatory authority, we conduct inspections and assessments, and hold companies accountable for their role in society and compliance with applicable regulations. If necessary, we take action.

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.
• We will review your application and respond no later than 10 business daysafter the application deadline.
• Are you applying for this position as a priority candidate through VWNW or due to a disability? (Priority Candidate) In that case, in addition to your resume and cover letter, you will also need a referral letter and a nomination letter. The nomination letter is prepared by the VWNW manager. You can add the additional documents, such as the designation letter and nomination letter, by first submitting your application (without the designation letter and nomination letter), and then clicking on the link in the confirmation email. After logging in, you can then add the designation letter and the nomination letter under “Additional documents.”